Activist in the Spotlight
:
Harsh
Mander
 Frank.
Fearless. Committed. Just some of the words his friends
and colleagues use to describe him. No wonder Harsh's
resignation following the riots in Gujarat was hardly
a surprise to them. "Harsh is a very emotional
person. If he sees something disturbing, it remains
with him for a long time," says his wife, Dimple.
This was evident when he visited Gujarat to oversee
relief operations as the country director of ActionAid,
a funding organisation for NGOs.
Shabana
Azmi
 With
her outspoken stand against fundamentalism and communalism,
Shabana Azmi has now become the icon of the South Asian
activists worldwide. I met with the activist Shabana
recently on behalf of Drishtipat and talked with her
candidly on her philosophy, life and the social issues
she is working on. And her answers, just like her, were
hardhitting and straight to the point.
Salma
Ali
 Our
spotlight this month is on Drik and its founder Shahidul Alam
who has brought a fresh approach to activism in Bangladesh
and has been steadfastly working for social change and
human rights awareness in Bangladesh
Abdullah
Abu Sayeed
 Could
reading the best books in the world be the answer to
the problems of underdeveloped nations?
This year's Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Journalism,
Literature, and Creative Communication Arts believes
so.
"Only an enlightened and committed people can build
a viable nation," Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bangladesh
has said time and again. And, he points out, only a
nation of avid readers can hope to gain the enlightenment
and commitment that builds a nation. It is these twin
convictions that moved him to establish the Bishwa Sahitya
Kendra* (World Literature Centre) in Dhaka in 1978.
Shahidul
Alam and Drik
 Our
spotlight this month is on Drik and its founder Shahidul Alam
who has brought a fresh approach to activism in Bangladesh
and has been steadfastly working for social change and
human rights awareness in Bangladesh
Nargis
Akter
 Using
film to get across a message to the public is a common
practice of filmmakers and directors. The challenge
however, is to make a film that will hold the viewers'
attention throughout the film while exposing them to
a social message. Nargis Akhter, film maker and director
has done the daunting task of combining entertainment
with social awareness building. She has also embarked
upon areas few filmmakers would dare to approach and
that too with remarkable boldness and honesty.
Akku
Choudhury
Akku
Chowdhury alone had convinced many intellectuals to
form a Museum for our Muktijuddho (Liberation War).
His relentless efforts along with others’ made
it within 21 months and the Museum opened its door on
March 22, 1996. Despite the time of political uncertainty
with the non co-operation movement at its height and
the seasonal afternoon storm (Kalboishakhi), an overwhelming
number of (over 1500) people were present at the opening
ceremony. Complete Profile
Mostafa
Shiblee  The
initial idea for Mostafa Shiblee was as simple and logical
as carrying an umbrella in the rain. A gifted speaker
himself, winner of several prizes for public speaking,
Shiblee believed that creating parliamentary-style debate
clubs throughout the secondary schools in Bangladesh
could help cure a widespread affliction of student violence
and drug addiction. More
Yasmine
Kabir
 The
initial idea for Mostafa Shiblee was as simple and logical
as carrying an umbrella in the rain. A gifted speaker
himself, winner of several prizes for public speaking,
Shiblee believed that creating parliamentary-style debate
clubs throughout the secondary schools in Bangladesh
could help cure a widespread affliction of student violence
and drug addiction. More
Chaumtoli
Huq
 Chaumtoli's
mission, after getting her law degree, has been to establish
the working rights of the poor immigrants who are
unrepresented in an otherwise unfamiliar world. More
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