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Interview

Bringing Change Through films on peace 

Published : Thursday, 9 August, 2018 at 12:00 AM  Count : 2237
Nazmun Naher Shishir
Promoting peace and strategic communication through films is a significant process to spread enlightenment in the society. What made you interested to become a peace activist filmmaker?
Well, to talk about my interest in this regard, I have to start from the beginning.
I was different from the other students since school days. Study did not attract me; rather I spent more time by the river and playing around. Where almost everyone wrote that they wanted to become either a doctor or an engineer or a lawyer after further consideration on their 'Aim in life' essay in the classroom, my aim was to be an actor. I always participated in the cultural activities like singing, acting and more, therefore, films attracted me deeply.
Unlike others, stereotypical thoughts could not grasp me and I was driven by my passion. Gradually, the attraction for films made me turn into a filmmaker. But, I never wanted to make films merely for entertainment. Campaigning about different social or political issues was my first priority. Thereby, I chose a difficult educational path in the same sectors to fulfil my dream.
In pursuing education, lack of interest is a common phenomenon for Bangladeshi children. How can we overcome this situation? Share your experience.   
My educational life was not less than a roller coaster ride. Like any other parents of our society, my parents wanted me to become a doctor, which I never wanted. On the other hand, I was interested to be associated with theatres, which my parents didn't want me to do. As a result, in my adolescence, I used to visit theatres without informing at home. It was hard, but I couldn't resist the impulse from within. For a teenage such attempts could be proven as a dangerous step. Since I had no one around to discuss my passion I took the risk. Parents should keep all the doors open for their children so that they can feel secure to share their plans with parents.
Though I wanted to study in films, Bangladesh didn't have proper opportunities in this field at that time and theatre was the only way to learn what I wanted. I worked very hard to get myself admitted into the Department of Drama & Dramatics in Jahangirnagar University, placing fourth position in the admission test, and I put a step forward towards my dream.
However, continuing to study there was difficult as my family didn't support me. Even I had to hide my department's name to my family. Finally, I could not finish my study there and I had to continue with Jagannath University. Yet I regularity visited theatres. And, my love for theatre increased when I started studying in University of Dhaka for my master's degree which drove me to go to abroad to study films.

As you have said before, students in our society have some fixated professions in their mind as their ultimate goal. What do you think is the main reason behind it? Also, what could be the solution of this?
Undoubtedly, the main reason behind this stereotype notion is the mindset of parents. In our society, people think that if your child is a 'good' student, he/she has to maintain the ultimate standard by entering into those specific professions. At the end of the day, it becomes a huge threat to them, the students and for their career.
Raising awareness among the parents and children can be the solution for this. Besides, we do not have career counselors in our country which is extremely needed. Our government has the prior role here to play. They have to step forward and train the teachers by monitoring them properly.
Most importantly, they have to invest and promote Bangladesh's literature and culture like the other countries. Making clubs, cultural centers and playgrounds in every community can be a great step. Thus, social values would be restored and the youth would get the opportunity to choose different careers.
Then comes our education system. We make our children restless by pressurising them to compete with the system just after they start developing their thought process on their desirable career. It is a huge barrier for them to nurture their skills, I must say.

You have studied in two different universities in Bangladesh and at University of South Wales International and at University of Oslo. How can we design our education system to meet the international standard?    
There is a huge difference in the education system of Bangladesh and abroad. The teachers in the other countries were more concerned about their students' lessons and they used communicative method to teach. In Bangladesh, classrooms prefer theoretical approach.
This system needs to be changed. We have to make sure that our young generation gets the international level of education by developing their skills thorough communicative method along with theoretical. Otherwise, a bright future will bid us a bitter-sweet goodbye.

When did you take your first move to build Films4Peace Foundation?
It's a long story. I was working with a renowned institution on migration and at the height of my career when I first thought that it was the right time for me to move towards filmmaking. After discussing about it with Monis Rafiq, co-founder of Films4Peace Foundation and filmmaker, we formed an organisation called Witness Bangladesh in 2010. So, this was our first move.
In the same year, we planned to make an advocacy film for the rights of stranded Bangladeshi Migrants at Libya. Our dream was implemented with the first film -- 'Broken Dream', of our foundation. With baby steps, in 2017 we started Films4Peace Foundation.

Perusing one's desired career is a road less travelled by. How are your plans functioning to push the foundation ahead?
The first thing we did after getting registered was to take photographs of the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar living in Bangladesh. Apart from Bangladesh, we have exhibited the photos in different parts of the world, including Bangkok, Australia, and more. Global advocacy was our targeted motif to exhibit the photographs.
Since I had to struggle a lot to achieve my desired career due to the stereotypical standard of our society, we started a peace project to bring positive behavioural change of people regarding cultural activities and sports in Cox's Bazar. Alongside demanding justice for the refugees, we will work as a medium to bridge between the elder and youth. Bringing diversity in career opportunity of the young generation is another aim.
    
    Transcription: Rahnama Haque
    Photo: Alex Romario





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