An Essay in Response to Other Kohinoors, A Film by Uma Magal and Mahnoor Yar Khan

By Rafath Begum, BA III Year

“Isne kitni tabaahi dekhi, Iske zakhm ka kuch hisaab nahin, 

Baavjood iske zamaane mein, Hyderabad ka javaab nahin.”

                                                                   —  Kamal Pershad Kanwal

I had the privilege to watch the film Other Kohinoors — Rocks of Hyderabad on 14.2.2023 at RBVRR Women’s College. The screening was organized by the Department of English and Foreign Languages and Quills Literary Club. Other Kohinoors – Rock of Hyderabad, is directed, produced and edited by Uma Magal and co-produced by Mahnoor Yar Khan. It is a thoughtful tribute to the rocks of Hyderabad. It is a unique and interesting film that made us aware of the importance of rocks; our relationship with the beautiful boulders of the city and how we could preserve them for future generations.

The rocks are as precious as the Koh-I-Noor diamond. The film shows the presence of rocks in contemporary pop art, language, literature, craft and cuisines like “Pathar ka Gosht.” Even the names of places like ‘Borabanda’, ‘Punjagutta,’ ‘Narayanaguda’ and religious sites like temples, masjids, stone architectures, derive their beginning from the rocks. We are connected to the rocks in every possible way. The beauty of the rocks plays an important role in the ecological health and distinct aesthetic identity of the city. There are many rocks like ‘Pathar Dil’ rock in MANNU campus, ‘Khaja Guda’ rocks in Hyderabad which adds to the exclusivity of Hyderabad. The film takes us on a journey where we witness the way rocks have influenced the city’s heritage and culture. The importance of the film cannot be denied, especially in a time when we have begun to disrupt our environmental surroundings; we destroy rocks for our own benefits; but we never see the other side, how other living creatures suffer due to our destructive habits. We are losing the jewels in the crown of Hyderabad.

The film was screened for all the second and third-year students and most of them had enjoyed the film. I hope the students learnt the value of preserving our environment. Dr J Achyutha Devi, Principal attended the screening. Madam was thrilled to learn about the religious and mythological role of rocks. She said the film is an ‘an education in rocks.’ Dr M Suchitra, Head, Department of English and Foreign Languages and Chairperson, Quills Club said that the film is an ‘essential cultural text of our present times.’

Rocks are an integral part of human existence; without rocks, mankind would have no building materials to create sturdy, beautiful homes, buildings, monuments, and even tombstones. But aside from constructing materials, rocks are also part of the earth’s geography. Rocks preserve water and help in the formation of lakes. Other Kohinoor – Rocks of Hyderabad, is a visual treat; both to the eyes and the ears. The panoramic shots of rain-drenched boulders with peacocks dancing around them, the injured surface of rocks blown by dynamites; the background rap songs and the Urdu poetry made the film an experience to remember. The film is informative and entertaining at the same time. One of the highlights of the film is the background music, especially the acoustics by Akram-Ul-Haq. I was delighted to hear him live in the college. I agree to what our faculty member, Dr Jhilam Chattaraj, also well-known poet in the city said; Mr Akram’s music added a ‘calm’ and ‘meditative’ feel to the film. After the screening, it was also amazing to listen to Mr Sudarshan Vig, Associate Director, Associate Producer, Website Strategist, Tech Lead and Outreach Manager of the film. He explained the long and arduous journey of the entire team in putting this brilliant artwork together. The movie is filled with beautiful shayaris. I personally loved the lines by Sikander, “Mazdooron ka Paigham;” they were heart touching. The film makes us think about something which we usually ignore — the rocks. I request every Hyderabad-i to watch Other Kohinoors; the film will repair our relationship with the beautiful lakes, rocks and blue skies of the city.

“Unlock her Shackles, and wait for her Miracles” - By Deepshikha Patangay of BA Final Year

Picture Credit : Special Arrangement

"यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता:"

Yatra Nāryastu Pūjyante Ramante Tatra Devatāḥ

In Sanskrit, it is written that “Where women are worshipped, the Gods reside there”. All the religions mention that a woman must be given high status of respect. She must be treated with love and care. Even when the Earth is referred to as “Mother Earth”. A woman is also considered as ‘Shakti’ i.e., power. It is said that only a woman has the capability of patience, understanding, tolerance, and the power to change anything in this universe. She is born as a multi-tasker. Even though she is educated or uneducated by nature she handles things with perfection. She plays a sensitive role in handling relationships and family.

For centuries, women have always been kept in the dark. She has always fulfilled her duty as a mother, wife, daughter, and as a sister. They were always considered to only focus on their relations and family. Never were they allowed to raise their voice, or express their feelings, and were always restricted. Virginia Woolf mentions in her book A Room of One’s Own, that if Shakespeare had a sister she would still not be encouraged to her greatest writings only because she is a woman. Before the feminist movements, many female writers were forced to publish their writings with a man's name. Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Emily Brontë, Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Sarojini Naidu, J. K. Rowling, Shashi Deshpande, Anita Desai, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai, and many other female writers have broken the stereotypes of the society by publishing their writings. Their initiative steps for women’s freedom, the struggle to publish their works, and to gain equal status with men is a result of women's writings today.

In the novel Emma written by Jane Austen, the protagonist is a matchmaker. She belongs to eighteenth-century England. The protagonist was going through a lot of feelings, and she was at a stage of life where she was confused. By fulfilling the role of a matchmaker, she was alone and didn’t know what to do with her relationship and her feelings. The whole novel runs around Emma, the process of understanding herself, and her feelings towards Mr. Knightley. Though according to Jane Austen, the protagonist is a self-dependent woman, she was dependent on people for emotions. She chooses a man for herself, but then later she realises that it was her wrong choice. Understanding her feelings, in the end she finds a partner, Mr. Knightley, and marries him.

In Shashi Deshpande’s In the Country of Deceit, the protagonist is represented as a modern Indian woman. She is a strong independent woman. This is one of the finest works of Shashi Deshpande who fabulously narrated the story. The desire and the guilt that Deshpande brings up with the situation by addressing the bold choice of Devayani speaks of how open-minded Devayani was. But her bold choice of loving a married man had made her life miserable. Even today, in our society this is one of the darkest secrets of the majority of girls. Deshpande brings out the reality of society in her novel. To find love, it doesn’t mean that women must find single men, until and unless it is in India. Her bold choice makes us understand that to love and to receive love from the same person is enough to live a happy life. But as Ashok cheated, most of the partners cheat to fulfil their nasty desires. Surprisingly India has more ‘Partner- Cheating’ cases but hardly there are people who love their partners. Love is a fancy feast that has its challenges in life. And sometimes love brings us into a situation where we have to choose “Do or Die”. “A Fancy Feast That’s What Love Is!”

In the poem Eve To Her Daughters, Judith Wright feels the pain of the submissive nature when Eve had to adapt because of the dominance of her husband Adam. Maybe it was the suppressive nature that was followed for generations and is still forced to follow. Even in today’s modern world when freedom is given to a woman it is not given completely. There is chaos, pain, and anger, in those tiny little things which they wish for. The world has shown the modern perspective of women theoretically but practically they are still striving to make it happen.

Although women are treated like Goddesses, they are still pressured in the ways of looks, and mindsets, and to change their behaviour because the people around them think that society may reject them. No matter how independent a woman is, she is always dependent on emotions just like men as it is a part of human nature. At least not like a Goddess, but a woman feels to be treated as a human. They too have a world that needs to be shown a part of the sunshine and not the shadows. They wish not to be judged, and not to be felt valueless which over-pressurizes them and makes them work like machines.

Let a woman follow her dreams/passion, find her purpose, to be felt protected/safe, to know that she is not alone, and has a companion throughout. At least not a God, but a human who has feelings and all the rights to live life on her own terms. A “New Woman,” who shows patience, courage, and a pleasing spirit to face the ensuing problems in life and choosing her ways to live life.

Deepshikha Patangay

BA Final Year

References

Joshi, Yogender. ‘यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः’ इत्यादि – मनुस्मृति के वचन.’ Vichar Sankalan. September 11, 2009. Web.  

Woolfe, Virginia. ‘If Shakespeare Had a Sister.’ D Umn Edu. 1929. Web.

Austen Jane. ‘Emma.’ U Star Novels. Web.

Deshpande, Shashi. In the Country of Deceit. Penguin Books Limited. 18 June 2009. Print. 

Wright, Judith. ‘Eve To Her Daughters.’ Genius. 1999. Web.