Vibha Bakshi's National Award winning documentary "Daughters of Mother India", which brought the aftermath of the December 2012 gangrape on camera, will be screened in New York to raise awareness about issues of women's security and empowerment.
The Asia Society, an educational organisation dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the US in a global context, will host the screening in New York on Tuesday evening at the Asia Society and Museum. The screening is also supported by Goldman Sachs' initiave 10,000 Women, read a statement.
With the film, Bakshi embarked on a journey to find answers about the position of women in society and went on to make noise about the issue globally. Her film won a National Film Award in Best Film on the Social Issues category this year and it also walked away with the Best Documentary Film award at the 15th edition of the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF).
Bakshi, who had earlier told IANS that gender inequality and sexual violence is not confined to any borders, is glad to take the 'positive' message to foreign shores, and hopes that the panel discussion comes up with a solution to tackle the problem.
"The screening is built on the premise that partnerships between development and business experts can effect positive action around issues of women's security and empowerment.
"The evening is positioned to enhance dialog, generate ideas around positive reinforcement and further collaborative initiatives for women's safety and empowerment which can play a significant role in fostering economic growth," Bakshi said.
The gangrape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a bus in New Delhi on December 16, 2002, left a lasting impact on citizens. The brutality of the crime left an harrowing pictures of the incident on the minds of people, who raised their voice against the crime through marches and protests.
Bakshi studied the case and its consequences as part of her research, but her film is not all about the deteriorating status of women as it leaves hope for a better future.
The documentary will be introduced by Asia Society president Josette Sheeran.
Its screening will be followed by a panel discussion between Bakshi, Noa Meyer (managing director and global head of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women), Rachel Vogelstein (senior fellow and director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program, Council on Foreign Relations) and moderator Leigh Gallagher (assistant managing editor, Fortune).
