Celebrating Black History Month
Bollywood Bookworm Swanshurst School’s Culture Magazine for KS4 & the 6th form
Editorial This month’s mix contains Black History Month, Bollywood and short stories. It’s about trying to recognise and appreciate difference. Javed Akhtar, co-writer of the legendary Sholay writes: “If you take an average film from say America or Europe, in its structure it’s nearer to a short story . . . But an average Indian film, again one is not talking of its intellectual level or aesthetics, strictly talking about the structure, an average commercial film is nearer to a novel. Now if we take traditional stories , even in the West, they’re nearer to a novel. The short story is developed later. We have our own saga-like quality in our stories. . .Indian masses somehow want a story that will engulf generations and eras, a larger period of time, and incidents, big influences on a larger spectrum” Learning about different cultural expectations in India and Pakistan helps a viewer to appreciate the differences between Hollywood and Bollywood films , just as learning the differences between short stories and novels can increase your understanding of both forms. Furthermore we try to stress the importance of attempting to understand history from the viewpoint of the oppressed, the forgotten and the downtrodden.
44
18
Contents New books
4
Recommendations, reviews, news, the Man Booker Prize and Patrick Ness!
Short Stories
10
18
Lots of recommendations
Stuff
28
B’ham library, Stephen King and‌. Sesame Street
Films Bollywood Cinema
30 32
Staff and student favourites
Cinema Club
42
The Dirty Picture
The Movie Doctor Black History Month
24
44 66
60
6
New books at Swanshurst this Autumn
Fiction The Man Booker winner is The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. She is the youngest winner at 28. The shortlist was incredibly varied this year with authors from all over the world. There’s plenty of coverage in the Guardian and at the Man Booker website. We’ve got copies of all the books in the Sixth Form library. The Guardian always runs an alternative prize each year—the Not-the-Booker competition. We’ve got copies of those books too. Zoe Venditozzi’s Anywhere’s Better than Here is a belter.
That’s right everyone, the new Patrick Ness novel is out. Trouble is, I haven’t read it yet, Ms Wild hasn’t read it yet AND the library copy has disappeared. We believe it is in the hands of a very mysterious group of students who are trying to keep it away from us. Don’t worry we’ll get it back and there’ll be a review in the next Bookworm.
American author Rebecca Stead won this year’s Guardian Children’s fiction prize with Liar and Spy. It must be good as John Green’s The Fault in our Stars and David Almond’s The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas were also on the shortlist. The longlist of 8 books was very strong.
6th form Fiction
If you haven’t read Gone Girl, you are, quite frankly, behind the times; out of the loop; yesterday’s news and yes, quite possibly a bit of a loser. One person who we could never accuse of being any of those things is Kanisha Warrican*, who gets to grips with Gillian Flynn’s massive bestseller . The dark and twisty hit novel Gone Girl portrays the story of Nick and Amy Dunne’s failing marriage. Both Nick and Amy lose their jobs for various reasons. Due to personal circumstances, Nick relocates himself and his wife from New York to the small state of Missouri, where Nick is originally from. Using the last of his wife’s trust fund, Nick opens a bar with his twin sister. This provides a decent living for the Dunne family, but not to the usual standard of Amy. However, as time progresses the Dunne marriage becomes more and more dysfunctional. On the day of Nick and Amy's fifth wedding anniversary, Amy goes missing. Stereotypically, Nick becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance in the eyes of the police, media and public for a variety of reasons. He used her money to start a business, increased her life insurance, and seems unemotional and detached on camera and in the news. This is not what is expected of a distressed and innocent husband. But not everything is as clear as it seems. For me, one of the strongest aspects of this book was Flynn’s ability to shock, hypnotise and surprise the reader. Just when you think the story is heading in one direction, she weaves it into a completely different route. It seriously makes you ask the question “how well can you every really know someone?” Murder, manipulation and thrilling consequences – it really is one of the best books I have read in a long time. A cleverly intertwined plot mixed with toxic characters captivates you from the first chapter. So I guarantee that you won’t be able to put it down. My only criticism was that it ended. Bring on part two.
*On the other hand she IS as mad as a bag of hammers. Sorry Kanisha’s mum, but you know its true!
Lots more Bookworm goodness online. Just click on a cover.
6th form Non-fiction Fighting for justice, Sampat Pal is pulled into the case of Sheelu Nishad, a 17 year old girl, accused of stealing from a powerful state legislator. With accusations made from Sheelu of rape and violence the whole of India is watching as events unfold and all the while Sampat is ready to take on anything in her path to prove Sheelu’s innocence. This story will take you through the real India, demonstrating all the practises taken by families due to culture and tradition. Sampat Pal, a woman who was married at the age of twelve, now leads the Pink Sari Gang across India’s northern state, Uttar Pradesh, where rape, violence and dowry burnings are normal everyday incidents. After being threatened and almost killed, Sampat leaves her in-laws and sets up a house with her husband and 5 children. Here she finally has the power to fight against the corrupt police departments who work on bribes given to them. With Sampat’s ability to draw crowds of people, she gets them to listen as she confidently sends out her messages through songs and speeches, giving other women the confidence to come forth and reveal the harsh treatment they endure every day. After hearing about Sheelu, the Pink Sari Gang leader starts her journey to find out more about what has happened. As the story of Sheelu is revealed we learn more about Sampat and how the Pink Sari Gang came to be and we are shown just how powerful they actually are. We also see that even though it’s legally
abolished, the caste system still plays a big role in the lives of all Asians and is a key issue that the Pink Sari Gang fights against. Keeping a distance from Dalit’s, or untouchables (the lowest caste), is out of the question and even drinking water given by them can result in becoming an outsider in the village. Even now in England the caste system impacts decisions made by families when it comes to things like marriage and which temples you go to pray at. After finding Sheelu’s father, hiding away from the legislator, Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi, Sampat knows there is something being hidden away from view and attempts to see Sheelu herself. All through her investigation Sampat puts herself in the media spotlight and the police are continuously under pressure due to Amit Tripathi, a journalist who writes for Hindustan, releasing articles which keep the story in the limelight. With the government against her, Sampat draws all her followers to the prison where Sheelu is kept and the gang campaign against the police for her freedom. The book gives an insight into the lives of the many people who have been helped by the Pink Sari Gang. The author shows their huge impact in the north of India and celebrates the courage and insight of Sampat Pal and countless other women. The book also wonders whether Soniya Gandhi and her party will help Sampat and the Pink gang to finally allow people to voice their opinions and fight against corrupt police departments or whether Sampat will be sucked into the corruption and bureaucracy of mainstream politics. The book portrays the gang’s development perfectly, showing all the difficulties faced and how they will continue to fight for people all across India. [Neelam Narshi] If you like Pink Sari Revolution or you want to read more about history and social issues in India , Kashmir and Pakistan we have some great books including bestselling titles from Arundhati Roy, Anatol Lieven and Katherine Boo.
6th form Non-fiction Jon Ronson is an award winning journalist, documentary maker and writer. You may have seen him on TV, heard him on the radio or seen the film adaption of The Men who Stare at Goats. That book famously began with the words “This is a true story” before going on to document the (insane) attempts by the US military to assess and develop techniques of ‘psychological warfare’. For this issue of the Bookworm Thasleema Nisar got to grips with his book The Psychopath Test. This book takes you on an in-depth journey through madness. Ronson explores the concept of ‘the psychopath’, how it defines a person and how it is dealt with in our society. On his journey he meets LOTS of interesting people! People like Tony who I found really intriguing. Tony is a psychopath; well he claimed to be a psychopath to avoid a long jail sentence after beating someone up. However he ended up in Broadmoor psychiatric hospital which probably turns out to be
the worst mental institute anyone could have been sent to. Interestingly the famous ‘Stockholm strangler’ was sent there too. Later you go through a psychopath checklist used by Bob Hare (an expert on psychopathology) and get introduced to more weird, but fascinating concepts . I admit that this book was completely out of my comfortzone but it is really thought provoking and informative. Ronson backs up his stories and investigations with lots of up-todate scientific research; did you know the statistics show that 1% of the population is psychopathic, one person in every hundred? Nor did I. Tony’s story of scamming his way into the mental hospital to avoid his 13 years prison sentence however ended up with him being there 20 years (!) and surrounded by actual famous serial killers. Still, Ronson and Tony still manage to show the dark humour of his experiences. You also meet some pretty loathsome criminals in the book, convicted for rape, murder and more and you wonder what they will do when they are released. Ronson gets you to think about all these things—definitions of mental illness and sociopathy; the consequences of treatment (or the lack of it) and incarceration and, alarmingly, about our own ’mental health’ and inclinations. I found that the overall message of this book was ambiguous. Is it that the world is full of crazy people who can’t be fixed or disgust and disillusionment at the ‘madness industry’. Ronson leaves plenty of room for thought and discussion. If you are interested in criminology or psychology or if you want to try something new to read which is unusual or odd but fascinating at the same time this is your book.
6th form Non-fiction
The Surprising Facts of Life
Swanshurst is a specialist science college.
Many of you will need good results in science subjects for your chosen course at Uni.
Universities will be impressed by your depth and breadth of knowledge.
We now have lots of popular science books.
Get reading!!!
Noam Chomsky is one of the most important and famous linguists in the world. He is also an ardent critic of US Imperialism and a key voice in the battle against inequality and injustice around the world. If you’re new to politics and world affairs his books are a perfect (if provocative) introduction. These 3 titles come in the form of easily digestible interviews.
We’ve got loads of great new books in our Illuminate Your Mind collection. These are books about current affairs, history, politics, oppression, psychology, imperialism and much more. They are perfect for sixth form students doing their Extended Project and for any student who wants to impress universities and employers with their wider reading and knowledge of the world.
Brilliant novel. Brilliant film.
Short Stories
Short Stories
OK you’re going to have to forgive me for being Mr Obvious for a brief spell. Short stories are quite different from novels - for a start they’re, well, shorter! A lot shorter usually, though anything from a single page to 100 pages (almost a novella). That often means you can read them in one sitting. Short stories are known for their ambiguity too - that doesn’t mean that they’re particularly difficult or ‘arty’ (though they can be) - more that because there isn’t time for a full blown plot, the story will often leave lots of gaps (for you to fill in). This is one of the things I like best - they can sometimes feel like puzzles or mysteries to be solved. Within the (short) confines of a story, writers often don’t bother with conventional plots and if they do their endings will often be inconclusive, mysterious or have a twist. Most are instead concerned with psychological states - what’s going on inside a character’s head - or with the essence of a situation, concentrating on a single episode, mood or feeling. Even if the story has a plot of sorts the writer will often drop you into the middle of a situation without explanation (no beginning) or stop the narrative abruptly (no ending). Just as in novels, writers will use the first and third person narration. What you will often find however is that you get a single, restricted point of view. This character won’t necessarily be likeable or reliable. Indeed unreliable narrators are quite common. Many of the novels you will have read have main characters that you are meant to empathise with and trust whereas many short stories have main characters who are telling themselves lies or have a superficial view of their lives. You can’t trust the narrator in quite the same way as you might be used to you have to question everything.
There are SO many good short stories out there to be discovered—There are some good lists here, here and here. As usual there’s loads of good stuff at The Guardian including some good Top 10s - especially this one.
Old Geezers I’ve got enough space to briefly recommend some of my favourite short story writers. First, two old, dead geezers (though they were young once!). I discovered Chekhov (1860-1904) when I was about 17. I read some of his stories to impress a girl (though it didn’t work!). If you want to get into classic literature Chekhov is a brilliant place to start as he stories are haunting and poetic This is a relatively new discovery for me: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is known for his poetry and his political writing too and it’s fair to say he is a legend in India and Pakistan. Without preaching or being (too) moralistic, Tagore writes poetically about caste, inequality and oppression against women and the poor. On all of these issues he was well ahead of his time. Yes, some of them are very sad but they’re still amazingly relevant today. Listen to Anita Desai read one of his stories here. My favourite contemporary short story writers are Ali Smith, Jhumpa Lahiri and Yiyun Li all women as it happens, but there are so many great writers to choose from. We’ve now got a brilliant selection, especially in the Sixth Form library. If you’re feeling ambitious try reading Herman Melville’s Bartleby the Scrivener.: A story of Wall Street. This is one of my favourite short stories yet the first time I read it I was totally perplexed. Even now, when I know more about Melville, about the time and place it was written (America in 1853), and about some of the themes and ideas that preoccupied writers of the time, it remains deliciously . . . ODD.
Short Stories
You lot are always complaining that our scary books aren’t scary enough. So, try these. They won’t scare you but hopefully they’ll weird you out instead. Fantastic Tales is a fabulous collection of weird and wonderful stories chosen and edited by Italo Calvino. Here you can find The Signal Man by Charles Dickens, The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe and The Nose by Nikolai Gogol. These tales will burrow down into your subconscious and invade your dreams. Try Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde too. Kelly Link is recognised as one of the best modern short story writers and has won numerous awards for her collections Stranger Things Happen (2001), Magic for Beginners (2005), and Pretty Monsters (2008). She draws on fairy tales and authors like Angela Carter to defy genre expectations and take you to the weirder realms of fantasy and horror. Listen to a couple of her stories at Podcastle. Finally there’s a brand new collection, Twisted Winter, with stories by some of the best authors of YA fiction - Susan Cooper, Rhiannon Lassiter and Frances Hardinge. It’s a lovely little collection, full of atmosphere to scare you in the dark winter nights Finally if we have managed to scare you, you might need some light relief so why not curl up with Let it Snow, three long short stories (or novellas) written especially for winter. This is the literary equivalent of a big hug, and one of them is by John Green - he of The Fault in our Stars and Looking for Alaska.
The title story from this collection is a little confusing at first. The narrator is a girl and it’s almost as if she truly is a wild animal—a wolf. However it is also apparent that the nuns at St Lucy’s Home for Girls are treating her, and her companions, as humans. You realise that the girls are something like werewolves and are being taught to act, speak and behave like ‘normal’ girls. As you read on you realise that a transformation is taking place—not just in behaviour and language, but also in the opinions of the girl, Claudette, and most of her friends. At first they rebel against change but slowly they start to do as they are asked despite retaining the desire and emotions to rebel. The last line is very powerful. The idea of Charlotte telling her ‘first human lie’ makes it almost seem as if humans are essentially evil. It punctures the view of their whole experience—of becoming civilised and made ‘normal’ - as positive. You reflect on what has been forced on them and what they have lost rather than gained. It’s a very thoughtprovoking story and a great collection. [Yusra Mian]
Confusing, thought-provoking, mysterious Murakami strikes again, and again and again in Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. These short stories packed with enough mystery to leave readers feeling that familiar confusion, just like a lot of the author’s other stories. Birthday Girl is the second short story in the collection. It is the tale of two girls talking about their twentieth birthdays. The story switches from their present day conversation to the past of one of the girls, as she relives her lonely twentieth, the mysterious old man who invites her into his hotel room, and an offer of one wish. Just one wish, and there will be no going back. Each story has the ability to drag you deep into the author’s world of unanswered questions, memories of glory days, and strange bugs that like to eat the brains of sleeping women. I speak the truth when I say that these are short stories that will leave you pondering a long time after you have turned the last page. [Maham Hassan]
Short Stories
Raymond Carver’s collection Things We Talk About When About Love. Beautifully melancholic, yet realistic looks at adult lives. [Mr Stock] All the tales in The Last Dance are set in Greece but reflected different aspects and attitudes within Greek life. Most are centred around romance, some ended happily others left you hoping they would end happily, for example the story which is the title of the book is about a couple for who it was right person, wrong time. [Ms Wheeler] My favourite book of children’s short stories is The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan. The stories all follow the adventures of Peter and you are never quite sure whether the events really happen or whether they are part of his daydreams. They range from the terrifyingly creepy The Dolls (where a group of dolls come to life) to the whimsical story about what trouble a young boy can cause with a pot of vanishing cream. The big question is: is it all a dream or is Peter living in a fantasy world? Read it and decide for yourself… [Ms Hardwick] Edgar Allan Poe gets lots of love . . . I read The Black Cat when I was really little, about 9 or 10, and I loved the discovery that what seemed like an old fashioned book was gorier than anything else I had ever read before. Actually all of the stories in The Tales of Mystery and Imagination was awesome – especially The Fall of the House of Usher. [Ms Arif] “TRUE! - nervous - very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” So begins possibly the most perfectly crafted, not to mention spine-chillingly creepy, short story of all time, Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart. The master of creating the perfect atmosphere in a single line, Poe takes you into the mind of an insane killer and leaves you horrified by what you find. [Ms Osgood]
The big themes of life, love and death are all tackled within these seven stories of seven different women’s voices. Prose both raw and beautiful. Ms Wild The recent publication of Grimm Tales in a new edition by Philip Pullman prompted me to revisit stories well-remembered (and some long-forgotten!) from youth. This is a beautiful collection of villainous deeds and noble acts of bravery and sacrifice, compellingly brought to life by a storyteller I have long admired. On re-reading the immediacy of the prose grips you – these are masterpieces of plot-driven literature. What I particularly loved about this collection was Pullman’s short commentary accompanying each tale. How did the evil mother become the ‘wicked stepmother’ in the retelling of these tales? Read Pullman’s brilliant discussion of Hansel and Gretel and find out. [Ms Yates] One of my favourite writers of short stories is Shirley Jackson. She writes about the sinister in everyday life. Her short story, The Witch, is very short, very subtle and made the hairs on the back of my neck rise. It is funny and disturbing in equal measures. The witch in the story is unsettling, but the child even more so. It will make you smile, then give you the shivers. Otherwise I’d go for The Ballad of Sad Café by Carson McCullers. It’s fairly long, as short stories go and is set the South of the USA. It is a great introduction to the work of this brilliant writer and takes the reader through intriguing exploration of loneliness and isolation. You will laugh and cry. [Ms Richardson] Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman explores love, loss and longing in familial circumstances transforming the mundane into something mesmerizing with her refined yet concise writing style. She has the ability to focus in on her characters with such clarity that you do indeed feel like you’re observing their every move through powerful binoculars. Try Inbound, Binocular Vision and the poignant Self –Reliance for a flavour of this underrated short story teller. [Ms Hopkins]
Classic Short Stories
Dubliners was James Joyce’s first major work and it is a collection of very short stories. The stories all revolve around life in Dublin (where Joyce grew up) in the early 1900’s. The early ones focus on children on the brink of growing up confronting normal, everyday, incidents. The stories have their own charm and are a delight to read. People have complained that the stories are very difficult to understand and yes, they are very dense but very enjoyable at the same time. Part of the pleasure of his stories is that they give up new pleasures when you reread them. The Sisters is about a boy as he ponders over his relationship with a recently deceased priest and An Encounter is about two boys who took a day of school and then what happened on that day. These are probably my favourites. Both stories were full of contemporary references to life in Dublin and this gives an amazing sense of life at the start of the 20th century.
The narrators get older as the stories progress. I read this while I was reading Don’t Look Now and subconsciously ended up comparing the two. The stories in Dubliners are about a small section of ordinary life and an analysis of it whereas Du Maurier’s stories are more entertaining and the stories were substantially longer. Weirdly, perhaps, I enjoyed Dubliners the best—the writing is astonishing and Joyce’s insights, profound. One good way of describing the stories in Dubliners is that they all felt like paintings. One scene from each story could easily be painted and would offer the same interpretation of the story but without any words. A scene where people look into a coffin while a boy sits and thinks could have been painted to describe the sisters. I found the stories fun and insightful to read and anyone interested in Irish history or anyone who wants a master class in good writing, should read it.
Daphne Du Maurier was a British writer who wrote many best sellers and were turned into academy award nominated films by Alfred Hitchcock. The most famous examples include Rebecca and The Birds. She also wrote short stories, one of them being this book. The most popular and well recognised story from this collection will be Don’t Look Now; it was adapted into a classic film in the 1970s too starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland. The other four are Not After Midnight, A Borderline Case, A Way of the Cross and The Breakthrough. I really enjoyed Don’t Look Now and Not After Midnight; they both had good suspenseful plots, moderately good characterisation and were overall easy to get into. The stories follow a similar pattern - a very slow buildup and then an exciting or disturbing climax with a twist One of the things that I reflected on was that the stories were more like novellas or underdeveloped novels rather than short stories. This meant that either there were plot holes and plenty of underdeveloped characters. But I will add that they were still entertaining and if you like reading books with a strong sense of Britishness, this is probably for you. [Khadija Tahir]
Shirley Jacksons The Lottery is a story I return to often. It is a brilliant reminder about the dangers of blindly accepting tradition. In a time when we hear politicians and members of the media use the term to only imply everything that is good, “ traditional values” “traditional family” and so on it is good to remember that tradition and conformity can be used to bind us to practices that may not be beneficial. The story focuses on a fictitious small American town with only 300 inhabitants. Each year on the 27th June they gather together for an annual ritual known as The Lottery. This superstitious practice is supposed to encourage a plentiful harvest. Like many rituals, the reason why it should do this isn’t clear. It is looked forward to with great excitement and anticipation. There is gossip that outlying towns have considered giving it up but this is not a consideration for this town. The story is brief and chilling. The preparations begin the night before the event when slips are marked. On the morning itself, children of the town are sent off to collect stones whilst at 10am sharp the adults meet to draw papers from a sinister and symbolic black box. The timing is significant because the event needs to be completed by lunchtime. The short time given over to something so significant increases the horror, the efficiency makes it more chilling. The ritual begins with the head
of each family drawing a slip from the box. One family head will draw a marked slip. That family will each draw another slip in the second round, though the prize is nothing you would want to win. The winner of the second round is then ceremoniously stoned to death by their community, in the name of tradition and superstition. A friend can stone another even though they question whether they should do this because the group mentality appears to absolve them of guilt and tradition demands it. So many unfortunate parallels with life in the real world! This is a story about the dangers of blindly accepting tradition and being complacent about following the crowd. I’m not advocating anarchy here, just sometimes when you know something is wrong it’s good not to follow without question. Finally, I have to share this with you, I hope it doesn’t spoil things, it is meant to entice you to read this fantastic 10 page story. The last few words of the story never cease to send shivers down my spine“…and then they were upon her” Can you feel the goose bumps? [Ms Lea]
In a recent Guardian article, the writer, Nadine Gordimer, was quoted as saying short stories should “burn a hole in the page”. Read any of Elmore Leonard’s short stories and this is what they do. Read stories like 3.10 to Yuma, The Captives and Fire in the Hole and bow down in awe to Leonard’s shrewd eye for portraying characters and his killer ear for smart dialogue. Go on, find some of his stories and read them – they’re witty, wise, cool and real!
. . . you won’t find in the Daily Mail*
Malala Yousefzai opened the new Birmingham library with an inspirational speech. Have you been yet? It’s a brilliant building with lots of great facilities. One of the first guests to the library was Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman (who you can hear doing an excellent video interview here). There are lots of other events taking place at the new library including workshops, author visits and more - check it out. We should all be really pleased that we have such a brilliant resource in our city but we shouldn’t forget that many local libraries are threatened with closure. Campaign groups are being formed in communities throughout the country to fight back and challenge government priorities. Climate change is again in the news as important reports reiterate the desperate need for action across the world (whilst the deniers, backed up and promoted by huge global corporations try to inhibit change). Two new books look at the issue of population and discuss whether population growth should be our main concern - rather than trying to organise society for human need rather than profit. What do you think?
*The Daily Mail website is the most used in the two Sixth Form libraries!
The whole world, it seems, is either reading George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones or watching the TV adaption. I know quite a few of the staff and students at Swanshurst are hooked. Still, you don’t need to be a fan to appreciate two of the show’s stars - Lena Headey and Peter Dinklageand their appearances on Sesame Street. Brilliant! What links master of the macabre Stephen King with Twilight and J K Rowling. Well nothing really except King’s new book is out and he’s doing promotional interviews. In the Guardian he states his admiration for The Casual Vacancy, Rowlings ‘adult’ novel and is forthright in his opinions of Twilight ‘tweenager porn’ he calls it - “They're really not about vampires and werewolves. They're about how the love of a girl can turn a bad boy good." Discuss! Doctor Sleep is a sequel of sorts to The Shining so expectation is high. We’ll have a copy in the library - if you dare . . .
Neil Gaiman is a legend . He can do everything—comics, novels (for adults and children), script writing (for Doctor Who). So make sure you read his inspiring paean to the imagination recently published in the Guardian: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming.
Some intriguing films lead us through Autumn into Winter. There are some particularly noteworthy adaptions of novels to look forward to. After the box office flop that was City of Bones (12% on Rotton Tomatoes) it’s difficult to know what will turn out to a hit or a miss.
So Diana didn’t do too well did it (chuckle). What other turkeys will appear before Christmas?
The Movie Doctor recommends . . . Hema Malini in Seeta aur Geeta (1972) Brilliant!
My Bollywood knowledge is increasing exponentially. I know the celebrity gossip: that Preity Zinta is co-owner of Kings XI Punjab and that Shahrukh Khan co-owns the Kolkata Knight Riders; that Abhishek Bachchan is married to Aishwarya Rai and that Kareena Kapoor is married to Saif Ali Khan. I know that Aamir Khan tries really hard to make a difference in all kinds of ways and that you should check out his TV show Satyamev Jayte. And I’ve watched A LOT of films—from B&W classics like Awara and Pyaasa to modern films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Kahaani and Dabaang (hilarious BTW). I’ve seen Pakistani films like Bol and modern feel-good classics like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Jab We Met and Hum Tum. More importantly, I’ve sent numerous love letters to Kajol but all have been ignored (so far!)* I’ve also discovered lots of great websites: Cinema Chaat, Bollywood Deewana, Un-kvlt, and Jabberwock for intelligent discussions of Bollywood films new and old. It’s amazing too how many people around the (English-speaking) world have developed a love and passion for Bollywood films. For instance I like Bollywood Queens, a blog by 3 *OK—not really! She’s a happily married woman..
American women or Beth Loves Bollywood and The Post Punk Cinema Club, also out of the USA. The author of the excellent Let’s talk about Bollywood is French. Amodini’s Movie Reviews and the Indian Express look at all the recent releases as does Filmfare Magazine whilst the (utterly) fantastic Doc Bollywood looks at desi music. Finally, check out, BolliWHAT? if you’re totally new to Asian culture and film. You can find loads of other great sites on the blog rolls of the sites I’ve mentioned so far. Finally, some people, ok, a lot of people, think Bollywood movies are too melodramatic or too romantic, others just don’t get the whole singing and dancing malarkey. Others just want to see a full-on kiss. Well, OK, if you have watched one I can just about accept that. BUT, it’s kinda like saying you watched the latest Jennifer Aniston comedy and immediately gave up on Hollywood films—understandable, but wrong. There are films made all over India (not just in Mumbai) and, increasingly, in Pakistan too and include every genre. Sometimes you just have to open your mind and give something a fair chance . . . We were incredibly lucky to have Irna Qursehi visit Swanshurst in October. Irna is a historian, academic and journalist. She talked about all aspects of Bollywood, her love of culture, her journalism and meeting Aamir Khan!!. As with all our author visits, students got the chance to ask Irna questions at the end of her talk. We had a brilliant time. If you haven’t read it already make sure you have a look at Irna’s brilliant blog Bollywood in Britain—’Tales of being British, Pakistani & female in Bradford, set against classic Bollywood’.
What happened when I asked three members of staff, completely new to Bollywood to each watch a modern Bollywood classic? They loved it of course!! Huge thanks to Ms Taylor, Ms Hopkins and Ms Yates for being such good sports. ‘All is well’ is my new saying! I loved this film. It was so vibrant in colour and emotions and had me crying at the end. Who’d have thought it took that many men for one women to deliver a baby?! I love the message that you should follow a career which inspires you, a job which you look forward to everyday and that you find rewarding and not following a path that others expect of you. I haven’t watched a Bollywood film before and was surprised at how long it was (3 hours) and at how the people burst into song to move the story on… or how often men cried in the film. It was a really good ‘feel good’ film and is definitely one to watch in your PJs with your friends and a bar of chocolate. Thanks Mr Beniston for lending me the film-I think I’ll be borrowing some more! [Ms Taylor]
For my first experience of Bollywood, Mr B gave me an iconic movie, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride). What a great introduction to the genre. The film blazed by from London via Switzerland to India, with the classic plot-line of star-crossed lovers propelled by incredibly catchy music. By the end I was charmed, and it’s clear to see why this movie has been such a hit. [Ms Yates]
For my initiation in to the world of Bollywood, Mr B presented me with Rab ne bana di Jodi (A Match Made by God) a romantic comedy starring Bollywood mega star Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma in her movie debut. Shah Rukh plays the sweet natured super geek Surinder “Suri” Sahni who marries the gorgeous and exuberant Taani at the behest of her dying father after the sudden loss of her fiancé in an accident. Although Suri is in love with Taani from the get go (and who wouldn’t be?), Taani declares she’s unable to ever love him as she has no more love to give (being a massive nerd probably didn’t help though). But, never fear! Suri has a plan to win Taani’s heart by transforming himself into a ‘cool dude’ Raj and partnering her for the Dancing Jodi competition. I have to confess I wasn’t convinced I was going to enjoy it as I’m not a fan of mushy-wushy love stories; however there was enough laughs, dancing and seriously catchy songs (Dance Pe Chance was my personal favourite) to stop me retching down the back of the sofa. I’ll admit I didn’t completely ‘get’ the purpose of the somewhat unconvincing makeover; was he trying to get her to fall for Raj? Or push her towards Suri because Raj was actually a bit of a div? I couldn’t fathom it but, in the end, it didn’t really matter because it’s a hugely enjoyable film with the obligatory happy ending. (Pssst… I’ll let you into a secret as long as you promise not to tell anyone? I thought the scene when Raj/Suri uses the city lights to spell out ‘I Love You’ was utterly amazing and even my evil hardened peanut-sized heart softened a little at this epic gesture. I can picture myself in that very scene now…but on the Lickey Hills overlooking the glorious Brum!). [Ms Hopkins]
Om Shanti Om is one of my favourite movies. I don’t normally watch many Hindi movies but my mum convinced me and it really surprised me. The story line is amazing - if a little cheesy (but it needs to be - it’s an Indian movie!). It has many great songs (esp this one) that I still listen to. I’d recommend it to anyone and it’s a movie I will always remember. Simaron Kaur Potiwal I love Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham because its full of twists and surprises. Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan ) falls in love with the wrong girl, Anjali, (Kajol) and refuses to marry Naina (Rani Mukherjee) the woman his rich father wants him to marry. Rahul is disinherited and moves to London with Anjali. The film then moves on a number of years and picks up the story when Rahul’s brother Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) goes to London intent on reuniting his family. It’s a very happy and emotional film with loads of brilliant songs. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves romantic films [Samayeh Shazan] They say laughter is the best medicine, so here comes Dr. Murli Prasad Sharma to cure you. He may not be the brightest, he may not be the most polite, he may not even be an actual doctor but he will put a smile on your face and make you forget all your problems. So if you haven't seen the tactics of Munnabhai, then forget your problems for 2 and half hours and treat yourself to his funny and endearing classic. Murli Prasad Sharma, aka Munnabhai is a gangster who claims to be a social worker. He ran away from his village years ago to make a life in Mumbai. However, he ended up becoming a goon who lives with the lie he told his parents—that he's a doctor. One circumstance leads to another and Munna's parents come to find out his real identify. A shattered and disappointed father, Hari Prasad Sharma leaves Munna in anger. Munna, full of shame, is now destined to become a real doctor and so begins a tale of laughter, emotions and important lessons in life. The film has a brilliant theme and has moments that melt your heart and bring a tear in your eye. It also teaches a message - that love can overcome all sorrows. The themes of the movie are very inspiring. The film is a comedy but does not shy of trying to touch your emotions and it succeeds big time. On the whole, MUNNABHAI M.B.B.S. is amongst the best films released by Bollywood in recent years (along with 3 Idiots which is made by the same filmmaker). What is there left to say? Just watch it, enjoy it, and watch it again. (I know you will!) [Khainat Khan]
Kal Ho Na Ha is the best Bollywood movie I’ve seen because it gives a fresh take on themes of romance and friendship. You kind of know where the plot is going but it still packs an emotional punch. Nayyara Farooq
Chandni was a romantic blockbuster in the 80s. It has an amazing cast, music, locations and most importantly a strong story line. I can watch over and over again and takes me right back to my childhood. [Ms Dhesi] Dil to Pagel Hai - I already have lots of favourites but I watched this on a cloudy Sunday morning when I needed cheering up. Some great dancing (and some cheesy dancing) plus the star appeal of Madhuri Dixit, Shahrukh Khan and Karisma Kapoor make it a real winner. [Mr Beniston] Maine Pyar Kiya—the first Bollywood film I ever watched properly and when Salman Khan could act! [Ms Dhanjal] I love Bride and Prejudice because it is a beautiful love story and makes Jane Austen accessible to all. The dancing is fantastic, as well as the settings and costumes. The students also loved it. Ten out of ten. [Ms Campbell] I love Bride and Prejudice!! It is so colourful and of course being a musical is something that appeals to me too! I love the big song and dance numbers especially as they have so much energy and humour. [Ms Wright]
I’ve only seen one Bollywood film: Bride and Prejudice caught my eye as I was interested in seeing a different interpretation of a classic novel. I thought it was filmed beautifully. I also loved the music and dancing, learning a bit about a different culture and seeing the story modernised in such an interesting way. A great feel good film. [Ms Whittaker ]
Mughal-E-Azam – the great Indian epic of the Indian Mughals and the love that destroyed an empire. As a child I was fed a steady diet of Bollywood blockbusters, the films that changed perceptions and broke records; great films like Naseeb (1981) with the awe inspiring Amitabh Bachchan; Hero (1983) with the dashing and then unknown Jackie Shroff and I watched Salman Khan use a dove to romance a girl and say 'I love you' in Mein Pyar Kiya (1989). Shah Rukh Khan ruled the 90's and lived up to his title of the Baadshah of Bollywood with brilliant titles like the unforgettable Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1999). Yes, I ran right out and brought the same scarf Kajol uses in that train scene when she leaves – don't judge me! I don't watch every Bollywood movie but I know the highlights and some of
the less mainstream and off-the-wall – Jab We Met (2007), 3 Idiots (2009), Delly Belly (2011) and the QuentinTarantino-esque Kaminey (2009) are
favourites from the last decade or so. I'm familiar with the gossip, the makeups and break-ups; the tunes and the fashion that surrounds these cinematic feats, so when Mr. Benison asked me to pick out a favourite I was hard pressed to choose one. A recent watch has made it to the top spot – for all the reasons listed above. The music, the romance , the cast of thousands, the real-gold-and-pearl-
incrusted-clothing has become the stuff of legend and the fact that it took 25 years to make, going from black and white to Technicolor. Mughal-E-Azam (The Emperor of the Mughals) is the 1960 masterpiece by K. Asif (Karimuddin Asif), starring legendary actors Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Prithviraj Kapoor and Durga Khote. It is based loosely on a period of the life of Mughal prince Salim and his doomed love for Anaarkali a low-caste palace serving girl. Bollywood is full of glamorous and extraordinarily attractive people; notably actresses are usually former Miss Universes/Miss Worlds. I have to say hands down Madhubala is jaw droopingly beautiful – her turn as Anaarkali is truly remarkable and unforgettable. In my opinion, the most memorable scene in a film bursting at the seams with amazing acting, is when she is chained in the dungeons awaiting execution. Legend has it that in order to convey an authentic sense of despondency the actress remained in that space for two days...is it true? Does it matter? Its this sort of legend that makes Mughal-E-Azam worth a watch. The song that accompanies the scene is beautifully composed, sung and of course shot. There you go. I recommend Mughal-E -Azam – Bollywood at its best and most extravagant. [Ms Arif]
Making a guest appearance in this issue of The Bookworm is ex-student and member of the venerable Mahmood clan, Bollywood expert and enthusiast Maaria Mahmood . . . I don’t have a favourite Bollywood film but one of the films I love the most is Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, starring Salman Khan, Rani Mukherji and Preity Zinta. It was released in 2001 and is possibly one of the most cheesy, illogical movies of the Noughties (actually most Bollywood movies were like that). BUT, it’s still better than all of Shah Rukh Khan’s filmography - boring Paheli, Dil se and Chalte Chalte - put together! The reason I love it is due to it’s amazing leads, Salman Khan, one of the biggest stars in Hindi film history, and Rani Mukherji, one of the greatest actresses of all time. They’re an awesome on-screen pair and work really well together. The movie is sweet, melodramatic, silly and has the worst clothes worn in a Bollywood film ever. That makes it great fun. Story wise, it was the first Hindi film to take on the issue of surrogacy and depicts it in a very strange way - but luckily it works. My favourite part of the film is the song, Number 1 Punjabi. Watch it and you’ll know why! It’s a masterpiece. Even if this were just 3 hours of Salman Khan and Rani Mukherji standing still I would still love it. Why? Because of their combined awesomeness. They are basically, perfection. Anyone who disagrees . . . well, their opinion doesn’t matter, because I’m right.* *I love your attitude but aren’t you a bit harsh on Shah Rukh there Maaria? Aren’t Dil to Pagel Hai, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi or Om Shanti Om worth watching? Just asking! (The Movie Doctor)
Maaria has given us her iconoclastic list of the WORST Bollywood films - this is gonna upset A LOT of people . . .
Ra One Jab Tak Hai Jaan Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Dhoom 2 Krrish Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai Rockstar Ishq in Paris Chennai Express Players
I love her list of the best Bollywood films . . .
Black Yuva Tere Naam Paheli Parineeta Hum Tum Lagaan 3 Idiots Dil Chahta Hai Tabash Bunty aur Babli Omkara Kaminey Raincoat Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola English Vinglish Jaan e Mann Company Nayak the real hero
CINEMA CLUB The Dirty Picture Sexism is everywhere in the film industry. Male stars get paid far more than female stars. Their careers are often longer too. As they get older their characters end up having relationships with younger (and younger) women. Men outnumber women throughout the industry and wield more power. All these trends are just as prevalent in Bollywood as in Hollywood. It seems mean to pick on Shah Rukh Khan but I’m going to anyway. He was born in 1965. When he made Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) he was 32, Madhuri Dixit was 30 and Kharisma Kapoor was 23: absolutely fine. Jump forward to 2008 when Khan starred opposite Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. He was 43 and she was 20. Nor was that a one-off,: pick out any famous male star from the last 50 years and you’ll see a similar pattern. This isn’t to get all moralistic about relationships that have big age differences, but to show how much power lies with the male stars and how little the female stars have; to show how female youth and beauty is celebrated and fetishized; how most female stars are expected to give up acting when they get married; how female stars feel pressurised into plastic surgery; how they fare in the press compared to their male counterparts. In other words, inequality and oppression lie at the heart of the industry. Not surprising really but something to think about and it’s a subject that few Bollywood films are willing to acknowledge. That’s part of the reason why The Dirty Picture is such an interesting film. Vidya
Balan plays Silk and the story is loosely based on the life of Silk Smitha, an actress known for her risqué roles in the 1980s. The film is a 15 certificate and it’s fair to say that there is more flesh on show than in most Bollywood films. It‘s IS very entertaining but it also has a dark heart and brilliantly exposes the hypocrisy, double dealing and sexism at the centre of the movie business. Very provocative! 2013 This year at the cinema continues to be disappointing . If you look at the biggest box office hits so far its just . . . dull. And that’s being polite. However I can offer you a big film to look forward to and one of the films of the year on DVD. Gravity, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock is out in November. It’s a massive hit with audiences and critics in the USA. It’s gonna be good film fans - I can feel it. The DVD is less of a crowd pleaser. Not sure many of you will have seen any of Sarah Polley’s films - maybe last year’s Take This Waltz if anything. But this year she released a quasi-documentary about her family and her discovery that her father wasn’t in fact her biological father. Stories We Tell is a gripping portrait of families, their secrets and a thoughtful meditation on how we tell ourselves stories to construct our identities and our past. If that makes it sound boring, well it’s not! It’s the most genuinely affecting and moving film of the year. Lists Everyone knows how much I like lists. At the moment the Guardian is releasing a little run of Top 10s - Romance, Arthouse, Action, Scifi, Crime, Comedy, Teen, War, Family, Gothic and Horror. Any budding film fan could dip into these lists and get lost in the magic of cinema. I envy you all for the discoveries you’ll make.
brilliant comedy with a sensational performance by Hema Malini), or the timeless Sholay. Here I’ll concentrate on two relatively modern films. Dil se.. (1998) starred Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. This is a powerful and disturbing film that divides opinion like no other Bollywood movie. Is it a love story? A disturbing parable about the (warped) nature of Indian nationalism? Decide for yourselves but try and think Black and Asian History is my topic for about the way the film subverts this Bookworm. Some of you, who traditional Bollywood notions of perhaps don’t understand the power romance, love at first sight and the and the brilliance of the Movie Doctor could be feeling sleepy already. Fear not, I will not bore you to death with my recommendations. All films have been tried out on at least one (stroppy) teenager. First, a bit of Bollywood. It’s easy to believe that Bollywood is all about fantasy, escapism or middle class desire and aspiration but the early classics of heroic leading man. Manisha Koirala and Hindi cinema like Mother India, Pyassa Preiti Zinta (in her first film) are and Shree 420 explored social change, astonishingly good. The cinematography the caste system, oppression and is second to none and the songs, like the alienation. I’d urge any fan of modern famous Chaiya Chaiya, are exceptional. Bollywood films to take a look at some Many of you will have seen Lagaan. It’s of these films or at films made in the a great story, with a terrific ensemble 60s and 70s that continued this trend - cast. It’s the biggest-budget Bollywood Mughal-e-Azam, Seeta aur Geeta (a movie ever and was the first to shoot
entirely on location. Aamir Khan leads the fight against British Imperialism whilst also undermining caste distinctions, stereotypes of Hindu/ Muslim discord and much else. How ever many times you watch it the cricket match is still exciting and full of tension. Three films that form the Elements Trilogy were made by an Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta . These are Fire (1996), Earth (1998) and Water (2005) These are not Bollywood movies but
instead contain influences from Indian and Western styles of filmmaking. All 3 deal with serious issues –arranged marriage and homosexuality in Fire; India’s partition in Earth and caste and women’s oppression in Water. Mehta’s direction might be termed poetic realism though no one tone dominates the films. You will need to bring the tissues though! Next, two films from the 90s starring Denzel Washington. Malcolm X is a biopic of the famous civil rights activist. It deals with his youth, his involvement in criminality, his connections to the Nation of Islam and his political activity. Director Spike Lee produced an entertaining, spirited film that is also inspirational and educational. Glory (1989) is about a black regiment fighting for the North in the American Civil War.
Mathew Broderick and Morgan Freeman join Denzel in this film that tries to reclaim a part of American history that was ignored and obscured. It is an emotional rollercoaster and, quelle surprise, you’ll need your hankie again. Fans of Studio Ghibli (who have made classics like Spirited Away) should watch Grave of the Fireflies. This is a film about a brother and sister trying to survive in Japan during World War II after their mother dies. In what is supposedly a ‘children’s film’ director Isao Takahata never holds back when casting a severe gaze on Japanese nationalism and militarism or the horror and iniquity of war. It’s a profound and moving film. Wadjda isn’t out on DVD till January but IS one of the best films of 2013. The eponymous heroine is a cheeky 11yr old growing up in Riyadh. The film sheds light on the restrictions and difficulties of women’s lives in Saudi Arabia. Despite the serious content it’s a surprisingly feel -good film with a huge heart.
March 8th 1964 - Martin Luther King and Malcolm X meet
In our special Black History Month guide we’ll try to focus on some of the positive bits of history—groups of people fighting back against oppression, groundbreaking moments, inspiring individual sacrifice and leadership. That doesn’t mean that we want to gloss over the terrible parts of our history or the present state of global affairs. More than anything we hope this guide gives you a sense of how important it is to learn the lessons of history. Maybe it will also inspire you too, to fight back against injustice when you find it.
Black History? Britain is now a rich multicultural society - though of course it has always been a land of immigrants. Thankfully in 2013 most of us are proud of that fact. So why, some may be asking, isn’t this week of celebration and reflection called Black & Asian History Month (for instance)? Should it be? The best answer I can give is to take you back to Britain in the 1960s and 1970s when levels of racism in Britain were much greater. The civil rights movement in Britain, massively influenced by the courage of civil rights protesters in the USA took the label ‘black’ to unite African-Caribbean and Asian people in the fight against racism and fascism. It’s fair to say that those decades still represent the high point of militancy and struggle. I for one like the idea of non-white people being united in struggle though I like the idea of black and white people united in the struggle against racism and fascism even more! This section of the Bookworm is hopefully a testament and celebration of those ideas. These are issues that everybody needs to think through for themselves. Maybe if it did make people feel included and involved then we should change the name. Whatever happens it won’t stop us here at Swanshurst celebrating all cultures and all histories of resistance.
There’s a great Guardian Top 10 just out for Black History Month. Take a look. We’ve also got loads of good books that will make it possible for you to investigate the histories of imperialism, racism and oppression and those of resistance and rebellion for yourselves.
The Slave Trade and the roots of racism Sorry to start by considering such a difficult and troubling part of history but I think it’s necessary. It’s hard to appreciate the workings of racism and lots of other events in Africa, America and Europe over the last 500 years without a basic understanding of the African slave trade. It’s difficult to imagine the depth of inhumanity that transported at least 20 million Africans from their homeland to the Americas. Historians believe that between 10 and 30 million slaves lost their lives to the brutality of the slave system. The economic system that we all live in today is called capitalism. It emerged in Europe in the 1500s and 1600s before becoming fully established in the 1700s and 1800s. This was the period when European countries came to dominate the rest of the globe. Central to that process was slavery, the slave trade and colonial conquest. The slave trade grew out of the emerging capitalist system and gave a huge boost to its growth. The great black historian Eric Williams wrote that slavery “fertilised the entire productive system”. Britain was at the centre of the slave trade—at its height British ships carried 40,000 men, women and children to the Americas every year (another 40,000 were taken by other countries). Their capture and the voyage were brutal—tens of thousands died (probably one in every six). The “standard space per slave” laid down by the Royal Africa Company was five foot long, 11 inches wide and 23 inches high – for a voyage lasting nine or ten months. Once they got to their destination the slaves were sold at auctions to live out their lives on plantations that produced sugar, cotton, tobacco and rum. Here they were at the mercy of their owners. Many simply worked the slaves until they died using torture and rape.
The question we have to ask ourselves is how could human beings treat other human beings in such a terrifying way? Remember that the slave owners were Christians. Their reading of the Bible led them to believe that good Christians should not be involved in the enslavement of other people. Their solution was to suggest that black people were not human beings, but a form of animal. Not everyone gave in to this idea so by the 1700s this justification was being refined and put into print. The historian Peter Fryer describes racism as “a largely defensive ideology – the weapon of a class whose wealth, way of life, and power were under mounting attack”. It is a common argument that slavery was the result of a racist worldview. Eric Williams challenged this. He wrote, “Slavery was not born of racism – rather, racism was the consequence of slavery.” in the next few pages we will show how people have challenged slavery, colonialism and racism, especially the racism of the state, ever since.
Though slavery was formally abolished in 1865 the racist Jim Crow laws were introduced in the southern states in 1876 and survived until 1965.
Yes, 1965! These laws made segregation, discrimination and oppression a part of daily life for ordinary black Americans. The racist Klu Klux Klan acted as a paramilitary force to back up the laws. Lynching - execution by hanging, burning or shooting was a fact of life. Between 1889 and 1923 there were 50-100 lynchings every year. Where and when did the civil rights movement begin? There were individual and collective struggles against racism throughout the period. The NAACP was founded in 1909 and the US Communist Party also had a proud history of fighting racism and trying to unite black and white in struggle. World War 2 also had an impact. The wartime boom meant that virtually all Americans had full employment, whilst many black men fought in the war too These factors raised expectations of a better, fairer life and the confidence to fight for it. However one of the defining moments of the struggle took place on December 1st 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama city bus to a white passenger. She was arrested, tried and convicted of violating segregation laws. Her act sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott that lasted for 382 days and changed America forever.
"I Have A Dream" Delivered by Martin Luther King on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., August 28, 1963.
There are so many fascinating aspects to the Black Civil Right’s Movement that I can’t do it justice in such a short space. Historians pick out the nonviolence preached by Martin Luther King and other religious leaders and counterpose it with the more radical tactics advocated by Malcolm X, the Black Panthers and workers who took up the banner of Black Power in their workplaces. Certainly the non-violent sit-ins, marches and demonstrations showed up the brutality and the racism of the American state for the whole world to see. It’s also true that the confrontations between the black youth of the southern states became increasingly militant and their battles with the racist police scared the state with the possibility of revolution and rebellion: the Kennedy government was forced to act. King was also became increasingly outspoken as the decade (1960s) progressed. The struggles of the Black Civil Right’s are vital in so many ways. They energised and gave confidence to people all around the world to fight against racism, oppression, war and imperialism. Moreover they are an important reminder for Black Americans today when racism is again being used as a tool by the state and when The War on Drugs and The War on Terror have ravaged so many communities—that racism can be fought and pushed back.
1968. The height of the civil rights movement in the USA. Mexico City. American Tommie Smith wins the 200 metres sprint. His compatriot John Carlos comes third. Hours later the medal ceremony begins. The men approach the podium wearing no shoes but with black socks to symbolize black poverty. Smith wears a black scarf to symbolise black power. When the national anthem starts both men bow solemnly and give the black power salute. When they leave the podium the crowd boo! Can you imagine what courage that must have taken? Can you imagine a British athlete or footballer doing the same thing today to demonstrate against poverty in Britain or bankers’ greed or war in Afghanistan?
Muhammad Ali is probably the most mous boxer the world has known. e won the light heavyweight gold medal at the Olympics in 1960. Soon after, he was refused service t a whites-only restaurant and ecame embroiled in a fight with a hite gang. In protest he threw his lympic medal into the Ohio River In 1967 he refused to be conscripted to the army to fight in Vietnam. The ress gave him a terrible time; he was rrested and charged for draftodging. Ali responded with one of HE great quotes: "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong... No Viet Cong ever called me nigger" He became one of the voices of s generation and inspired many more to join the anti-war protests nd the civil rights movement.
Australian Peter Norman came second. He also wore a badge in support of Smith and Carlos. Incredibly he was then ostracized by the Australian media and condemned by the Australian Olympic committee. When Norman died of cancer in 2006 Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave eulogies and were pallbearers at Norman's funeral.
Throughout the 20th Century music has played an important role in political struggles. Think of Billie Holiday famously singing Bitter Fruit at the Cafe Society, Greenwich Village in 1939. Or think of people like Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. One of the great songs of the Civil Rights era, A Change is Gonna Come was written by Sam Cooke in 1964. Both he and Otis Redding recorded memorable versions. Marvin Gaye released What’s going on in 1971. It’s an amazing, beautiful soul/Motown album that raged against racism & the Vietnam war.
Throughout the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and noughties, music has continued to break boundaries and act as a lightening conductor for political activism. The Specials, formed in 1978, the same year as Rock Against Racism led the fight against racism and fascism in Britain. They recorded songs like A Message to you, Rudy and the brilliant Ghost Town in 1981.
In 1990, Public Enemy released Fear of a Black Planet. It included the single "911 is a joke", which criticized emergency response units for taking longer to arrive at emergencies in the black community than those in the white community, and Fight the Power, regarded as one of the most popular and influential songs in hip hop history. It was the theme song of the film Do the Right Thing
The struggle for independence in India The history of the partition of British India and the subsequent history of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh since, is controversial and painful. Independence from British rule must be celebrated but the violent nature of the partition always has to be remembered too. Before the British arrived, India was one of the richest nations on Earth with all manner of industries. Textiles produced there were famous all over the world. First the East India Company began the pillage of India’s natural resources in the seventeenth century and then the British government took over in the mid nineteenth century as India became more and more important to the Empire—commercially, financially, militarily and psychologically. Both regimes used repression and taxation to impoverish the population. It’s important to recognise just how important continued domination of India was. Lord Mayo, viceroy of India (1869 –72) would say: 'We are determined as long as sun shines in heaven to hold India. Our national character, our commerce, demand it; and we have, one way or another, £250 millions of English capital fixed in the country'. The British maintained control in a variety of ways - sometimes with repression and brutality, but they also used the tactics of divide and rule. They created and nurtured loyal groups among the population and set them against each other. This became increasingly important at the start of the 20th century when Indian Nationalists began to organise for independence around the Indian National Congress. These attempts to divide the population weren’t always successful however.
When the state tried to partition Bengal in 1905 it was met with protests, boycotts, demonstrations and violence across India forcing the British to backtrack in 1911. Yet it was during those years that the British helped to form the Muslim League, which, in its infancy was full of rich landlords and titleholders intent on backing the colonialists and enriching themselves. The British also brought in electoral reforms that for the first time distinguished between Muslim and Hindu. In various ways the population was being influenced to distinguish themselves by religion rather than by what united them against the landlords, higher caste Indians and the British. For the most part Hindus and Muslims had lived together peacefully, sharing traditions, practices and of course languages for centuries. Indeed the history of the following 30 years was one of marches, demonstrations, rebellions and uprisings that usually saw Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims united in the fight against the British. I haven’t written about the savagery and horrors of partition here— you can investigate that for yourselves. Rather it was important to point to the complex factors leading up to partition and suggest that it didn’t have to work out that way. Throughout history, you should never underestimate the extent to which Western nations, or new Imperialist powers, try to extend their political and economic influence even when they no longer directly control a country (or know they are about to lose control).
ARAB
The Arab Spring is perhaps ‘current affairs’ rather than history, yet events throughout the Middle East over the last few years are undoubtedly historic. Revolutionary upheavals have toppled dictators and corrupt regimes. Ordinary people have shown remarkable courage in the face of brutal state violence and repression. When revolutionary upheavals occur it’s important to be clear about certain points. Is it OK or right to celebrate when so many people are still fighting in a terrible Civil War (Syria) or when very little seems to have changed despite ‘regime change’. The answer of course is that it’s all too easy to be cynical when new governments try to dampen and contain the desire for real change among the people. So you have to remember. Remember how long Hosni Mubarack ruled in Egypt (30 years) or Gaddafi in Libya (over 40 years) with their legions of secret police; remember the demonstrations in Tahir Square; remember the bravery of those doing the fighting and the organizing:; remember that all of that needs a vision—that the world can be a better place even in the face of seemingly implacable odds. Then you have to think and imagine how a revolutionary situation plays out. The ecstasy and relief of toppling a dictator; the amazing feeling of being able to change the world but then slowly realising how difficult it is to change the underlying economic and social structures that keep the rich and powerful in control. Thus revolutionary periods have an ebb and flow as the people learn lessons, as political parties are formed and tried out, as new governments try to enforce unpopular economic policies and so on. So yes we have to celebrate, but every day we must also try and think about those dying and suffering in the struggle. We also have to try and analyse what is happening and learn the lessons for the future.
SPRING
For anyone wanting to study the on-going Arab Spring there are loads of brilliant resources. All the broadsheet newspapers cover the events extensively so it’s interesting to compare and contrast their coverage in terms of political bias. There are also a flood of books being written as commentators, academics, novelists and many others try to come to terms with the events and forge a narrative. The Guardian has a fantastic timeline of events which might serve as a good launching pad for your research.
What I think is different today is the lack of political connection between the black middle class and the increasing numbers of black people who are more impoverished than ever before. Angela Davis I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. Muhammad Ali Freedom is never given; it is won. A. Philip Randolph
A riot is the language of the unheard. Martin Luther King
Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Frederick Douglass
Deluded by modern western civilisation, we have forgotten our ancient civilisation and worship the might of arms. Ghandhi
I appeal to the English not to nurse the thought that they can divide Hindu and Muslim. If they do they will be betraying India and betraying themselves. Hindus and Muslims are born of the same soil. They have the same blood, eat the same food, drink the same water and speak the same language. Ghandhi Racism is like a cadillac, they bring out a new model every year. Malcom X
It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. Frederick Douglass
No, I am not going 10,000 miles to help murder, kill, and burn other people to simply help continue the domination of white slave masters over dark people the world over. This is the day and age when such evil injustice must come to an end. Muhammed Ali
ALGERIA France’s colonial forces took control of Algeria between 1830 and 1847. Algeria became part of France. Settlers had the same rights as any French citizen in their ‘home’ nation whereas Algerians were only given full rights if they gave up their religion (most of the Muslim majority of course refused). The rest were subject to the notorious Code de l'indigénat [native code]. With this, the French imposed special laws, and criminalised the most minor insubordination. Any public statement challenging authority was classed as an offence. There were various risings and organisations that tried to oppose continuing French rule but they were all brutally smashed by French forces. It was not until 1954 that a group of young radicals, impatient with electoral attempts at change, led a wave of attacks across the country and with that, the rebellion spread. Don’t be under any illusions—this was a savage war, with brutal tactics used by both sides. However the famous French philosopher and activist Jean-Paul Sartre would say in defence of the revolutionaries "It is not their violence, but ours, turned back." By 1956 there were 450,00 French troops in Algeria; the repression was savage and stark. Over time political pressure in France began to build up. Conscripts refused to fight and attacked officers. The war became more and more unpopular with the French electorate too. By 1959 71% backed negotiation with the revolutionaries. In 1961 a demonstration was called in Paris in support of independence. The police attacked the demonstration and over 200 people (mainly Algerians) were killed. The French president, Charles De Gaulle, under enormous pressure, finally held secret talks. Algeria achieved independence in 1962. Over 300,000 Algerians had died in a war that lasted seven years.
The Battle of Algiers (1966), directed by Gillo Pontecorvo is perhaps the greatest political film ever made. It was filmed on the streets of Algiers and has a kind of documentary feel to it. It tells of a year of escalating violence in Algeria in the 1950s; ‘terrorist’ attacks by Algerian revolutionaries , torture and humiliation by the French.