Saturday, May 11, 2013

R.I.P Jai Chandiram

(26 December 1937 - 11 May 2013)

Jai Chandiram, beloved and respected by her wide circle of family and friends, remained throughout her life highly passionate about women’s rights, the arts, and education. 

A Doordarshan trail-blazer, she stepped into the national television broadcasting arena in 1961.  Jai’s career started with broadcasting to a small audience in Delhi but her legacy spread into many facets of television broadcasting with roles including Producer; lead player in the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE); Director of the Pune Institute of Television; Station Director, Ahmedabad; Station Director, Delhi; Channel 3 Director; and Deputy Director General of Doordarshan.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from Lady Irwin College in Delhi, studied at Briarcliff Manor in New York as an exchange student, and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the School of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida.

Jai was deeply caring and loving towards her friends and associates spread all over the world. She had a passion for all things cultural which she carried with her at all times. People close to her could feel her good vibrations and energy.

As the first Asian President of International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) for two terms, Jai delved passionately into women’s rights on many levels culminating in the highly respected annual IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival that has given women filmmakers an arena in which to showcase gender issues while documenting the socio-cultural environment, religion, family and self. This film festival generates participation from women directors across the world.

On 26 April 2013, Jai was awarded the IAWRT Lifetime Achievement Award.

In an email, her friend Sally Cloninger captures the essence of what it was like to know Jai: I think of you nearly every day but especially yesterday on International Women's Day… I hope you know how important and inspirational you are for me. Because of your generosity and leadership I was granted entry into your world of global women's media and social change. So many of the wonderful collaborative projects that I hold still so close to me, were with you. I will never forget our times in KL, at AIBD, on Old Klang Road, in Manila, in Bangladesh, and in Delhi. I cannot think of any other friend who has influenced me so much and I hold you close in my heart in these days ahead…I am thinking of you with love and images of peace.


She devoted extraordinary talent and energy to develop the use of media in education at Central Institute of Education – NCERT, Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU), Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting and Development (AIBD) in Kuala Lumpur; Deccan Development Society, Hyderabad, among other institutions.

She passed without a struggle accepting her future with composure and dignity.

Jai was born on 26 December 1937, into a Sindhi family in Model Town, Lahore, to Mr Hotechand and Mrs. Janki Chandiram. She is survived by a loving family including a brother, Suresh Chandiram; an older sister, Minnie Jaisinghani; a younger sister, Gita Bhatia; three nephews, and four nieces.






 

R.I.P Jai Chandiram

(26 December 1937 - 11 May 2013)

  

Saturday, April 27, 2013


Jai Chandiram gets IAWRT Lifetime Achievement Award

Jai Chandiram, one of the first women in television in India, who rose to the position of Deputy Director General of Doordarshan, has been conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award from IAWRT. Jai, who is fighting cancer, received the award in her brother's home in Delhi on April 26.


The IAWRT Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted this year to honour individuals who have made exceptional contributions towards the growth and development of IAWRT. Jai Chandiram is the second recipient of the award.

Gerd Inger Polden, the Vice President of the International Board, who joined the award ceremony from Norway via skype, said: "We honour you for your great contribution to IAWRT both as the founder of the India Chapter and its longtime Managing Trustee and for your period as President of IAWRT International from the year 2001-2005. In your period as President, you were able to give IAWRT a new direction as a truly global network".

As the first Asian President of the IAWRT for two terms, Jai delved passionately into women’s rights on many levels culminating in the highly acclaimed annual IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival that has given women filmmakers an arena in which to showcase gender issues.

From being a part time actress off-Broadway to the first Asian President of IAWRT International, Jai Chandiram has been a teacher, mentor, friend and an inspiration to a whole generation of professional media women.

The award ceremony was attended by representatives of the Board which included Anupama Srinivasan, Nupur Basu and Samina Mishra as well as members of the India chapter - Aradhana Kapur, Iffat Fatima, Kavita Joshi, Renuka Sharma, Shazia Ilmi.  Speaking on their behalf, Reena Mohan, Managing Trustee of IAWRT India, said: ''Fifty two years ago, a young woman strode through the portals of Doordarshan. Her trail blazing career and iconic personality touched the lives of many and inspired hundreds of media students, colleagues and friends. We are here to pay tribute to that extraordinary woman, Jai Chandiram. On behalf of IAWRT India, I would like to thank Jai for cajoling, pushing and guiding many of us women working in film and television to discover our true potential.''
The award was presented by Ananya Chakraborti, Treasurer of the International Board. She had expressed her feelings in a written message to Jai. ''You are very special to me. I am extremely fortunate to have had you as mentor, and am grateful for the supportive role you have played in my life.''
Rachel Nakitare, IAWRT President, said, “You are a pillar and icon to many of us. You inspire me with your grasp of issues and exceptional networking skills. Sometimes I wonder how you manage to have an ear for everyone despite the crowded schedules. You are the true definition of leadership and an embodiment of genuine love. We honor you with the IAWRT award of dedication and service because you deserve it.”


Thursday, March 14, 2013



the festival in photographs...

Here are the links to photographs of the seminar

Photographs by Sumit (IIC)

Photographs by Sania Farooqui

https://picasaweb.google.com/118280293095698070998/SeminarPhotographs5MarchTakenByPriya
Photographs by Priya Goswami

Here are the links to photographs of the festival:

by Daljeet (IIC staff photographer)

by Sania Farooqui

by Priya Goswami

by Priya Goswami
by Priya Goswami

by Sania Farooqui

by Sania Farooqui


by Priya Gosawmi

by Sania Farooqui

Monday, March 11, 2013

in the press...


IAWRT India's annual celebrations of International Women's Day concluded on 8 March. A big thank you to all our partners, filmmakers, panelists, volunteers and the audience for making the 9th IAWRT Asian Women's Film Festival and Seminar on Community Radio a tremendous success.

In the Press:

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

SHAME WAS A PLACE INSIDE MY HEART
Opening 6th March, Gandhi-King Plaza, IIC
(6-7 March) 11.00 am - 7.00 pm


Digital Prints by Sohini Dasgupta

Sohini Dasgupta is a practicing artist based out of Bangalore. She uses painting, photographs and ink sketches to weave allusions. Her works have been exhibited in Cairo, New Delhi and Bangalore.
  

Sound Installation by Priyanka Chhabra and Manmeet Kaur

Monday, March 4, 2013

Opening Film

FACING MIRRORS 
2011, 102 min, Negar Azarbayjani, Iran
Delhi premiere

5 March 2013
IIC Main Auditorium

6:00 pm

We are delighted to present the much acclaimed FACING MIRRORS, the sparkling debut feature of Negar Azarbayjani. Screened at 78 festivals across the world, it is the first feature film from Iran that has a transgender main character. What is truly special is not the novelty of the idea but the warmth and sensitivity of the treatment.

Set in contemporary Iran, the film is a story of an unlikely and daring friendship that develops despite social norms and religious beliefs. Rana is a traditional housewife who is forced to drive a cab to clear a debt. One day by chance, she picks up Eddie who is desperately awaiting a passport to leave the country. At first Rana tries to help but when she realizes the truth about Eddie, she is confused.

To be followed by a discussion with Fereshteh Taerpour —the film’s producer, co writer, executive producer and production designer. Fereshteh is a leading Iranian film producer and has contributed immensely to children’s films and literature. She has served on the jury of many film festivals including the International Children’s Film Festival in Hyderabad.


IAWRT Seminar on
COMMUNITY RADIO & DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH ASIA
5 March 2013

IIC Conference Room II
10:00 am - 05:30 pm

The Seminar will look at the journey of the people of South Asia for self-expression through Community Radio.  Community Radio practitioners, activists and legal experts from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan will speak about their respective country's experiences and the obstacles they are facing even today both from the governments and commercial interests.

The Seminar will be an occasion for grassroots level programmers and those involved in campaigning for policy level changes to come together and understand whether communities really have a say in running their radio stations.


Click here for seminar schedule