Beyond Boundaries: Heenakshi Malhotra

In an era full of communal rebuttals and inter-religious disharmonies , these five couples made the hard decision to accept each other and adamantly tie the knots. They opposed popular belief that that inter religious marriages should be non existent and refuted an already irascible narrow minded society.

Beyond Boundaries , a film by mentor and friend, Gaurang Raval drew me closer to the idea that when two people marry , they marry each other and not their Gods.
Ask yourself this simple question-
Would you marry someone who is smart, understanding and compatible or someone who worships the same god as you?
A mentality disregarded as merely anachronistic by most Western people is still sadly prevalent in our country (and the world). Talking on a personal note , even I have had my days where I was counseled by sanctimonious know-it-all preachers against who to marry and who not to marry. I would also blatantly like to admit that my own parents have had concerns regarding this, leaving my own rationality entirely rescind.This film talks not about how society admonished such couples or how they faced a vicious personal diatribe but focuses on a respectful discussion of issues.It has greatly impacted my sense of thinking on this subject and I strongly recommend every young and old person to watch this film.

Beyond Boundaries: Chaitri Vasavada

The first film screening by Sauhard- proud, excited, nervous all at the same time the movie, Beyond Boundaries, basically talks about those people who overlooked all boundaries to follow their heart, they did not let their religion take over their power of love. 

Being a simple human being, often questions regarding religious acceptability arise when it comes to marrying someone outside your religion. Even today when people say they've progressed  and  accepted new cultures and traditions, in the back of their minds, they still fear if there is someone in their family who wants to have an inter-caste/inter-religion marriage.  Through this film, Sauhard has portrayed love stories of five such couples, who fell in love with someone outside their religion and have successfully taken their relationship to another level. Although they had to pass through many obstacles, they did not lose hope. They convinced the world, the people around them who were always against their marriage and had doubts and questions regarding their relationship. The couple talked about how they have successfully passed through obstacles like riots, bomb blasts, where religion played an important role. They supported each other, helped one another instead of blaming their communities, at that particular point of time. This is something that made me respect them. This film teaches us to remove the religious differences and accept the world as a family. No religion is good or bad. Love has the power to overcome all obstacles.. you just have to have faith. The story has also inspired us to think in a different direction, inspired us to follow our heart and believe in it. Those five couples taught us how easy it is for us to bring the change that is required in today’s world, also, accept the change, together. Dealing with problems, together. Facing the world, together. This film has thus, taught us many things that can change our perception and beliefs in many ways and it also proves that ‘love’ is the strongest of all the feelings.

Beyond Boundaries- A Film of Roses: Mehreen Quadri

If Love was not allowed to be left to blossom, this film by Gaurang Raval would not have been made. I understood that love needs no language, age, religion, status, background. This film took my understanding to a greater and broader level.

I was never a part of the immediate preparations of the movie. For me, the movie was a delightful surprise! Sitting in the audience, I could feel the love which was expressed by each couple in the film. The reason may also be that watching the smiling faces of the couples present in the audience I felt the essence of the movie.

The most beautiful line for me was what Neha Desai (youngest couple) said “After the marriage, I never had shocks. There were just happy surprises. One was, his mother is now my mother.” For me, acceptance is an important aspect in a marriage. By watching the movie, I felt that acceptance will be there at some point of time what is required is time and patience. 

The eldest couple  touched my heart the most, they were the youngest by heart, Nafisa and Rajoo Barot. They had to wait for more than a decade to give an acceptable name to their love courtship. After 33 years of their marriage, those 11 years seem to just fade away. Love is alive in their hearts, strong as ever.

I believe that the movie just showed Roses and not thorns which cling to an “Inter-caste” marriage. But this gave out a very strong message that there are some couples, who despite  all the sufferings, are eventually happy and content with their lives. The discussion in the end of the movie raised a few questions in my midn, but the couples confidently and positively answered them. Many messages were given by the couples, but the one which moved me was “Due to such marriages, Love grows between the partners and also lead to communal Harmony which is highly necessary at the societal level”

Beyond religions and with love: Anushka Gupta

On Saturday, 21 November, 2014,  Sauhard launched a film "Beyond Boundaries" which was screened at Gujarat Vidhyapith. The film was basically about 5 couples who were from different religions and got married.

Inter religion marriages have been talked about quite often in our country. But according to me this film did miracles in depicting what people who fall in love with someone who  is not from the same religion feel. It came directly from the mouths of the original couples and that's what gave it its unique value. It was sweet and romantic. It was also entertaining because it contained not one but five great love stories. Also seeing the couples present at the premier instilled a sense of respect and made emotions flow through me. They shared experiences beyond the movie and these were enough to prove their greatness and the sanctity of their love for each other.

This film was definitely an emotional ride for me. It taught me how religion and love should be kept separate and how people with different religious identities can still become one soul and be happy. It taught me about how if ones love is strong enough the world cannot stop them from being together.

Personally I feel more  can be done with this film. It can be converted into a whole 3 hour movie with more experiences of the couples. In fact all of the country should be given the opportunity to admire this masterpiece. Beyond boundaries is definitely a movie which has developed a new religion, 'LOVE' and this religion is the greatest of all other religions.

Breaking Boundaries: Shalkie Kumar

Love isn’t only for poets to fathom nor is it only to be cherished young, immeasurable and incorrigible; it cannot be contained within boundaries. An affair of two, an affair between two, but unfortunately it isn't as idealistic as it sounds especially when your envisioned better half has a different God than yours.It is shameful when concepts like ‘Love Jihad’ brim in a country such as India, which glorify diversity. 

Not only it is hypocritical but also gives an outreached evidence of how religion as a tool is capable of enslaving and dividing people. In the 21st century living in a democratic country, we should be rational enough to not include religion in something as beautiful as falling in love. Why run from emotions and feelings only because he/she reads Quran, Geeta, Bible or anything else for that matter? Why cannot we keep the religion aside and judge the person and his/her family for who they are? Why do we let other personalities interfere and flare doubts in our judgments? And most importantly why have we made religion an epicenter of our decisions? It is not even the head ruling the heart, in fact it is a set of beliefs ruling everything (Doesn't sound rational to me!).So what happened when one fine day, in a random meeting, Gaurang Bhai announced his plan to make a movie on the same idea? Clue: It made us admire him more.  So Beyond Boundaries is a short documentary film coming from the efforts of people who were cognizant and insights and contributions from the people who made this cognizance possible. The twist is that it doesn't talk about the hardships of the interfaith couples instead it plans to leave a smile on your face rather than dewy tears.  It celebrates the lives of five couples from Ahmedabad, whose lives like the city itself, is a beautiful confluence of two cultures. For some friendship blossomed into love, some tested the cruel incomings of time and emerged winners, for some celebrating the festivals of both religions was an untamed joy, for some perceptions were changed for better and some received the consent for the marriage from the family member after judging her ability to sway through the traffic. These are the stories that encapsulate the simplicity and liberalness of the closest and purest of associations, marriage.So with all the respect and gratitude, I congratulate all the couples who have dared or are daring to live life on their terms and also all the families who have supported them in their decisions. And of course to all the mediums and popular culture that have recognized, accepted and celebrated not only lives but a certain revolution.

An Open Letter to Hrithik Roshan: Mehreen Quadri

Dear Hrithik Roshan-Man,

Do you know how to work like a Woman? I am a little more offended by your latest statement “Katrina works like a man” which you gave to Ahmedabad Times, published on 29th September, 2014. You have been tagged as one of the most respected actors and you have gain tremendous fame and success in the Film Industry. But you need to understand how a woman literally works. A Woman is the strongest among all the creatures. A man may work for 10 hours a day to earn his bread, but a woman has an ability to perform the roles of the Bread maker and the Bread earner together. 

A woman can equally work like a man in your article you have acknowledged Katrina Kaif stating that she amazes you with her hard work. But they why do you have to connect ‘hard work’ with the work of a man? Katrina Kaif is an independent, experienced and talented actress. She has reached the heights of success through her own self and hard work. She isn’t a man so she just cannot work like a man. Instead, her skills and work have inspired a lot of girls in India and abroad. 

You also mentioned in the article that “Also, she is a feminine energy, which is just beautiful”. Are you trying to say that girls who are not so feminine are not beautiful? She is a female; of course she would have a feminine energy. Hard work, success and beauty cannot be discriminated on the basis of the sex on the individual. It’s her/his inner being which makes them unique from others and not their sex.
Yours
A girl who proudly works like a woman!

About the author: Mehreen is a student of Economics and a fresh fellow at Sauhard. She is also part of Sauhard's core team. She aspires to become a photographer.

The Walls So High: Bhoosha Tharyani

Patli galiyon se guzarte toh kabi gandgi me sambhalte
Murjha rahe kamal kahi, keechad me nai falte
Hosh gava behosh bane, ye insan yuhi palte
Na dhool ade na paseena sukhe, dhoop me ye jalte.

Commencing the Swachh Bharat Mission on the 2nd October, 2014 and trying to save the environment for a day, questions every citizen what about the maids and the road sweepers who do it every day.  We felt proud while sweeping the roads and cleaning the city with a broom. Can we not clean our minds a bit?

Talking about the Environment Day on the 5th June and following the footsteps of Bapu on 2nd October, aren’t we not avoiding the support system of our house and country that have been doing the same work continuously. We have not been able to peek from the high walls built by our mind and cross the boundaries to join hands and share duties of the Dalits who are still born as untouchables and by birth they are assigned duties of cleaning the dirt off the shoes of the class above. Not denying the fact that they are paid for the work they do but is it balanced?
A Rs.20 note for bonus and payment (after bargaining) for collecting the garbage from your doorstep every morning, scolding and abusing and finally agreeing to pay Rs. 30 to the lady who cleaned the compound, lawns and parking area of your home along with sweeping away the dog’s poop and a mere Rs. 50 to the person who jumps in your water tank which you don’t know how deep would that be. Is the cost of his life is just Rs. 50?

Imagining a day without them is a nightmare to many women and households. I can try making a list of the responses if they miss a day from work.
Maid- “Hey bhagwaan, nai aa rahi aj. Matlab jhadu, pota or bartan sab karna hai. Lag ja kaam par. Chhod pota kal maaregi aa kar. Aane do, ek din ki pagaar katungi. Diwali ka bonus toh ab bhool hi jao”.
Car cleaner- “Pipe laga kar dhota hai fir bhi chutti chaie. Aisa toh kya kaam karta hai jo Sunday ko chhutti mangta hai”.
Garbage collectors- “Itna kachra hai, dustbin bhar gaya. Ab overflow hone ka wait karu? Ab ye gandagi fekne kon jaega”.

Seriously? That helpless? And still no respect for them? Just by giving bonus and donating some old clothes and utensils you think you have done your bit? Are you sure?
It’s easy to order, tough to request. It’s easy to earn at times and tough to beg.  Imagine you are working and your child begging. The same is what a Dalit faces today. Work for hours to spend on a day’s meal of family. Nothing can be saved to put their children in a school which is why they end up begging to support their family. If not begging, then collecting waste from the streets. Is it the future you would wish for your children?
It’s not that we’re the only one to be blamed. As usual, the blame can’t be on just one hand if the sound is created by clapping both hands- the System. The work distribution to the payment strategy is upon us. We can manipulate them the way we want. But can’t the system stop us from that knowing how they are being treated? Narendra Modi, our respectful Prime Minister, can pose sweeping on streets but didn’t feel the plight of a Dalit who does it every morning before someone wakes up.
We leave our diamonds if they fall into a sewage line but it’s where a scavenger dives if drainage has to be set or if it is choked. We don’t want to make our hands dirty and stinky but they take a dip into it and stay there for hours together. Liquor is what the master provides to get him going into the black water.
No gloves, no clothes, no vaccinations to protect.
No mask, no shame does it resist.
Fear to lose, fear of cries, avoid him to protest.
“Yes sir, Yes sir. It’ll be done”. “Perfect.”

About the author: Bhoosha is a journalism student from Vadodra. Her passion for events lead her to start her own events company. Besides that she likes to read and express through poetry. She wishes to make it big in the entertainment industry, our own Bollywood!