First Green Film Festival – Lecture on environmental issues in art, literature and cinema
Prayagraj: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the ICFRE-ERC Centre for Ecological Restoration, Prayagraj, organized the “Paryavaran Parv” workshop and a green film festival. Its objective was to raise public awareness about environmental protection, cleanliness, and a green lifestyle. The program was inaugurated by the guests lighting a lamp. Center Head Dr. Sanjay Singh welcomed the speakers and highlighted the Paryavaran Parv. The booklet, “Sustainable Solutions, Enduring Impact – A Research Retrospective of ICFRE-ERC,” written by Dr. Sanjay Singh and Dr. Anubha Srivastava, based on the Center’s work over 34 years, was released. In the first technical session of the workshop, Professor Kumar Birendra of Allahabad University stated that the environment in Hindi literature has been depicted through nature, forests, rivers, mountains, and living creatures. Poets and writers have conveyed the message of environmental protection and have highlighted the deep connection between humans and nature. This literature raises awareness about environmental balance, beauty, and sensitivity. Dr. Pankaj Srivastava of Allahabad University, through a video presentation, highlighted the role of forestry in environmental protection and advocated for promoting forestry. He stated that forestry programs help mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. Senior theatre artist Praveen Shekhar, referring to Indian and Western drama, explained how environmental concerns have been a central theme in many Indian plays. Playwrights and literary figures have always been aware of this concern. He also discussed Western and Indian works of art that have depicted the environment. Center Head Dr. Sanjay Singh, through a video presentation, evaluated Indian and Western cinema with an environmental focus. He discussed several feature films and documentaries from Western and Asian countries in film history, where the environment has been a central issue. Program coordinator and senior scientist Alok Yadav outlined the workshop’s outline. The workshop was successfully conducted by Dr. Anubha Srivastava, senior scientist and organizing secretary of the Center. The second technical session of the workshop featured a Green Film Festival, attended by audiences from respected institutions in the city. The festival’s jury included film critic Anand Kakkar, physician and environmentalist Dr. Kanchan Mishra, and actor Amar Singh. Green film clips related to environmental protection, obtained from various forestry institutions across the country, were screened. The esteemed jury members selected entries for awards based on their high quality and presentation. Students, teachers, social organizations, public representatives, and local citizens enthusiastically participated in the workshop. Participants pledged to protect the environment and plant more trees. At the end of the workshop, all participants were thanked and a call was given to continue their efforts to protect the environment.
