We at Safar seek to integrate the urban and rural in a mutually engaging way. Research is often taken to be a rarefied activity-something that is associated with obscure figures and hard to understand inferences. What we intend to do at Safar is a people-oriented idea of research. As a part of this approach we propose to bring out monographs and reports on diverse issues such as pattern and practices of livelihood, micro economic communities, changing dynamics of rural and urban spaces etc. essentially, the idea behind research is to engage with people’s concerns in a sustained manner.

Ek Shaam 15 August Ke Naam

To Commemorate 59th Independence Day, Social Action For Advocacy And Research (SAFAR) organised a day and night programme in Delhi Administration colony and Sanjay Basti JJ colony, Timarpur in North Delhi. Once again it became evident that whenever a new initiative  is taken, it is welcomed by people. The audience and participants enjoyed the evening to the fullest with the recital of Sufiana Qawwali by M Zafar Nizami, a film on the life of Baba Sahab Ambedkar and some songs and dances by children of the locality.

The program began at 10.30 with a legal aid camp in Sanjay Basti. Till 1 pm Avinash Kumar, Tarun Kumar and ms. Chander Nigam (Coordinator, Safar Legal Cell), advocates and members of Safar Legal Cell along with other members heared the problems and queries of the basti people and adviced them accordingly. Around two dozen men and women were given legal advice with a promise to come back frequently with similar camps in future.

After that Bhavna, the media coordinator of safar organised an art exhibition in the Delhi Administration colony. The drawings and paintings by children, which was done by them in the April workshop were displayed in the exhibition. Large number of people visited the exhibition and gave their remarks on it.  Simultaneously, a drawing, painting and essay writing workshop was organised in the park. Gautam Jaiprakash, Delhi Coordinator and Sangeeta Nigam were the facilitator of the workshops.

Later the stage program "EK SHAAM 15 AUGUST KE NAAM" began at 5.30 pm by lightening a lamp by tiny tots followed by song and dance by children. Around 50 children presented beautifully choreographies on various popular and peoples songs and lyrics. After that Zafar Nizami and party sang some memorable Sufiana kalams by Amir Khusro and Bulle Shah. More than 500 people from different parts of Delhi attended the progamme.

Explaining the vision and mission of Safar, Rakesh Kumar Singh spoke about the importance and need of such initiatives in residential colonies. He emphasised that we are living in a age of rampant corruption and negligence of the need of common public. Pointing out the gender and caste discrimination as the severe menace of our society, he appealed to the people to fight it tooth and nail at all levels. He vowed once again that fighting out these problems is Safar's main concern. Keeping this task in mind Safar will try to carry on its mission of Cultural awareness in different neighborhoods also.

Speaking on the occasion Social Activist Danveer Karn welcomed Safar,s initiative and said more such programmes should be organised. He promised to extend his unconditional support whenever it is required.

 Around 10 pm, the screening of film 'Baba Sahab Bhim Rao Ambedkar' began. Since the film began late, many had left the venue, even then audience of around hundred was there till the end. Naresh Goswami, research coordinator of Safar was the curator.

Gautam Jaiprakash was the moderator of that evening, Aditya Nath, the Outreach Coordinator of Safar had managed the entire program with the help of Sheetal Shyam, Treasurer, and volunteers Rajnish Kumar, Ajay Pal Singh, Shishu Pal Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Mannu Kumar and Ashok Nigam. (Related photographs will be uploaded very soon)

BAGIYA

SAFAR organized BAGIYA - The Children's Festival on Sunday, 19 November 2006 in the Delhi Administration Colony, Timparpur in North Delhi. With this Safar concluded its fortnight campaign on the occasion of children’s day.

 

BAGIYA was fully meant for and organised by children (between 7-14 years of age). Preceded by two weeks theatre workshop, BAGIYA was the culmination of the campaign where children staged four plays namely ‘Khel-khle mein’, ‘Bapu ke teen bander’, ‘Paani re Paani’ and ‘Kissa kure ka’ on the issue of gender, sealing, water and sanitation respectively. Besides these plays, there were workshops and children’s performances based on songs and dances on various themes related to everyday life. The biggest thing about the plays was that from script writing to direction, entirely done by the kids.

 

The program began with a drawing workshop in the Manoranjan Kaksha of the colony. 65 children from the colony and neighborhood participated in the same and made drawings based on their daily life experience. Later in the after noon there was a workshop on environment. Mr. Vimlendu Jha from ’We for Yamuna’ was the facilitator. A special screening of a film ‘Heda-Hoda’ by Vinod Ganatra was done for the kids. It was about the boarder coflict and how the children perceive the problem.

 

Final program begin at 4.30 pm in the main park of the colony with the songs by ‘Jigri’ band. Jigri sang some very beautiful compositions by Adam Gondwi, Faiz and some other poets. After that children took over the stage and presented very beautiful cultural program.

 

Mr. Anuj Vaksha, lecturer in Deptt of law, GGSIP University Delhi, Ms. Jassi Mathhyu, a Delhi Govt employeee, Mr. Amal Kumar Sen, Assitant Manager Delhi Milk Scheme, Shashi Mohan, social activit and Mr. Anita, a house wife distributed prize among the participants. Binni, Ruchika and Aakriti were the moderator of the evening.

 

Speaking about this unique campaign Mr. Gautam Jayprakash, the Delhi Coordinator of Safar said that in the era of growing pressure of marks, children hardly get a chance and time to think about their own interest. He said that the Bagiya was in continuation of Safar’s effort to create space for the kids to show their talent and creativity, to provide an atmosphere where they can earn and learn leadership quality. He said that this was also a chance of interface between children and their parent or community as well.

 

Giving vote of thanks to the audience and participants Advocate Ms. Chandra Nigam, Legal coordinator of SAFAR appealed to the colony residents especially to the women folk to come forward and make the children’s dream true.