The Question Mark

It often takes one alarming instance to shake people out of their ‘chalta hai’ attitude. For these students from the Panjab University and the Government College in Sector 11 (GC-11),it was the infamous 2009 case of the death of 19-year-old Aman Kachroo due to ragging.

“We suddenly realised the serious implications ragging could have. Till then,the topic of ragging got passing references in our conversations. It was then that we realised that the problem was not only rampant in Himachal Pradesh,but just about everywhere ,” says Abhishek Sharma,a student of Indian Theater Department,describing how their movie on anti-ragging,PrashnChinh – Why Did it Happen?,was conceptualised.

With about 50 students involved in its production,PrashnChinh… is a story of two friends aspiring to become doctors. They secure good marks in pre-medical tests and get admission in a good college. But all hell breaks loose when one of them commits suicide after being ragged. This leaves everybody shocked. While everyone else forgets about the instance after a few hours of mourning,his friend starts a movement called ‘PrashnChinh’ to bring the culprits to justice. How the movement gathers momentum and takes the form of a nationwide campaign forms the rest of the plot.

“It’s a fight for justice and through the movie,we seek to inspire every student to stand up against ragging,” says Yogesh Negi,a mass communication graduate,who’s the brain behind the docudrama and has contributed in terms of script and funding.

The 45-minute movie,shot in the hostels of GC-11 over a span of one month,also has two songs by Jalandhar-based band,The Negative Power. “We took special permission from teachers and also had to bunk some classes in order to complete the shooting. The endeavour is close to our hearts,since all of us have either faced ragging or have the fear of facing it some time in our lives,” says Amit Sanouria of GC-11,who has acted in the movie and has also been a part of the production team.

While the movie is being screened in all the departments and colleges of Panjab University and is expected to travel to institutes in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab,this bunch of enthusiasts is already working on their next: a movie on female foeticide.