Research Foundation for Governance in India (RFGI) organised a special screening of Oscar-nominated film Please Vote for Me on Saturday.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

An interactive discussion with students of select city schools to reflect their ideas on democracy followed the screening. Standard VIII students from various schools were invited to participate.

RFGI founder Kanan Dhru said, "In May 2010, RFGI had organised a film festival themed on 'Democracy and political reform'.

This is where we came across the film Please Vote for Me. After watching this film, many people approached us with the idea of screening it in different city schools. So, we started it on an experimental basis, with five schools on Saturday. The response has been overwhelming."

Dhru intends to screen the film once every two months in five different schools. In the first screening, Dhru received around 65 students from Little Flower School, Udgam School, Calorx School, MGIS and Eklavya School.

Please Vote for Me is a documentary about a Chinese school where the school decides to hold an election to select the class monitor. The election is taking place for the very first time in the third grade.

The story revolves around how the three chosen candidates move around with their assistants to garner votes.

The innocence of class three students and the manipulations they resort to, made it easier for students viewing the film to relate to the activity.

Students observed the fair and unfair practices undertaken in democracy, and the results of the election. Some felt that the politics witnessed in the film was a reflection of what happens in India all the time, while other noted the various skills, such as communication skills and an ability to influence people, required to excel in politics.

Zara, a student of Little Flower School, said, "The film was a very informative one. We could relate to what was being shown. The innocent manipulation by those class three students resembled that taking place during elections in the city. It was definitely an eye-opener."

Another student, Maitri from Udgam School, said, "We want honest and trustworthy politicians in India. But those are a rarity now. Sometimes we also feel that true democracy cannot function in today's world."

When quizzed how youngsters of their age can bring about a change in the society, students replied that change can be brought about through awareness, promoting ethical practices and effective leadership.