Rains are here again and all Mumbaites are reminded of 26 July. The school Principals need to give a pleasant break to their students routine study time table. Take them out for a movie and see how

gain much more knowledge about environment.

The conservation of nature and protection of our environment is a collective task involving citizens at large, the government, the corporate sector and all other stake-holders in our complex and diverse society. This problem becomes more complex in a country like ours where majority of the population is illiterate.

 

The honest and sincere effort is taken by Mr. John Mathew Matthan in his film "SHIKHAR". How far can greed take a man?

Can the greens ever fight the money and might of the builders lobby? Can nature ever win over the bulldozer? These are the riveting issues raised by the film "Shikhar".

 

Pitted against each other in this battle of man v/s nature are two different but equally powerful protagonists. This movie has taken on the challenge of exposing an issue that will become increasingly relevant to our country, and is a call to action to those watching. In sharing this film with our youth, you will initiate a vital discussion about the balance that must be found between economic growth and environmental preservation. Will they compromise our environment for profit, or will they find a means to inspire a strategy for sustainable development in India’s rural areas?

 

Most importantly, this film demonstrates the power of one.

 

We need our youth to have passion as they lead our country into tomorrow. Shikhar will inspire them to stand their ground, and will show them that even a seedling of action, if executed with conviction, can change the course of India’s future. The movie embodies the principle set forth by the nobel prize winning economist E.F. Schumacher, who summed up his theories with the simple statement “small is beautiful.” It is perhaps best articulated by the Gandhian philosophy that has come to father our country.

 

The smallest action, when set forth with the right intentions, with confidence, can create a ripple effect that reaches far and wide. Without sermonizing, Shikhar conveys these messages in a platform that is sure to reach our youth. May be this film can educate the youngsters in a better way as they get more moved by Hindi films than anything else.

 

If the schools can take their children to watch Walt Disney’s cartoon films or the films likes of Shahid Bhagat Singh, Shikhar should be a must for every school as all the boards (SSC, ICSE, CBSE and I.B.) stresses the need to create awareness among the students for the environment. In a school system that values environmentalism enough to make it a mandatory component of our core curriculum from pre-school through high school, Shikhar is an essential learning tool.

Sharan Pal

Plot Revealed In The Review:	Not revealed
Best to watch with:	Family
Movie Genre:	Family Movie
Best part in the movie:	Script