On Day 5 I visited Vismaad Studios in Chandigarh Punjab. It is a full functioning animation/web/ and app development studio, as far as I know it is the only one dedicated to Sikh educational material in the world.
My first introduction to Vismaad was because I purchased a DVD called Sahibzadey for my children. Being a Sikh parent, I often realize there is limited resources for educating children about our religion and culture. Sure there are the same books I grew up with, same style of writing and teaching but the new generation always uses current technology. In this regard our community is a bit behind, when I saw a cartoon version of the Sahibzadey I was so happy and excited. My children watched it eagerly at home maybe because it was something different (Punjabi in a cartoon) or the fact that they related to the images on the screen but what followed were questions and discussions, which was exactly the thoughts I wanted them to have. I quickly went online and tried to find out more about Vismaad, on their site I noticed they already had two more DVDs out, Rise of the Khalsa, and Sundari. I quickly ordered a few sets of each of these. These were met with equal interest from my children. Some of the songs were catchy, and the animation was improved, with each new release.
There obviously is a challenge when you are trying to narrate
historical events into something entertaining or message driven, but I found
Vismaad had a good balance of both. My
children had some scenes memorized and just being able to watch Sikh history in
action was something I was never able to do as a child.
The best way to teach children is when they do not even know
they are learning. This keeps their
attention span longer and they absorb information at a rapid rate while they
think they are having fun. The western
education system has used this tactic very well in shows like Seasme Street,
and variety of cartoons which assist kids in learning while the child thinks
they are having fun watching a show.
With some good luck I was able to meet the man behind
Vismaad, Sukhwinder Singh, a few years
ago when he came to do a screening in Virginia.
My first interactions/observations with him online were only reinforced when
we met in person. He is a simple, humble
and motivated Sikh with lots of Chardi kala (positive outlook). After meeting Sukhwinder Singh I felt that he
was a genuine person who cared about the state of young Sikhs. He has a passion to create media that is
relevant to today’s youth.
After many successful animated movies, he told me Vismaad is
trying to launch Sikhville, an online portal where Sikh kids would have a
variety of learning tools. Also many
mobile phone apps were in development.
Being cutting edge in a seva institution is very difficult, it requires
dedication and beyond that motivation to tread on even if funds/outlook may
look bleak.
Our community is not the best at recognizing such talented
organizations/individuals. We have set our priority backwards;
I have seen this first hand. When
organizing screenings it is painstaking to get people to show up for these
animated movies. We make announcements,
offer deep discounts in tickets, even offering free at times and still we are
unable to fill halls. There should be
some thought given, if a film, documentary, or animated feature is made for a
Sikh cause, how do we expect those artists to survive? We are unwilling to pay a ticket, we are
unwilling to buy a DVD we are unwilling to provide any financial assistance, and
then we expect a product that is beyond our expectations. This formula is so flawed, I know some of
these film makers first hand Vismad- Sukhwinder Singh, Sach Productions-
Harpreet Kaur, and I can tell you none of them is driving around in a
limousine, but WHY NOT?
If Yo yo Honey Singh, or Babbu Mann, or any other
actor/singer/artist who we go to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars for is
able to profit make a decent living off what they ‘contribute’ to our culture,
then why do we treat our artists as they should be living in poverty? How can we expect anyone to WANT to do this
type of seva with our attitude?Instead these folks are forced to put majority of their time into fundraising, which I know is going to people with hands out, and ASK for help. We reduce their work, and their invaluable seva to begging. This is the true state of our community. You do something wonderful and you are met with criticism, you are met with skeptics your motivations are questioned and god forbid if you make a profit you will be hung out to dry.
This went off on a tanget, but it needs to be said. We allow all others to profit, we do not
criticize anyone, we go and dance at the concerts. We get in lines to take pictures with these
celebrities, and when it comes to our panthic heros, when it comes to those who
are doing seva, we reduce them to mere servants. We make sure that they are down, they are
below us, we do not treat them with admiration we only treat them with suspicion. The only saving grace is these people are
made out a different material and even through all of this, they continue on.
I made it a point to visit Vismaad Studios while I was in
Chandigarh, not only was I curious, I wanted to show that there was work being
done at a high level even with our neglect.
Imagine if our Gurudwara’s and institutions understood the need for this
type of educational material, for these types of movies, what if each gurughar
said 1% of all of its earnings would go toward, education and Sikhi development. Where could we be? Where would we be?
What if we APPRECIATED those who did this work, what if they
came in limo’s and red carpets were laid out to show that this work is
invaluable, its needed and its something we appreciate, how many more Harpreet
Kaur’s , Sukhwinder Singh’s, Satdeep Singh’s, would we have?
A change of attitude is required here, the Vismad Studios is
a living example how things can come to fruition, on my visit they showed me
how a film is taken from conception to completion. What efforts are put in, and how easily we
take it for granted. I encourage
everyone to look at our Sikh institutions and where they are donating their
money. What is your gurudwara doing with
the money you donate? What is that or
this institution doing? Its not
difficult, most of these organizations would love for you to visit. We were treated not only to a tour but offered coffee (which I am told is
special blend) at Vismad Studios. All I
had to do was ask to see it, and my part is to share with you this
experience. The work being done there is
for YOUR children, for my children, for the children of OUR community. There is no larger investment you can make in
the future.
Not a lot is required, just a small shift in attitude. So many organizations are doing good work they just need visibility, they need support, they need a pat on the back. Let us become a community which appreciates talent, which allows those who are pursuing seva as a dream to profit, to benefit just as much as those who are doing it for fame. Our good Ragi’s, animators, film makers, and other artists should feel that the community is behind them, that if they fall, we will help them up, they should not be worrying about how to put food on the table so they can focus on creating better content. They should not have to spend the majority of their time ‘funding’ a project rather than making it happen. They should not have to constantly prove their worth to us, we should realize and provide them the respect, admiration, support, and gratitude they deserve.
Next time you are buying a ticket for a concert, movie or event, remember these folks. Remember how difficult it was for them to get your attention, attendance, donation and how easily you open it up for others. Make sure when you see someone doing something wonderfully special for the panth, that your hand opens just as easily, and just as much as you do to get some entertainment. We should have many more doing such work, and the only way to get there is if we begin to realize their worth to our community.
Visit and Support :
http://www.vismaadfilms.com/
http://www.movies.sikhville.org/index.aspx
http://www.sachproductions.org/
http://www.alittlerevolution.com/
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