EUMIND PROJECT
One of the most common problems faced by people almost all
over the world is Racial Discrimination. It is extremely
embarrassing to know what it is like to be a victim of racial
discrimination. We came across a Bollywood movie named
New York (2009) which deals
with such topic. It's story is
about three students studying
at the New York State
University whose lives are
changed by the 9/11 attacks
and its aftermath.
After being apprehended,
detained, humiliated, and
denied legal counsel by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Omar Ehzaz, originally from
Delhi, relates to the
investigator, Roshan, assigned
to his case, how he arrived in
New York during 1999. The film
then flashes back to September
1999, when Omar begins his
studies at the New York State
University. He is befriended by
his international student counsellor Maya and learns that
though she was born and raised in New York, she is fluent in
Hindi. Omar also meets Sam, another Indian American who is
also Muslim. Over the next two years, all three become
inseparable friends whose carefree days finally end with the
onset of 9/11.
Omar agrees to help Roshan (rather reluctantly), if only to
prove that both he and Sam are innocent. He reunites with
Maya and Sam and stays in their house, all the while spying for
the FBI. In the process, Omar learns from Sam that ten days
after 9/11, Sam was arrested and detained for a period of nine
months as a suspected terrorist, a charge which everyone,
including the FBI and Roshan, now agree was incorrect. Though
he was eventually released due to lack of evidence, the impact
of being detained and tortured permanently changed Sam in
ways which are difficult for those surrounding him to
understand, leaving him with feelings of deep resentment
towards the FBI. Omar thus finds that Sam ultimately resorted
to plans for terrorism as a means of revenge.
The climax of the film rests upon the attempts of Maya, Omar,
and Roshan to prevent Sam from committing an act of
terrorism by telling him that if he perpetuates towards
terrorism, others will suffer as he has. Finally convinced, Sam
surrenders and aborts his attempt to bomb the FBI building.
However, the moment he drops his cell-phone (which was
originally intended as a detonator for the bomb) he is shot and
killed by FBI snipers. Maya, who was running toward Sam, is
also killed by stray gunfire and Omar, bereft of speech, breaks
down.
Six months later, he is later comforted by Roshan who explains
to him that; everybody was right in their place, but the timing
was wrong. As for Sam, the path he chose killed him.
Everybody has moved on after 9/11, as its high time. Omar has
adopted Danyal, and Roshan has received commendation for
aiding in the anti-terrorism cause. They reconcile each other.
The film ends with all three of them going out for pasta and a
side note describing the after effects of 9/11.
When we were watching this movie, we came across gruesome
scenes such as that of Sams torture in the detention centre.
Tricked into a trap set up by the FBI, he is detained in the
centre on the grounds of purchasing a ticket and clicking
suspicious photographs of the World Trade Centre. The FBI tries
to suppress his claims of clicking the photographs for his
project. Around 1200 people like him are not just stripped off
their clothes, but also of their dignity, the only thing common
being their religion. It was quite difficult for us to see the type
of tortures imposed on Sam which included a lot of beating,
screaming, exposure to extremely loud sounds, and being
restricted to a cage which was actually meant for animals. They
were treated inhumanely.
We then thought that it might
be just an over exaggeration of
the real scene. However when
we did some research, we found
out that the after effects of the
9/11 attacks on the coloured
people living in the US were
equally, if not more, gruesome.
Those with darker complexion
were detained and visa
procedures were made even
more strict. Just because a
group of people committed an
act which put a blot on world
humanitarianism, a big number
of people had to face its after
effects. The treatment given to them even after being declared
innocent has mentally scarred their lives.
Having a relative staying in the US, I am aware of the
complicated procedures that Indians face while applying for
American Citizenship. says Renuka. Devika agrees saying that
her cousin working as a para-medic in the States has not
gotten citizenship despite working there for 6 years.
Racial discrimination is a clear reality in our society that affects
all people. It seeks to divide and destroy. It is the enemy of
freedom and deserves to be met head-on and stamped out. We
are all born free and equal irrespective of our race or
complexion. Discriminating people on the basis of their
complexion is wrong. All that we want to say is that let us keep
the colour separation for laundry and not include it in our
society!
