A new website with a difference, Kahani Movement was launched recently in America co-founded by brothers Suneel Gupta of Mozilla and Dr.Sanjay Gupta of CNN. This web is an open-source, user generated film project and social network.
When asked on the objective and the innovative style of the website, the founders say “We are a social network with a specific social goal. A typical social network aims to connect people, while the Kahani Movement aims to connect stories and the people they represent, and preserve them for future generations.”
When one commemorates the nostalgic stories of grandmas, there has been a historical and traditional link of culture and lifestyle in it. The family story, the memorable events and age-old beliefs have been conveyed in grandma’s stories. Whether it is in America or India, present generation has been widely isolated to its own zones.
Even in the country sides there has been little chance to devolve the ancient stories to young generations. The hectic life of immigrant community in the metro cities can’t even imagine such an experience. Really, these stories would help to build a strong foundation of family history and nurture the young mind with traditional qualities. They can at least bother about how it was life during the time of their fore-fathers. The nuclear set up of families has changed the lives in the villages too. The lineage musings are missing somewhere.
These are the things that may come first to the mind when one hears of Kahani Movement.
Even as it was generated for immigrant community in the US, similar ventures can be possible in every community to search for the roots that is the real strength of every family. Another positive aspect of the venture is that men at least check on for their family origin in this time of techy life.No one can simply ignore the family stories or ancestral treasures. We would get confidence and strength to go forward with the support and inspirational anecdotes of forefathers.
“The experience that might seem ordinary to someone is extra ordinary to others. The website tells the story of family members.”
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Kahani means “story” in Hindi. The movement aims to capture and share the stories from the first generation of Indians that immigrated to the United States.
Khahani’s platform allows story tellers to browse through stories submitted by fellow users, and submit their own in the form of video, audio, photos and writings.
The child-like curiosity to know more about the past is a human nature. Reading of books and viewing of films may help to get a true picture of old lives. But that would be a general outline of the times and lacks the personal and emotional touch. But a website that can generate pictures and videos of life moments of families would be a new experience for young generations. When a youngest sibling is born in a member family and grows up, Kahani Movement would be there to tell stories as great grandparents.
So the uploaded pictures, stories and videos would be a blessing to feel the ancestral lives of their parents’ time.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Just as Simon Beaufoy was inspired to write Slum dog Millionaire after reading the book, Q&A, Kahani Movement may lead to catch the fire of imagination among immigrant community, believe the web team. There are chances of remixing and producing films on the basis of the real life stories in new imaginative ways. Archiving of content in an organized manner that helps current and future generations better understand the Indian immigration experience, points out Sunnel Gupta. Kahani movement says that its effort would also inspire other community to create their own” Kahani Movement”
Our inspiration is to preserve the stories of generation of South Asians that immigrated to the United States, with the realization that people who lived through these stories will not always be around to tell them. The main objective of the project is to help families to connect across the time and place.”
Suneel Gupta says, “The audience is my newborn niece Soleil, and millions of others like her that may never have the benefit of a real conversation with their grand parents and great grand parents.”
A candle- light is there on the home page of Kahani Movement, a symbolic one, the brightened flame of love and sacrifice given by the ancestors for the younger generations. The light-house of life experiences would contribute to lead a sound family life among its members.
One of the Kahani members, Leena Rao’s blog begins like this:
“My parents will be married for 30 years come June. To this day, I never get tired of hearing the way they met. Both of them immigrated to the U.S. from India, although 15 years apart. My mom came over when she was only five years old when her father was offered an opportunity to practice medicine at Johns Hopkins. My dad’s story is a bit more traditional. He immigrated in his 20s to complete his medical residency in New York and lived in an all-too crowded bachelor pad with some of his closest… “
When asked Can “Kahani movement” fill the gap of generations? Suneel says,” That is our goal. Sanjay and I are constantly amazed by how few people in our generation have sat their parents down, and had a candid conversation about what it was like in those early days in the United States.
Suneel tells the message of the Khahani Movement to the immigrant community, “Your experiences, which might seem ordinary to you, are extraordinary to others. Sit down with a family member, tell your story, and post it to kahanimovement.com. “
Suneel developed a strong interest in the convergence of media and technology while he was working with the US president Clinton’s press operations. He is presently working with Mozilla Corporation as a Director of Product development in Mozilla Lab, the company’s innovative group. Dr.Sanjay Gupta is a chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit at CNN. Based in Atlanta Sanjay also contributes health news stories to CNN.com, CNNHealth.com, co-hosts “Accent Health” for Turner Private Networks, writes column for TIME Magazine, anchors the global program Vital Signs for CNN International. He served as special advisor to first lady Hillary Clinton.
