Event
Teri McLuhan: The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace
Thu, February 23, 2012 6:00 pm CET
- Location
- Lecture Hall
Twenty-one years in the making, "The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace" launches into orbit the epic story of a Muslim peacemaker born into Pashtun warrior society of the strategic North-West Frontier Province of the Indian subcontinent – now Pakistan’s frontier region Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Pronounced "a miracle" by Mahatma Gandhi, Badshah Khan (1890-1988) raised a 100,000 strong nonviolent army of men and women – the Khudai Khidmatgars, or servants of God – drawn from the multi-ethnic traditions of Afghanistan and India. Muslims, as well as Hindus, Christians, Parsees, Sikhs, and Buddhists came together in the cause of peace, social justice, religious tolerance, and human dignity for all.
In partnership with Mahatma Gandhi, Khan (also known as Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan) led a nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century. He openly championed women’s rights and spoke of the inherent compatibility of Islam with nonviolence. He challenged his own highly volatile culture to change its vengeful ways and to turn to the spiritual and moral strength of nonviolence. He opened schools for everybody, fought for the social improvement of the least fortunate and was unceasing in his compassionate embrace of the poor. Nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize, Badshah Khan’s improbable life and legacy remain little known. He died in 1988 at the age of 98 having spent nearly 35 years in solitary confinement for his efforts to humanize humanity.
Filmed in Afghanistan, Khyber Pass, Pakistan, India, United States, and Canada, the documentary by filmmaker Teri McLuhan includes rare historical footage, interviews with world leaders, testimony from 63 of Badshah Khan’s nonviolent warriors – most beyond the age of 100 years – and a score by world music pioneer David Amram. Indian actor, Om Puri, brings alive the thoughts and writings of Badshah Khan.
Following the film screening a discussion round with director Teri McLuhan, daughter of the communication theorist Marshall McLuhan, will take place.
In partnership with Mahatma Gandhi, Khan (also known as Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan) led a nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century. He openly championed women’s rights and spoke of the inherent compatibility of Islam with nonviolence. He challenged his own highly volatile culture to change its vengeful ways and to turn to the spiritual and moral strength of nonviolence. He opened schools for everybody, fought for the social improvement of the least fortunate and was unceasing in his compassionate embrace of the poor. Nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize, Badshah Khan’s improbable life and legacy remain little known. He died in 1988 at the age of 98 having spent nearly 35 years in solitary confinement for his efforts to humanize humanity.
Filmed in Afghanistan, Khyber Pass, Pakistan, India, United States, and Canada, the documentary by filmmaker Teri McLuhan includes rare historical footage, interviews with world leaders, testimony from 63 of Badshah Khan’s nonviolent warriors – most beyond the age of 100 years – and a score by world music pioneer David Amram. Indian actor, Om Puri, brings alive the thoughts and writings of Badshah Khan.
Following the film screening a discussion round with director Teri McLuhan, daughter of the communication theorist Marshall McLuhan, will take place.
Event Website
Organizing Organization / Institution
ZKM
Accompanying program