Mohd Aasif | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The Jamia community celebrates the moment as its three former students have been invited to become members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS), USA popularly known as “The Oscars”. The institution has offered membership to more than 800 film professionals across 68 countries in order to give itself a wider and more diverse representation in terms of gender, race and ethnicity.
The new invitees, which include a number of Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities, also include a number of Indian film professionals. From Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), included in the list are documentary filmmakers Nishtha Jain, Shirley Abraham and Amit Mahadesiya all three of whom are graduates of the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (AJKMCRC).
The government is trying to vilify #Jamia by targeting and harassing students, on the other hand, Jamia alumni are bringing fame to Jamia and #India by their honest and genuine efforts. Proud of you all @shirley_abraham @amitmadheshiya @nishthajaan#JamiaInOscar #ILoveJamia https://t.co/6Q8cnN8tTY
— AFROZ ALAM SAHIL (@afrozsahil) July 5, 2020
A journalist and former student of the university Afroz Alam Sahil tweeted contrasting the achievement in the background of the vilification campaign driven by right-wing extremist groups. “The government is trying to vilify #Jamia by targeting and harassing students, on the other hand, Jamia alumni are bringing fame to Jamia and #India by their honest and genuine efforts. Proud of you all @shirley_abraham @amitmadheshiya @nishthajaan #JamiaInOscar #ILoveJamia”, tweeted Sahil.
I’m proud of my seniors and postgraduates from the AJK MCRC #Jamia, who have been invited to judge the Oscars.
Congratulations @nishthajaan @shirley_abraham and Amit Madhesiya#JamiaInOscar #ILoveMCRC #ILoveJamia https://t.co/4y3NzyQqRS
— Zakir Husain (@zakirhusain07) July 5, 2020
The student community felt proud and took to twitter. Another former student Zakir Husain wrote on twitter, “I’m proud of my seniors and post-graduates from the AJK MCRC #Jamia, who have been invited to judge the Oscars. Congratulations @nishthajaan @shirley_abraham and Amit Madhesiya. #JamiaInOscar #ILoveMCRC #ILoveJamia”.
For a little while in the past, the university has been a target of the right-wing extremist organisations as well as leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Shirley Abraham, one of the three Oscar nominees highlighted contribution of her alma mater and shown solidarity with the students and teachers. Abraham tweeted, “In solidarity with students, faculty and the tremendous @jamiamillia_University that educated me in the craft and politics of filmmaking. I bear witness to, and condemn the dangerous, bigoted attacks on them by the state. #JamiaInOscar #ILoveMCRC”
In solidarity with students, faculty and the tremendous @jamiamillia_ University that educated me in the craft and politics of filmmaking. I bear witness to, and condemn the dangerous, bigoted attacks on them by the state.#JamiaInOscar #ILoveMCRChttps://t.co/CiVkGbjTin
— Shirley Abraham (@shirley_abraham) July 5, 2020
In 2017, Abraham and Mahadesiya were felicitated by the AJKMCRC as distinguished alumni who had contributed significantly to the Documentary Arts. After receiving the invite, which would allow her along with the rest of the class of 2020 to vote across categories in the Academy Awards or `Oscars’, Shirley Abraham tweeted: “As an independent filmmaker, I know the value of legitimacy of my voice; of a place at the table. Honored to be invited by @Academy to join as a member…A world of work ahead of us and I am so ready.”
