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A student group from Delhi have made a film and published a report on the continuing tragedy of the gas-affected in Bhopal
 Closer to Reality is a short documentary on the continuing tragedy of the gas-affected people of Bhopal 21 years after the world’s worst industrial disaster. The film has been made by a group of students from Delhi, many of whom were not born when the Bhopal gas disaster of December 2-3, 1984 killed 20,000 and affected many thousands more.
These young filmmakers, who are part of the student group We for Bhopal, document the irresponsible safety record of Union Carbide. Their camera candidly reveals the posters printed by workers of the Union Carbide factory to forewarn people of an impending disaster. Evidently, the employers paid no heed. Interactions between erstwhile Union Carbide officials and the filmmakers bring to light the fact that the training period of operators at the plant was cut substantially. Just 30% of the staff were properly trained and equipped to deal with emergencies in this high-risk zone. A shocking 90% of safety equipment was non-existent at the time. The film features interviews with survivors in Old Bhopal, who seem to have spent a lifetime fighting for just compensation and adequate healthcare at a hospital where – the film reveals – most of the equipment is defunct. It questions government officials on their failure to address the health problems of survivors, and their failure to clean up the toxic site of the factory after Union Carbide literally packed its bags and left, leaving behind tonnes of hazardous chemicals. In New Bhopal, meanwhile, the camera interviews students of architecture and other disciplines, who seem to know almost nothing about the tragedy still unfolding in their backyard, and who say that they are not concerned with the issue. This apathy is a sign of the times, reflecting on the majority of the youth. There are only a handful of young people who consider it worth their while to stand up for a cause. The students who formed We for Bhopal are amongst that minority. ‘No more Bhopals’ was the slogan that gave direction to their movement. Looking at Bhopal as a potential minefield drove their action. The group has also brought out a report on the Bhopal gas disaster. It is a detailed outline of the task that these youngsters have set themselves and all the rungs they needed to get past in their effort, from the bureaucrats to the survivors. The report brings out that many of the students who joined We For Bhopal wrote in the column entitled ‘Why do you want to join?’ the single message – “We want to make a difference.” A small but encouraging step. To order the report / film contact:
Dr Suroopa Mukherjee
Coordinator, We For Bhopal
P-62, Sector XI
NOIDA 201 301
Uttar Pradesh
Tel: 9818029882 Email:
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InfoChange News and Features, December 2005
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