Flying Birds of India: Aseem Asha Usman

Curriculum vitae

A thirty-three-year-old Science graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, Aseem has completed his PG Diploma in Development Communication from AJK, Mass Communication Research Center, Jamia Millia Islamia in 2005. He worked on a project “Finding a Voice,” funded by UNESCO, QUT (Adelaide, Australia), and UNDP. He is a trained film maker and music composer. He has trained more than 500 people how to raise their voices by making short films and digital stories based on their own issues under the banner of his group Flying Birds of India. His research work has been published in UNESCO publications and other international journals. He has worked with music maestro A.R. Rahman on a project, as well as with eminent film director Muzaffar Ali. Currently, he has been working with renowned painter Jatin Das for his National JDCA Film Festival. Aseem has been running his non-profit, non-commercial, and registered organization for the last four years. He teaches performing arts, film, and new media at his centers to those from the slum areas of Jafrabad-Seelampur and Okhla Village. He has produced more than one hundred short digital stories and video films while working with women and children from various marginalized and mainstream communities. He has been instrumental in promoting global peace and brotherhood through student films and other visual arts.

Education

2006 - MA Previous in Sociology from Sahu Jagdish Saran Hindu Degree College, Amroha, Ruhailkhand University, J.P Nagar, Uttar Pradesh

2005 - PG Diploma in Development Communication from AJK Mass Communicating Research Center, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

2003 - B.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

2001 - BA in Indian Instrumental Music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

1990 - Certificate in Fine Arts from Bombay School of Arts, Maharashtra

Professional Experience

Permanent Jobs

2010 - Film Festival Consultant (JD Centre of Art, Bhubaneswar) Sourcing, accessioning, cataloguing and archiving documentaries and short films for film festival; organised for second time 5^th Edition of the National Short and Documentary Film Festival in Bhubaneswar, Orissa on Tribal Art and Culture. Organised workshops, master classes and seminars on art and artists. Produced audio-visual materials to publicise the events. Content writing for film catalogue. Fund-raising for the event. Working under members of the Advisory Committee, such as: Mr. Jatin Das (painter and Chairman, JD Centre of Art), Aruna Vasudev (film historian), Suresh Kohli (poet and film-maker), Sunit Tandon (Director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi), Jai Chandiram (Ex-Deputy Director General, Doordarshan)

2005 - Research and Content Creation (UNESCO /QUT, Australia) Ethnographic Action Research (Project Documentation), content creation (production for print and electronic media), program implementation, project co-ordination, field tests, training, monitoring and evaluation, press handling and research paper presentation for international conferences. Worked under the international team of experts, such as: Jo Tacchi (QUT, Australia), Jerry Watkins (Swinburne University, Australia), Andrew Skuse (University of Adelaide, Australia), Emma Baulch (QUT, Austraia), and Seema B. Nair (UNESCO, India)

2004 - Academics (God’s Grace English School, N. Delhi) performing arts instructor

Apprenticeship

2003 - Research Assistant (Kotwara Studios, Delhi) Worked under experts Muzaffar Ali (film director and Managing Director, Kotwara Studios, Delhi), Meera Ali (fashion designer and Production-in-Charge, Kotwara Studios, Delhi)

Workshop/Seminar/Master Class

- Organized three-day ‘Tagore Ursav’ which included film-making workshop and several other workshops related to art forms at Jamia Girls Senior Secondary School and Jamia Middle School, New Delhi in 2012

-       Conducted three-day digital film-making workshop and organized Community Film Festival at St. Mary’s School, Dwarka, New Delhi in 2012

-       Conducted day-long musical film-making workshop at Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi in 2012

-       Conducted one-day digital film-making workshop and organized Community Film Festival at Jagdish Saran Hindu PG College, Amrhoa in 2011

- Conducted three-day digital film-making workshop and organized Community Film Festival at Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi in 2011

- Conducted one-day musical film-making workshop at Carmel Convent School, New Delhi in 2011

- Conducted one-day Community Film Appreciation workshop “ Community Film-Making, An Art form to Bring Social Change” and organized Community Film Festival at Kalakar Trust in Kathputli Colony, Shadipur in April, 2011

- Conducted three-day media workshop on “Content Creation and Career Possibilities in Print Media” for Aga Khan Development Network, Aga Khan Foundation, India at Nizamuddin Basti in March, 2011

- Conducted a three-day long workshop on “Community Media and Digital Story Making” at Lady Irwin College, Delhi University in March, 2011

- Conducted one-day workshop on “The Role of Community Media and Art in Bringing Social Change and Peace Building’ at Amity University, Amity Institute of Social Sciences in Noida (UP), followed by film screenings and exhibition of photographs and tribal art in 2011

- Conducted three-day Media workshop at Navjyoti Community College, Karala Village organised by Navjyoti India Foundation, headed by ex-IPS officer Dr. Kiran Bedi in association with Nehru Memorial and Museum Library, Teen Murti, New Delhi in 2011

- Conducted three-day Print Journalism Workshop at Children’s Centre, Teen Murti, New Delhi during annual Dhanak Din Mela in 2010

- Conducted workshops, seminars and master classes for two months at Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC), South Extension, Delhi on film content in 2010

- Conducted master classes for graduate level students at Amity University, NOIDA Campus to train them in Community Issues and Community Mobilization

- Conducted one-day workshop in film-making at Lady Irwin College, Delhi in 2009

- Conducted one-day film-making workshop at DAV Public School at Faridabad in 2008

- Conducted various local community workshops in film-making and social change at Jafrabad-Seelampur and Okhla Village, Delhi in 2007

- Conducted month-long Media Workshop at Juvenile Jail in Kingsway Camp, New Delhi organised by Social Welfare Department, New Delhi in 2006

- Conducted a series of Print Journalism Workshops for six months at Khichri Village, East Delhi organised by One World South Asia in association with Datamation Foundation in 2005

Designing Socio-Cultural Campaigns/Events

Udaan Community Film Festival

Organized sixteen Udaan Community Film Festivals as Festival Director in various schools, colleges and communities of Delhi and outside the state.

Stop Gender Based Violence Campaign 2007

Designed and implemented ‘Stop Gender based Violence’ campaign for the women of Seelampur, Jafrabad, Brahampuri, Janta Mazdoor Colony, Welcome, Jama Masjid, Kathputli Colony, Nizamuddin Basti, Okhla Village, and elsewhere. The campaign was based on own research published by UNESCO with support from QUT, Australia, Adelaide, Australia, UNESCO India, Social Welfare Department, Delhi and Datamation Foundation, Delhi. Produced flyers, pamphlets, newsletters, posters and short films for the campaign with support from local people, schools and non-governmental organizations. National dailies published soft stories on the campaign.

Save the Water Campaign 2010

Designed and implemented ‘Save the Water’ campaign for the people living in the slums of Okhla Village, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi. Produced posters, flyers, animation, video films, and songs to save the water. The audio-visual materials were distributed through DVDs and mobile phones in local areas of Okhla Village, Seelampur, Jafrabad, Dwarika, Kathputli Colony, Karala Viilage, and Amroha, JP Nagar, as well as by CMS VATAVARAN’s travelling film fest, International Water Film Fest, Green Unplugged International Film Fest and JDCA Film Festival. These materials have also been made available on-line for the global audience. The campaign was supported by Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, South Extension, Tagore International School and St. Mary’s School, Dwarka, New Delhi. National dailies published soft stories on the campaign.

Art & Artist Campaign 2011

Designed and implemented ‘Art & Artist’ campaign to promote the talent of local artists and dying rare arts. Produced thirteen short video films based on various forms of arts such as classical, spiritual, folk, light and street music, floral art, tribal art, handloom and handicrafts, calligraphy, embroidery and contemporary dance. Screened in many film festivals in Delhi, the films are also available on-line for the global audience. The campaign was supported by Flying Birds of India, Community Media Initiative and Qalamkaari Creative Calligraphy Trust.

Malaria Awareness Campaign 2012

Designed and implemented ‘Malaria Awareness Campaign’ for the people living in the urban slums of Okhla Village, New Delhi. Produced posters, hoardings, flyers, video film and songs to sensitize the local issue. The audio-visual materials were distributed through DVDs and mobile phones in local areas such as Okhla Village, Nizamuddin Basti, Seelampur, and elsewhere. They are also available on-line for the global audience. The campaign was supported by Iqbal Faizi Nursing Home and Charitable Society, New Delhi. National dailies published soft stories on the campaign.

Tagore Peace Campaign 2012

Designed and implemented ‘Tagore Peace Campaign’ dedicated to the work and life of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The campaign was specially designed for the non-Bengali communities who know little about Tagore and variety of his work. The purpose of this campaign is to sensitize larger sections of society, from a local to a global range, in an effort to connect the world through various art forms. Furthermore, the campaign educated school-age children about their potential, addressing issues over-burdening them and the pressures of academic studies. Produced thirteen short documentaries and video talks under the project head. A stitch painting of Rabindranath Tagore made by community embroider was presented to such luminaries as writer Mahashweta Devi, Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, journalist Khushwant Singh, actor Sharmila Tagore, film director Muzaffar Ali, dancer Astad Deboo and visual artist Prabodh Parikh. Tagore films were screened in Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and many schools of Delhi. The campaign was supported by Flying Birds of India, Community Media Initiative, Astad Deboo Dance Foundation, One Asia, Jamia Millia Islamia, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. Some on-line educational publications featured stories on the campaign.

Research, Content Creation & Publication

- Wrote short story ‘Anokhi Diwali’ for the primer of Adult Literacy Department, Government of India in 2010

- Supervised the research study “Use of ICTs by Youth for Promoting Change in the Community: An Exploratory Study” for a student of Department of Development Communication and Extension, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi as a part of a student’s Master Degree in Science. Wrote research paper with Associate Professor Aparna Khanna and Vineeta Khatri from Lady Irwin College on the above mentioned subject in 2009

- Research published in Finding a Voice, Themes and Discussions edited by Jo Tacchi and MS Kiran, published by UNESCO, March 2008

- Research published in Participatory Content Creation for Development: Principles and Practices edited by Jerry Watkins and Jo Tacchi, published by UNESCO, February, 2008

- News piece “Storytelling Takes a New Form in North East Delhi” published in the website of UNESCO, New Delhi (www.unesco.org) in 2008

- Photo Feature published in Telecentre Magazine, Vol II, Issue 3, Sept, 2008

- Research published in Poverty and Digital Inclusion, edited by Andrew Skuse, Joann Fildes, Jo Tacchi, Kristy Martin, Emma Baulch, published by UNESCO, 2007

- Research published in CMS Symbols Symposia on Communication for Social Development, edited by PN Vasanti, published by UNESCO, November, 2007

- Assisted in designing the course curriculum for IT training kit to the QUT, Australia, Adelaide University, Australia and UNESCO team, 2007-2008

- 2007-Research Paper “Making Content on Domestic Violence in a Male Dominated and Conservative Society”, a paper presented during CMS Symbols Symposia on Communication for Social Development held in November, 2007 at University of Hyderabad

- 2007-Newsletters: Edited and published nine volumes of monthly community newsletter in Hindi with a circulation of 5,000 in Delhi. This project was funded by UNESCO, One World South Asia and Datamation Foundation,N.Delhi.

- 2002-Booklets: Meri Pehli Peshkash, a compilation of own poems and short stories published by We Care Group, Aligarh. I Myself Am a Dream, a biographical sketch of eminent Film-Maker Muzaffar Ali published by We Care Group, Aligarh

Short and Documentary Film Production

Documentary Films

- Researched, Scripted& Directed a 55 min Documentary ‘SUFISM IN SOUTH INDIA’ for Oscar winning renowned music maestero Dr.AR Rahman in 2013

- Produced & Directed 55-min documentary film based on the life and works of eighty-five-year old National award-winning painter and calligrapher M. Yasin in 2012 for Qalamkaari Creative Calligraphy Trust. The film was screened in ONE ASIA Festival, Delhi in 2012 and Qalam Aatma International Calligraphy Festival. Jaipur in 2013

- Produced, Scripted and Directed 23-min documentary film ‘Aasha Ki Kiran’ based on the story of Kiran Rai whose difficult life challenges reflect those of many young women in the slum areas of New Delhi in 2012

- Co-Produced, scripted and directed a 30-min corporate documentary film and 5-min audio visual for ‘Te Aroha’, a resort/experience centre in Dhanachuli Uttranchal in 2011

- Scripted and assisted in directing a documentary film based on the ‘Culture of Awadh’ which was produced and directed by documentary film-maker Mr.Shahid Jamal in 2006

Digital Stories

- Shama Jo Jal Uthi (2 min 13 sec, Domestic Violence)

- Awaaz Uthayenge (7min, Domestic Violence)

- Poonam Devi ki Jeans Factory (4 min 31 sec, Domestic Violence and Women Empowerment)

- Kuch Kar Dikhana Hai (2 min, Women Empowerment)

- Vishvas (2 min 38 sec, Girl Child Discrimination)

- Umeed Ki Kiran (1 min 46 sec, Women Empowerment)

- Intezar (3 min 17 sec, Crimes in Trans Jamuna, Delhi)

- Mere Barhte Qadam (2 min 43 sec, ICTs and Women Empowerment)

- Mehandi Rang Lai (1 min 42 sec, Women Empowerment)

- Mother aur Kalighat ke Pujari (3 min 34 sec, Communal Harmony)

- Reporter (2 min 08 sec, Media and Women Empowerment)

- Meri Teacher (3 min 06 sec, Women Education)

- Store Room ( 2 min 09 sec, Women Education)

- Amma ki Wasiyat (2 min 10 sec, Problems of older age)

- Kaliyo ko Khilne Do (1 min 57 sec, Female Foeticide)

- Soch ko Badlo ( 2 min, 54 sec, Eve Teasing)

- Dear Father (1 min 10 sec, Poverty)

- Sapnay (5 min 09 sec, A tale from the Juvenile jail, Delhi)

- Azaadi (3 min 28 sec, Sports as a career)

- Antar Kyu (2 min 53 sec, Girl Child Discrimination)

- Bejor Bandhan (2 min 55 sec, Domestic Violence and Women Rights)

- Chalo Dilli Haat (3 min 01 sec, Women Empowerment)

- Chuna Hai Aasman (4 min 20 sec, Physical Disability)

- Darr (4 min 24 sec, Domestic Violence in Urban Slums)

- Meri Khwahish (3 min 39 sec, Women Empowerment)

- Nai Sanskrati (3 min 18 sec, Communal Harmony)

- Nawazish (4 min 34 sec, Co-educational schools and their positive impacts)

- Naya Sabaque (3 min 06 sec, Eve Teasing)

- Pati Aise Bhi Hote Hai (2 min 04 sec, Gender issues)

- RJ Heena (5 min 17 sec, Media and Women Empowerment)

- Sanjivani- The Life line (5 min 15 sec, Women Empowerment)

- Tota Maina (4 min 23 sec, Domestic Violence)

- Winter Carnival (2 min 54 sec, Girl Child Education)

Digital Stories

- Ishq-e-Rabia (16 min 12 sec, Role of a woman in Islamic Culture)

- Indain Idol (6 min 45 sec, Performing Arts)

- Welcome to MRC (14 min 59 sec, various issues of slums in Delhi)

- Sauda (6 min 16 sec, Women Rights)

- Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahi (14 min, Women’s role in National Integration and Communal Harmony)

- Anokhi Diwali ( 22 min, Women’s role in National Integration and Communal Harmony)

- Amar Praner Manush (4 min, Tagore’s poem)

- Tagore Utsav (17 min 46 sec, Rabindranath Tagore’s 151^st Birthday Celebration)

- Akbar ki Sui (5 min 47 sec, Reproductions of Tagore’s Pinting by Embroidery Art)

- Tagore Shila (3 min 58 sec, a tale of inspirational stone installed in Jamia Millia Islamia)

- Bangla Tuli (7 min 20 sec, based on exposure art visit to Lalit Kala Akademi)

- Panchi Geet (3 min 12 sec, based on a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore)

- Remembering Tagore (2 min 35 sec, based on Junior Art Workshop)

- Children by Tagore (1 min 28 sec, Children’s activities)

- Phoolwale (7 min 53 sec, Floral art & artists of Seelampur)

- Dhoomil Hoti Chaap (9 min 12 sec, Handicraft-Block Printing of Amroha)

- Rangeele Kangan (4 min 3 sec, Handicraft- wooden jewellry of Amroha)

- Kala ka Paak Mandir (4 min 2 sec, a tale of street carpenter & his unique designer furniture)

- Qalam Aatma, New Delhi (18 min 36 sec, an encounter with five international calligraphers)

- Pictorial Calligraphy (12 min 29 sec, Artistic experiences of noted calligrapher Qamar Dagar)

- Qurbani (4 min 22 sec, Tribal Art, Reproductions of Artist Jamini Roy)

- Faqira (13 min 25 sec, Sufi paintings based on the Sufi women of Delhi)

- Chamka Taara (21 min 18 sec, Hindi Church Choir)

- Master’s Tune (1 min 36 sec, Street Flute Player)

- Ghazal Goi (15 min 30 sec, noted ghazal singer, Johny Foster)

- Mere Charo Taraf (2 min 34 sec, Deepti Naval’s poem read by community women)

- Holy Water (13 min 28 sec, Water problem of Dwarka district of Delhi)

- Varsha Rani (4 min 24 sec, Wall Art of Odisha)

- Machchar Bhagao Re (7 min 11 sec, Malaria Awareness)

- Wonder Child (22 min 59 sec, Autism)

- My City My Park (6 min 39 sec, Enviromental issues)

- Khadi This Diwali (8 min 59 sec, Khadi Movement)

- Aman ka Shahdai (7 min 10 sec, Musical journey of a community boy Majid Ali)

Digital Stories

- Fahad in Zoo (10 min, Educational Adventure learning about Nature & Animals)

- Fahad in Post Office ( 3 min 29 sec, Educational Adventre learning about Indian Post & philately)

- Bam Bam Bole (1 min 20 sec, an intro of junior Flying Birds)

Animation Films

- Paani Paani Paani Re.. (11 min, Water Issues in the urban slums of Delhi)

Music Videos & Audio Visuals

- Ye Tara Wo Tara (5 min 35 sec, Independence day celebration)

- Happy Diwali (1 min 42 sec, Diwali celebration)

- Eid Mubarak (56 sec, Eid Celebration)

- Happy Rakhshabandhan (2 min 15 sec, Rakshabandhan Celebration)

- Tori Surat (6 min 11 sec, Mother’s sacrifice to accomplish the dream of her son)

- Jahane Khusrau (4 min 10 sec, International Sufi Music Festival)

- Ajab Shaan Hai (3 min 58 min, Dedication to Sufi Inayat Khan)

- Urs of Pir Inayat Khan (6 min 55 sec, Dedication to Sufi Vilayat Khan)

- Jheeni Chadariya (3 min 47 sec, Contemporary dance by Astad Deboo)

- Qalam Aatma, Japiur (18 min 36 sec, Calligraphy)

- Kuch Bolne Do (2 min 6 sec, Shahryar’s poem by a community woman)

- Wo Bech Rahe Hai Beejo ko (3 min 32 sec, Aseem Asha’s poem for Beej Bachao Andolan)

- Bharat ki Shakti Kheti Hai (2 min 6 sec, Aseem Asha’s poem for Organic Farming)

- Shanno Driver (2 min 45 sec, Stop Gender Based Violence)

Video Talks/Lectures/Demonstrations

- ‘Rabin Sangeet’ by Partha Bannerjee (17min 6 sec, Talk at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi)

- ‘Baul Singers’ by Binoy K Behl (15 min 4 sec, Talk at India Habitat Center, New Delhi)

-       ‘So Heddan So Hoddan’ by Anjali Monteiro and KP Jayasankar (3 min 39 sec, PSBT Film Fest, IIC, New Delhi)

-       ‘Tagore’s Paintings’ by Prabodh Parikh (42 min 9 sec, Presentation at NGMA,New Delhi)

-       ‘Why Ghalib Speaks to me’ by Gopichand Naragng (41 min 32 sec, Talk at Attic, New Delhi)

-       ‘The mysticism of Sound’ by Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar (22 min 23 sec, Talk at Sufi Inayat Khan Dargah, New Delhi)

-       ‘Understanding Qawwali’ by Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar (32 min 46 sec, Lecture at IIC, New Delhi)

-       ‘Tribute to Urdu Poet Prof.Shahryar’ by Rakhshanda Jalil (12 min 31 sec, presentation at IGNCA, New Delhi)

-       ‘Literature & the Media’ by Rakhshanda Jalil (17 min 17 sec, Paper Presentation at Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi)

-       ‘My World, My Art’ by Jatin Das (42 min, Talk at Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi)

-       ‘Literature & Cinema’ by Shabana Azmi (15 min, Talk at Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi)

Other Freelance Assignments

Poetry & Music

- Translated Sufi poems in Hindustani, originally written by Hazrat Rabia Basari. Some of the poems are sung by noted Sufi Singer Indira Naik from Mumbai in 2013.

- Wrote Sufi poems dedicated to great mountain Himalaya inspired by Tagore’s love for nature. One of the poems is sung by noted Sufi Singer Ms. Indira Naik from Mumbai during Delhi International Art Festival in Delhi in 2012.

- Translated and composed a prayer in Hindustani which was originally written by St. Francis. Mother Teresa used to sing this prayer throughout her life. Students from Carmel Convent School sang the prayer in Hindustani during Mother Teresa Birth Celebration in 2011.

- Wrote and composed songs for the short film Azad “Kheti Azad Kisan” based on the theme organic farming, produced by Navdanya, New Delhi, a non-profit organization by eminent environment activist Vandana Shiva.

- Wrote and composed title track for a short video film “Parwaz” based on Alternative Education system in India, produ