The oddest chance meeting with someone can spur us on to so
much more, much like the Domino or Butterfly Effect. This is precisely the path
that unfolded for documentary filmmaker, Aubrey Aloysius after having met and interviewed
live on stage the youngest daughter-in-law of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Neera
Shastri at an event called ‘A Musical Memorial – Remembering Mahatma Gandhi and
Lal Bahadur Shastri’.
This encounter was one that motivated him so much, that he
decided to make a documentary on the subject, and went on to meet Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sons, Sunil and Anil
several times, who guided him and provided him with valuable insight and
information during his period of research. Aubrey currently has, in the works, a
documentary film on Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister
of India, which is set to be released nationally and globally later this year. Aubrey
has also produced a number of cultural events focused on the performing arts in
the National Capital Region and has also produced a number of short films
promoting national unity and patriotism. Several of these films have been
telecast nationally and internationally on Doordarshan. He has also been
featured on Lok Sabha Television. Aubrey will also go on to produce a full-length
feature film for a national and international audience.
However, in keeping with this, one can’t help but wonder why
Aubrey picked to specifically focus on the life of a man who is often unfortunately
perhaps regarded as one of the ‘lesser-known’ names of the time. “It was 50
years ago, on January 11, 1966 in Tashkent that Lal Bahadur Shastri passed away.
However, to those that remember his contribution to the country at large, he
still lives on in their hearts. In many ways, his story is similar to that of
President Abraham Lincoln of the U.S.A. who rose from a log-cabin to the White
House. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s story is of a modest young boy who was born on the
banks of the river Ganga and rose to be a Bharat Ratna. Through his dedication
and by virtue of his character, he rose steadily to occupy the highest position
in the land,” he explains.
Aubrey Aloysius has interviewed every living member of the
Lal Bahadur Shastri family in order to gain a powerful and deep insight into
the life of this great man. “The stories that they told me, reduced me to
tears. We are talking about a man who put his country first; a man who spent
more time in jail than out of it, purely for standing up for what he believed
in; a man who lived in abject poverty and lost two children to illness, purely
because he could not afford to pay for their medical expenses,” he adds
emotionally.
Aubrey, who is also the founder of the Lorraine Music
Academy and the LAMP Trust, and Chairman of the National Patriotic Project, talks
about the importance of the film to the next generation, saying, “The purpose
of this project and films is to reach and impact each of the 1.27 billion
citizens of India. It is important that the children and youth of our nation
know and understand the life of Lal Bahadur Shastri – his everyday life as a child
with meagre means, his struggle to get himself educated, a sacrificial life as
a freedom fighter. He was a man of high moral principles, values and ethics,
who with integrity and character crossed all bridges and held the highest
Indian office with courage, integrity and utmost dignity. He was a legendary
leader, successful and blameless both in public and private life. His thoughts
and actions need to be perpetuated and carried forward in order that the life
of the Indian citizen, and human being at large, can be transformed. His
principles, values, ideals and thoughts must be held up as a lamp to India and
the world. Even though he died 50 years ago, his legacy will live on forever.”
