Format/Structure

This workshop projects a film followed by a discussion. The film is based on two protests in Bangladesh and Nepal. This film is an example of co-creating visual documents with the community, artists, and scientists, grounded in empirical research.

Long Abstract

The historical trajectory of South Asia is marked by persistent struggles for justice, often expressed through diverse forms of resistance and protest. Against this backdrop, this film explores how resistance functions as a claim for justice in Bangladesh and Nepal, and examines its potentials and challenges within ongoing socio-political transitions. Both countries are experiencing rapid economic growth alongside rising inequalities, political instability, and intensifying socio-ecological crises, which significantly shape citizens’ capacities to mobilise and demand justice.

Drawing on empirical research conducted between 2021 and 2024, the film highlights two distinct yet interconnected mobilisations: (1) community struggles for access to safe drinking water in the climate-vulnerable Sundarbans delta of Bangladesh, and (2) protests by health workers in Nepal demanding justice in labour and working conditions. Bringing these cases into dialogue, the film examines how justice claims are shaped through collective action and resistance, and what opportunities and constraints these movements face in advancing more just social and political arrangements.

The film is the outcome of a collaborative production process in which audiovisual materials, photographs, artworks, and maps were co-produced with community members, collaborators, and artists in both countries. We showcase the voices of people who contribute significantly to society but whose needs and struggles remain unaddressed. The film bridges science and society and contributes to broader debates on justice through transdisciplinary research.

Preliminary Agenda

00–15 min — Welcome and introduction

15–50 min — Film screening

50–65 min — Discussion

65–90 min — Q&A