Jamia Millia MCRC

Mom had been busy in Delhi developing new work prospects. In 1979 she conducted a six month field study to develop a proposal for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to fund the creation of a new Mass Communications faculty within the Jamia Millia Islamia University. This lead to a successful venture between CIDA, York University of Toronto, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Jamia Millia MCRC - a Moslem college.

Mom, Dad and Jamal Kidwai were the driving forces behind establishing the Jamia Millia Mass Communications Research Centre in New Delhi, India. This project was both my parents crowning achievement and represented a culmination of my father's many skill sets. Mom and Jamal Kidwai had become quite close, yet they worked together with Dad for many years, each providing a unique and vital role to the fulfillment of their creative vision.

The Jamia became a hotbed for social activist journalism. Dad was able to design a curriculum that focused on developing not only the technical and creative skills of their students, but also their social consciences. He drew heavily on his Griersonian principles, encouraging filmmaking for a social purpose. India was a nation whose citizenry would respond to this calling.