Pics: Joshwa D' Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Sep 19: Gautham Lewis, a film maker, pilot and photographer inaugurated the Mother Teresa International Film Festival 2016 organized by the World Catholic Association for Communication's India chapter (SIGNIS) in collaboration with Canara Communication Centre and Missionary of Charity sisters Mangaluru, to mark the canonization of Mother Teresa at St Agnes Special School here on Monday, September 19.
Speaking with media about his visit to India, Gautham Lewis said that he came to India in August to observe the canonization of Mother Teresa at Kolkata.
On inquiring, what his inspiration was to be a pilot, he said, “I wanted get liberated from disability. Until you get out of the aeroplane, no one knows that you have disability."
"Basically I am a film maker. I own a music company, an aviation flight training academy and digital marketing company. Usually people live once, but I have lived thrice, once with my mother who gave me birth, next with Mother Teresa and finally, adopted mother Patricia. I had left Kolkata when I was seven. I had no official birthday, but a doctor declared my birthday as February 12, 1977. So I quite like the mystery of not knowing who I am,” Lewis said during interaction.
Gautam Lewis memories
“But I do not think it is not necessary to understand birth parents. The blood line never defined who I am because I have no relationship with them. But I do have responsibility to Mother Teresa. She served the poorest of the poor thinking that she wanted something in return. Whatever I do in my life, it might be films, music, photography, aviation or digital, there will be humane, philanthropic approach to it," Lewis added.
"I learnt that sky is the only limit for human beings. We are limited by our own selves. People with disabilities have equal responsibility to the society. When you have a functional brain, there is no disability. It is the society and wider environment that makes one disabled. Over the years several hundreds of people are employed in my firm. I try to live for tomorrow, not for yesterday. Usually people focus on the negative first and it is hard to focus on positive because we want to blame some or something for our problem. This stops people from achieving something." said Lewis.
Speaking on his future plan, he said, "I would like to have a home in India especially in Kolkata. And I want spend half year in India and half a year in London. I do not want my future children not understanding the importance of India. I was born in Kolkata, live in London and have been to 150 countries and have a broader perspective on global issues, different cultures and villages. My home is wherever I am. I plan to bridge Kolkata and London."
Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, director of Sandesha, Fr Richard D' Souza, director of Canara Communication Centre Mangaluru, Sr Bernadette, representing the Mother Teresa congregation, Sr Shruthi principal of St Agnes Special School, were present at the occasion.
The following is teh schedule of the Film Festival.
September 19 at St Agnes special school Bendore
Interaction with Gautham Lewis.
September 20 at Jeppu Seminary-CM Hall
9:00 am -Mother and Me-59 min, A Call within a call-30min- Interaction with Gautham Lewis.
11:00 am - The living legend-28 min, Nirmal Hriday-59min.
1:00 pm - Mother Teresa The Legacy 80 min, Love till hurts 20min.
3:00 pm- In the name of God’s poor-89min.
5:30 pm- Mother Teresa-Petrie-80 min- Interaction with Gautham Lewis.
September 21 at Padua College Hall
9:00 am Mother and Me-59min, A call within a call 30min- Interaction with Gautham Lewis.
11:00 am- The Living Legend 28min, Nirmal Hriday 59min.
4:00 pm-The Letters 89 min.