Memories of a Political Prisoner
Subtitle: Exiled by South Africa, Educated at Oxford and Cambridge, and Active for Freedom Everywhere
Production Date: 2011
Produced by: Richard Grove
Directed by: Richard Grove
Runtime: 2-hours (1-DVD or 1-Blu Ray disc)
Summary: Professor Chengiah Ragaven was born in South Africa, and during Apartheid he was persona non grata and exiled by the South African Government. During his exile, Chengiah learned how the system works from within, attending the University of London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University of Sussex before moving to America. Chengiah is interviewed by Richard Grove and Jitu Huntley, and throughout this 2 hour interview, there are nuggets of wisdom being distilled from someone who was survived oppression; and has crafted a life worthy of memorializing. You can get Chengiah’s book “Memories of a Political Prisoner” here: http://www.amazon.com/Apartheid-Studies-Memories-Political-Prisoner/dp/062049…
“I was invited to participate as a guest on a local TV show ‘World in Crisis’, hosted by Professor Chengiah Ragaven, to discuss history and politics juxtaposed to current world events. After my 2nd appearance, Chengiah and I started discussing South Africa, and his history as a political prisoner. I read his book “Memories of a Political Prisoner”, a summary of which, goes something like this: Chengiah’s family is of Indian heritage, and he was born in South Africa, during the Apartheid period of its history. He grew up to think independently, reasonably, and use rationality in his actions; all of which are a “no-no” for people of color in what was then, “White” South Africa. He mentored a young man named Steven Biko, whose tragic death years later was memorialized in the film “Cry Freedom”, with Denzell Washington playing the part of Steve Biko. Chengiah was later labeled as a troublemaker by the South African government, who did not approve of his activism; eventually putting him under house arrest, and then he was soon thereafter, exiled from South Africa. Chengiah, surprisingly enough, worked his way to the United Kingdom, where he then attended The University of Oxford, as well as The University of Cambridge, thus becoming one of the few living “Ox-Bridge” scholars who have attended these prestigious institutions and fountainheads of “empire”. Today, after decades of exile, Chengiah has just returned to South Africa; right before he left, we shot the following interview, wherein he illustrates his life’s story with colorful recollections of growing up poor, being exiled, and then infiltrating the academic establishment to study tyranny from the inside-out. It is my pleasure to present: Memories of a Political Prisoner / An Interview with Professor Chengiah Ragaven.” – Richard Grove
Purchase: This is a 2-hour presentation on 1-DVD or 1-Blu Ray in full 1080p HD, and is available by selecting which version you’d like, and clicking on the PayPal button below.
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