Dedication

Maasa is a labour of love that I am dedicating to my grandfather, Gajanan Govind Valanju, affectionately known to us all as “Bhau”. Maasa was filmed in my grandfather’s ancestral village in India. 

In the year 1918, when dark clouds of despair and slavery had besieged my ancestral motherland, India, Bhau was born in the seaside village of Nagaon, Alibaug, in the state of Maharashtra. 

Pure in mind, strong at heart and with a hard resolve, Bhau grew to become a staunch freedom fighter, gathering like-minded people together in this movement. The British Raj staggered under the impact of the growing avalanche of freedom fighters. Cannons and bullets could not destroy their resolve or their determination to make India independent. During those turbulent years, Bhau stood side-by-side with great leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru. Their chosen path of non-cooperation, non-violence and insistence on truth ultimately claimed victory and achieved independence for their beloved country in 1947. 

Bhau passionately believed in the sentiment “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakum”, a Sanskrit phrase which means “The World is One Family”. He believed in all or none principles. He used to say if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right, and he would devote all his energy and resources to achieve those goals. He also believed in “Nishkam Karma Yoga”, meaning performance of duty without any desire for reward. There are many stories about Bhau’s courageous feats and selfless acts, all carried out with his characteristic humility. He only believed he performed his duty, yet many of his actions were heroic. 

India is a nation of religious incohesion, with the unrest between Hindus and Muslims dating back many centuries. History is filled with many such events when riots break out onto the streets, and a mob mentality takes over the people. These religious mobs know no reason, and will slaughter the innocent. Bhau lived in a predominantly Hindu area within Mumbai, and he was a devoted Hindu himself. Yet on numerous occasions, he stood in the path of angry Hindu mobs to protect his innocent minority Muslim neighbours. It takes a true leader to stand in the face of death for your beliefs and to protect the helpless. Many lives were indebted to Bhau. 

After India’s independence, Bhau focused his attention on social reforms. His tireless work towards abolishing the dowry, and promoting women’s education and independence have had far-reaching repercussions for the rights of women in Indian society. 

He married my grandmother Sumati in 1943 and we were fortunate to witness their 60th wedding anniversary just before he passed away. My grandmother was a great support to him in all of his endeavours, and they were devoted to one other. The word “Bhau” means “brother” in our Marathi language. Bhau was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. But above all, he was a “brother” in the true sense of his belief in the brotherhood of humanity. He enjoyed many simple pleasures in his personal and family life. His love of Indian culture, art, painting, gardening, and music were well known. His love of God was unwavering, his happiest moments being when he gathered his family together to lead us all in prayer (“arthis” and “poojas”); we were fortunate to have had his guidance all those years. 

Bhau’s legacy lives on in our hearts forever, and so I proudly dedicate this film “Maasa” to the boy whose heart always lay in his birthplace, a small seaside Konkan village called Nagaon. 

Pradnya Dugal (Producer, Maasa)