Ahimsa Center

Special Event and Workshops

Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, A Torch of Peace

Date: October 03, 2010
Time: 2:30pm to 5:00pm
Location: Cal Poly Pomona, Bronco Student Center (BSC), Ursa Major Room

Twenty-three years in the making, The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, A Torce for Peace (a feature length documentary 92 minutes) launches into orbit the epic story of a remarkable Muslim peacemaker born into Pashtun warrior society of the North-West Frontier Province of what is now Pakistan. Pronounced “a miracle” by Mahatma Gandhi, Badshah Khan raised a strong nonviolent army of 100,000 men, women, and youngsters drawn from the various traditions of Afghanistan and India --- Muslims as well as Hindus, Christians, Parsees, Sikhs, and Buddhists --- who came together in the cause of peace, justice, and human dignity for all.

In partnership with Mahatma Gandhi, Khan led a nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in the first half of the 20 th century.

Nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize, Badshah Khan’s improbable life and story remain little known. He died in 1988 at the age of 98 having spent nearly 35 years in solitary confinement for his efforts to humanize humanity.

Filmed in Afghanistan, Khyber Pass, Pakistan including NWFP, India, United States, and Canada, the film includes rare historical footage, surprisingly candid interviews with world leaders, testimony from 72 of Badshah Khan’s nonviolent warriors --- all beyond the age of 100 years --- and a score by acclaimed world music pioneer David Amram.

Legendary Indian actor, Om Puri, brings alive the thoughts and writings of Badshah Khan.

Badshah Khan’s example and legacy advance a greater, broader, and inspired understanding of what is currently perceived as Muslim, Afghan, and Pashtun. His heroic life offers a profound message of hope for these increasingly troubled times.

The film won the top prize (The Black Pearl Award) for BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE at The Middle East International Film Festival (www.meiff.com) in Abu Dhabi, October 2009.

Event Flyer

Teri C. McLuhan

Teri C. McLuhan

Teri C. McLuhan, Director/Producer/Writer of THE FRONTIER GANDHI: BADSHAH KHAN, A TORCH FOR PEACE, is an international award-winning filmmaker. Her films include The Shadow Catcher (feature documentary; producer/director/writer) and The Third Walker (narrative feature; producer/director/writer). The Frontier Gandhi is her third picture.

She is a bestselling author and has written five books on sacred space and the core values of diverse cultures across the planet. They include Touch the Earth (Simon & Schuster), Dream Tracks (Abrams), Portraits from North American Indian Life (Outerbridge & Lazard), The Way of the Earth (Simon & Schuster), and Cathedrals of the Spirit (Harper Collins).

Teri was raised and educated in Toronto. She has been a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University and currently resides in New York City.