Bearer of Glass Beads

Pratibha Pant

The documentary presents us with a journey of glass beads travelling from the Czech Republic to Nepal. It talks of the primary glass beads makers- Muslim men and connects with its primary consumers- Hindu women. It presents the cultural and religious significance of glass beads and communicates the role of Muslim men in turning beads into an auspicious ornament for Hindu women, with a hint of irony on how an ornament primarily for women historically prohibits them from making one. At the same time, it brings in a curious lens on what the future of glass beads would be like, given the evolving fashion and changing faith of the younger generation. The documentary explores the perspective of both old and young glass beads makers, alongside women makers, identifying their common spark for glass beads. This way, the story ties together the voice of glass beads and personifies the underlying main character in understanding her destiny and what comes next.