Parnika Jain- Week 11


Week 11:
Sangharsh:
This film portrays the Dalit movement in India. The protagonist in this film is Dhaniram who is a Dalit activist. This movie is directed by Nicholas Jaoul a French anthropologist. He also portrays the Kanpur Dalit Panthers’ activities and contribution to the Dalit Movement in UP. This movie also exposes the activities of the Bahujan Samaj Party. Even if this party loses it does not affect the small group of people who continue to fight for the cause of the Dalit movement from a grassroots level. The Savarnas or the so-called upper caste are angry with the Dalit Panthers inciting class consciousness. The Dalit Panthers bring to light not only the physical assault but also the structural violence they face.  They have been oppressed from the beginning. They are still forced to serve landlords who do not pay them in return most of the times. The Dalit Panthers are fighting to break free from the shackles of the caste system. They even ask people to convert and leave Hinduism as it is in place only to keep them oppressed.

Reason:
The director Anand Patwardhan in his movie portrays the Hindutva ideology and the reign of the Hindu extremists. The movie begins with a communist leader- Dabholkar who addresses a gathering. He asks them to be on a hunt for science and not believe in religion. He was shot later by these extremists for opposing their beliefs in religion. The same happens to Govind Pansare a few years later when he goes for a morning jog.  The officials behind this investigation purposely investigate slowly and avoid trying to close this case. Therefore they have lost faith in the people who are supposed to look after them. These Hindu Extremists spread hatred and assault minority communities, like the Muslims and the Dalits. He portrays how hyper-nationalism has risen. Both movies illustrate the fact that Dalits are not allowed to destroy the rigid hierarchy prescribed by the Manusmriti. They cannot be wiped out as their survival is necessary for the so-called upper caste to exert their superiority. Without the Dalit community who would work on their fields and sweep their streets? The Hindu extremists have always needed to feel a false sense of superiority and thus always push to keep this system in place. This systematic caste system only exists to keep the rich richer while constantly confining the poor people to poverty.


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