Victims of caste and gender culture: the representation of Dalit women’s issues in Indian film narratives

Abstract

“Culture” can be defined as “the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group” (Oxford University Press, 2005). This way of life is shown in their behaviour, habits, and attitudes toward each other. The old-tradition of the caste system has divided Indian society into various sections which has given birth to socio-economic and cultural inequality. The basic features of the caste system are: ‘birth-ascription, endogamy, ritual pollution and traditional occupation’. The system has made Shudras and untouchables, the lowest castes, the victims. They are kept to the margins of society and to the majority even access to knowledge is a dream. Dalit is a self-adopted term used by this marginalized section of society. Dalit women are ‘Dalits among Dalits’ as they are the victims of caste and gender culture, hence, doubly marginalized. Film narratives as the mass media reach a large audience. Hence, these narratives are important cultural documents that present society's problems and influence the audience’s perception on a particular issue. Taking this as background the paper attempts to highlight the representation of Dalit women’s issues in selected Indian film narratives: Achhut Kanya (1936), Sujata (1959) and Article 15 (2019).