Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Re: [ZESTCaste] Maya snubs CAG, allocates more money to Dalit memorials

 

Crores of rupees are
spent memorials of upper caste icons and for their maintance. Ms. Mayawati has
spent only 1% of the budget for SC/ST/OBC icons. What is wrong in that? The
media and the CAG must be broad minded to accept memorials of icons of
SC/ST/OBC, since this country belongs to them also. The people of UP are broad
minded to elect Ms mayawati as their Chief Minister, just like US electing
Obama as their president. Our entire country must become broad minded to elect
Ms Mayawati as their Prime Minister to make it a casteless society.

________________________________
From: Siddhartha Kumar <mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com>
To: zestcaste <zestcaste@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 10 August 2011 3:08 PM
Subject: [ZESTCaste] Maya snubs CAG, allocates more money to Dalit memorials

 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Maya-snubs-CAG-allocates-more-money-to-Dalit-memorials/articleshow/9543222.cms

Maya snubs CAG, allocates more money to Dalit memorials
Manjari Mishra & Ashish Tripathi, TNN | Aug 9, 2011, 06.58PM IST

LUCKNOW:

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[ZESTCaste] Bombay HC to decide release of “Aarakshan”

http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676491743/bombay-hc-to-decide-release-of-aarakshan-.html

08 Aug 2011 09:22:18 PM IST
Bombay HC to decide release of "Aarakshan"
Leela Samson

The Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Ms.
Leela Samson and Ms.Pankaja Thakur, Chief Executive Officer, CBFC on
Monday held a meeting with the National Commission of SC in context
with the release of the film "Aarakshan".


In the meeting, Dr. P.L. Punia, Chairman of the Commission, said that
50%of India's poor belong to Scheduled Castes and Commission is
committed to protect the rights of these under privileged and do not
want their sentiments to be hurt with the release of this film.

"We want that the film should be screened before the Commission prior
to its release. It is in the interest of all the countrymen
particularly Dalits," Punia said.

"We received a complaint that the film is against the fundamental
right of reservation given to these under privileged. That's why we've
asked the CBFC to screen the film before the Commission. If the NCSC
team finds some portions objectionable then those portions should be
deleted. If the team finds the entire film to be controversial, then
we'll request CBFC not to release the film." Punia told media.

On the other hand, Ms. Leela Samson said that a Writ petition has been
filed to revoke the U/A certificate that the Board has given to the
film and the film can not be screened till the judgement of the High
Court, which is due on 9th August, 2011.

Punia also said that the consequences of such controversy have been
seen in the past and they want to safeguard the interests of the SCs.

We are not challenging the authority of the CBFC that's why we want to
deal only with the statutory body i.e. CBFC and not with the private
Producer or Director. We will work according to the mandate of the
Commission and within the jurisdiction prescribed by law and want to
avoid any form of social tension that may arise with the release of
this film".

The film "Aarakshan" is directed by Prakash Jha starring Amitabh
Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpaye and Prateek
Babbar.

The film is salted to release on August 12, 2011.


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[ZESTCaste] SC/ST commission asks Censor Board to defer 'Aarakshan' release

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/scst-commission-may-defer-aarakshan-release/174628-8.html

Movies News
SC/ST commission asks Censor Board to defer 'Aarakshan' release
CNN-IBN
Updated Aug 10, 2011 at 02:57pm IST

New Delhi: The National Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled
Tribes has asked the Censor Board to defer the release of Prakash
Jha's contentious film Aarakshan saying it will create communal
disharmony. The NCSCST also said some dialogues and sequences in the
movie are objectionable.

The commission will be meeting later on Wednesday to decide on the
fate of the film. Sources have told CNN-IBN that the commission is
likely to give its go-ahead to the film after suggesting a few
changes. But censor board chief Leela Samson said Aarakshan has been
cleared.

Samson said that there was no question of delaying its release. The
commission had earlier expressed its reservations about the movie as
it was believed to be anti-Dalit. Sources also said the SC/ST
commission will suggest deleting scenes in the movie which they find
objectionable.

Meanwhile, senior Maharashtra minister and OBC leader Chaggan Bhujbal
expressed objection to certain scenes and dialogues in Aarakshan.

"Some scenes and dialogues in the film are objectionable and the film
can be released after deleting them," Bhujbal said after a special
screening of the film was arranged by the director here last night. A
final decision on the issue would be announced Wednesday after
discussing it with leaders of other parties, he said.

Maharashtra minister Shivajirao Moghe and Varsha Gaikwad were present
at the screening held in a South Mumbai theatre. The film, starring
Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpai, Deepika Padukone and
Prateik Babbar among others in pivotal roles, has kicked up a
controversy for its alleged anti-reservation stand. It is set to hit
the screens this Friday.

The Bombay High Court has already cleared the release of the movie,
rejecting a demand for the special screening before its release.

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[ZESTCaste] Strong support for MLA's selection into DVS cabinet

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Strong-support-for-MLAs-selection-into-DVS-cabinet/articleshow/9553061.cms

Strong support for MLA's selection into DVS cabinet
TNN | Aug 10, 2011, 02.30PM IST

MANGALORE: DK District SC and ST Organizations Federation has come out
in strong support of making four-time MLA from Sullia S Angara a
minister in the D V Sadananda Gowda cabinet. Angara has all
qualification to become a minister and his seniority as a MLA should
be given due weightage during the next expansion of the cabinet,
maintained the Federation's office bearers, stating that they have
represented the matter orally and in writing to the CM.

Nirmal Kumar, member of the Federation, told reporters here on Tuesday
that the various SC/ST organizations in the district have waited
patiently for the day to see Angara become a minister. During the last
four terms as MLA, Angara has worked steadfastly to ensure overall
development of Sullia assembly constituency, he said, adding that
Angara has also won love and respect of people of the area with his
approach towards development.

P Keshava, state committee members of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti
said the various SC/ST organizations may have ideological differences
but have all come under the banner of the Federation to push for the
rights of members of SC/ST community. "All that we are seeking is one
chance for Angara to become a minister, and work for welfare of the
community," he said, adding that the Federation would not settle for
anything less.

The SC/ST community have been continuously seeing their aspirations
being crushed by successive state governments in Karnataka and
governments of the day, including the present BJP government, which
has merely paid lip service to the community, Keshava said. S P Anand,
D K district convener of DSS said the Federation has also appealed to
former CM B S Yeddyurappa and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa and
pleaded Angara's case with them.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits stage protest demanding arrest of ‘cheat advocate’

http://coastaldigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28379:dalits-stage-protest-demanding-arrest-of-cheat-advocate&catid=57:news-stories&Itemid=68

Wednesday, 10th August 2011

Dalits stage protest demanding arrest of 'cheat advocate'

by CD Network Saturday, 06 August 2011 21:06

Udupi, August 6: Udupi District unit of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha
Samithi, on Saturday, staged a protest dharna infront of the office of
the Superintendent of Police, here, demanding the arrest of advocate
Premaraj Kini, accused of cheating a Dalit family from Belthangadi, by
grabbing compensation money to the tune of 2.5 lakhs, by producing
forged documents, both to the court and the bank.


Speaking on the occasion chief convener of DSS Udupi district unit
Jayan Malpe alleged that though the Udupi Town Police were forced to
register a case against Premaraj, they had been delaying the arrest of
the advocate for the reasons unknown.

Noted thinker G Rajashekhar expressed concern over police inaction, in
spite of the aggrieved Dalits providing evidence for the forgery and
lodging a written complaint to the police. "Police shall atleast wake
up now and arrest the police. At this stage we will call our police
corrupt. But if they fail to arrest we will be forced to", Rajashekhar
warned.

Prof Phaniraj said that police should speed up action atleast for the
reason that the aggrieved party is a Dalit down trodden family.

Dalit activist Sundari Puttur, social activists Sriramam Diwana,
Dinkar Bengre and others participated in the protest.


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[ZESTCaste] Director Prakash Jha Talks Aarakshan

http://bollyspice.com/26222/director-prakash-jha-talks-aarakshan

Director Prakash Jha Talks Aarakshan

By Stacey Yount
Posted on August 8th, 2011

Mr. Prakash Jha is one of the most respected directors in Hindi
cinema. His films are not the typical girl meets boy tales, they move
beyond that genre by examining social and sometimes controversial
topics. However, he takes these serious social topics down to a
personal level, so we not only see the drama, the fight, and the epic
huge crowd scenes, but also the fun, the romance, and the many
intimate moments that make up a world weaves it all together
seamlessly. Not only are moviegoers entertained, they are also
challenged to think and care more deeply. For his latest film,
Aarakshan he turns the lens on the controversial issue of reservation
in the Indian education system. Mr. Jha brings this important social
issue into focus by presenting it in a very personal way: setting the
story in one school within one village. The film examines how the
reservation system not only affects the principal of a school, but
also how it affects his family, the teachers and the students. Mr. Jha
says that at its broadest, it is a tale about the battle of India vs.
India and the commercialization of education. In a fabulous in-depth
interview, the director gives us a history lesson, what it is like to
work with a cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj
Bajpayee, Prateik and Deepika Padukone, and what he hopes audiences
will see in the film.

What Draws Him to a Project
Well, I mostly do movies which deal with social movements and social
issues. The process is quite long and drawn out, because one keeps on
observing how a particular issue takes shape over the years: what are
its repercussions, individual stories and incidents? We go on
researching, and eventually when we find a story, which is of human
interest, then me and my team develop a screenplay. It often takes,
you know, quite some time…sometimes, you know, running into 7…8…9…10
years! So, that's how all my movies are right from the beginning
whether it is Damul or Mrityudand or Gangaajal or Apaharan or
Raajneeti and now of course, this one Aarakshan.


History Lesson on Reservation
It's something like Affirmative Action. We inherently have a
caste-based society, which is that there are the Brahmins, the upper
caste and then there are the lower castes and then there are the
untouchables. When we got our independence, the writers of the
constitution thought that it would probably be advisable to create
equal opportunities for those who have been subjugated and oppressed
for centuries on the basis of caste. They developed a formula where 22
½ percent in all government institutions, higher education and job
opportunities were reserved for the scheduled caste or the scheduled
tribes. This was supposed to be a temporary phenomenon. It was
expected that in 10 years or 15 years these people will be able to
come into the mainstream and this whole effect or the need for
reservation will peter off. But it didn't happen. In the 70's and
80's, a further reservation of 27½ percent was proposed for the other
backward class. That created a lot of furor in the society, because
for those who had the monopoly over education and the jobs, suddenly
they found their seats reduced. There was a lot of pain – a lot of
protest. The decision was even challenged in the Supreme Court, and
dragged on for some time. In 2008, the Supreme Court gave its verdict
and the reservation percentage increased to 49½ percent.

So, as it happens today, 49½ percent of all the government institution
seats and jobs are reserved for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes
or the backward caste. This also has resulted in the development of
the massive commercialization of education, because as the seats were
reduced, competition increased, and it gave birth to coaching centers.
Also capitation fees, which are when kids did not get admitted into
government institutes, there were other institutions, run by private
institutions, where you could pay money and get a degree.

Story of Aarkashan
This film deals with the status of education today. It's an emotional
journey of a man who is principled, who believes in equal
opportunities for everybody, and who is the Principal of a college
where the principle of reservation doesn't apply. But he is
compassionate and on his own, on the side, he helps students who are
from poorer sections of the society. His clash is with the education
mafia, which has taken education and made it a business. He knows only
one way of combating it, and that is by teaching, and he begins to
teach a handful of poor children. It catches the imagination of the
city and he is able to fight the menace of commercialization of
education.

This film is about the rising India, which unfortunately has given
birth on the one hand to a small section of people who have the money,
who are able to buy into educating their children; and on the other
hand, a large India which has the merit but does not have the money to
be able to get the packaged professional education and still is
languishing. There is a big divide between the two Indias and the film
deals with that.

The Cast
My process of working with the actors is that once my script is ready,
I have with them several, several, several sessions before we go for a
shoot. I try and prepare them, inform them, and talk as much as
possible about their characters. So, whether it is Mr. Bachchan or
Saif Ali Khan or Deepika Padukone or Manoj Bajpayee or Prateik, they
all go through these rehearsals and primarily they try and understand
as much of these characters as possible.

Mr. Amitabh Bachchan
Well, Mr. Bachchan, of course, is a very, very professional actor.
He's an inspiration because he is so hungry for his work and he
encourages everybody. His punctuality and his dedication to work are
kind of absolutely amazing. He's done a phenomenal character in this
film. He plays the role of Prabhakar Anand, who is the principal of
the college. Saif Ali Khan who plays the dalit in the film; dalit is
an almost untouchable; but who is brilliant in academics, but
nevertheless he carries the burden of being a dalit. When he is
challenged about his identity he is disturbed. He wants to make Mr.
Bachchan take some kind of position whether he is for the reservation
or against the reservation. Mr. Bachchan is above all this and it
creates a lot of problems. However, getting back to working with Mr.
Bachchan as you asked me, it was a great experience.

Saif Ali Khan
When I told him that he was going to play the role of a dalit, you
know, he was quite surprised because his background is from a very
regal family, his education has been in best institutions of the
world, and he was going to play the role of a deprived,
underprivileged dalit. But see, I always had faith in him, because he
is a hugely underrated actor. When he really prepares himself he is so
into the character and he quite simply slips into the role. He's
really done well in the film.

Manoj Bajpayee
He is brilliant. I worked with him before in Raajneeti. He plays a
very negative, very dark character that represents the mafia of the
education. He uses his position in the college to create a chain of
commercial coaching institutes. He tries to commercialize the whole
process of education. His conflict with the principal, Mr. Bachchan,
and how Mr. Bachchan finds himself completely incapable of fighting
this menace is part of this story. His character completely takes over
the institute. It is a very dark character.

Prateik Babbar. I saw on one of the videos that you told him to touch
his nose whenever he would get confused or nervous.
(Laughs) We had a lot of fun while we were shooting because we shot
for a long 60 days schedule. Prateik is completely uninhibited in
front of the camera. He is just a natural actor. He is playing a kid
from a very privileged society who suffers. He couldn't get admitted
in the school where he wanted to go because of the reservation of
seats. So his angst breaks the friendship that he has with Deepika and
Saif. Everything seems to go, but eventually he realizes the
importance of Mr. Bachchan's principles. Eventually, he comes around,
because the solution is not for or against: the solution is
understanding the situation. The solution is eventually realizing that
if the nation needs to grow it has to grow together. Growth has to be
inclusive, and if we keep on surging ahead without really realizing
what our neighbors are and, you know, what conditions they are living
in, then it's not going to create an equitable society.

Deepika Padukone
All these kids are absolutely natural, professional. They prepare very
well. Deepika didn't have the usual kind of glamorous wearing costumes
part, which has been normal for her; she wore clothes that were more
natural to that of a small town girl. She didn't wear any makeup or
anything of that sort. She is very true to the character that we had
written. She is going to surprise a lot of people.

The Music
The music in the film is very essential to the story because all the
songs say a lot of what was actually meant to be said in the film. So,
they not only enhance the story, they become a very, very essential
part of my narrative. Prasoon Joshi has really taken the soul of the
film and put them in all the lyrics. You might have heard of the one
song, 'Kaun Si Dor', which is a classical song, and then there is the
love song, there is a group song and then there is an anthem, which
really represents the struggle of these underprivileged kids to come
on and study and to come up to the merit and to make their mark.

What he hopes audiences will take away with them after seeing the film
Well, they will take with them an understanding of what we are going
through, because it's everybody's story. It's every child's story. In
this country, it's every family's story that is struggling for
educating their children, providing them with a future. It's become
like a bubble. In this country today, education is very important to
Indian children. The parents would go to any lengths to see to it that
their kids have the best of education. I mean, they will starve, but
you know, they will see that the fees are paid. This is what happens
and this is where all these sharks will take advantage of this. Over
the last 20-25 years, a whole parallel system of education has emerged
in the country in forms of coaching, capitation institutes and private
universities, and it has become very, very difficult for common
children belonging to general society who cannot afford that kind of
education. And this way you either have to be an engineer or you have
to be a doctor, you have to be a manager and nobody is studying pure
science or humanities these days. No one wants to study humanities. No
one wants to study pure subjects. It's a pity; one can quite easily
say that in a couple of years in India there will be no scientists.

Twitter experience
(Laughs) It's nice, you know, because in a moment, you know, you can
connect with a whole lot of people. They have their opinions and you
can know what they are thinking about. You can know how they are
reacting to what you are thinking or what they are doing. It's great.

Social Media and fan clubs
It always helps, you know, because whenever you have a social subject
on which everyone can have their own point of view it's important to
debate. It's important to think and get engaged. All these social
media definitely engage people, which I think, are very healthy and
very good.

Talking with Mr. Jha was a wonderful experience. He was so open, so
nice and so passionate about his film. With a cast full of stars, and
under the direction of such an esteemed director, Aarakshan looks to
be a film that cannot be missed. The socio-political drama opens in
cinemas on August 12th! Watch this space because we have more exciting
interviews from the cast of Aarakshan coming up!


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[ZESTCaste] Deepak Lokhande: Of Aarakshan, Khairlanji and caste

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_deepak-lokhande-of-aarakshan-khairlanji-and-caste_1574015

Deepak Lokhande: Of Aarakshan, Khairlanji and caste

Deepak Lokhande | Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Prakash Jha's Aarakshan, which releases this Friday, has been in the
eye of a storm ever since the promos started playing on television
channels.

The dialogues in the promos are catchy enough to make a few leaders
who believe the movie is against dalits to pick up the protest banner
and insist that the film should not release.

I will not get into the merits and demerits of reservation. There are
lots of arguments for and against it. Those who are for reservation
point out how upper caste Hindus denied their communities access to
education and jobs for thousands of years.
Article continues below the advertisement...

Those against reservations say merit is compromised, quality denied
and thousands of worthy candidates are rejected because of the policy
that was supposed to be abolished in 30 years.
Like I said, I will not get into who is right and who is wrong. Let's
look at the reality that exists in our society.

The reality is that rapid urbanisation and industrialisation has
forced a majority of us to shun our castes at least in public. In
major cities, towns and tehsils, a fair amount of equality exists.

We don't 'see' a dalit being denied admission to an eatery,
untouchability is not practiced, and food is freely shared.
But then that's only half the truth.

Or, for that matter, less than half the truth. Latest census figures
show that more than 60% of India still lives in villages, and therein
lies the hidden truth. I know a media person from a prominent media
house who was banned from entering his village after he married out of
his caste. I am not talking about 30 or 20 years ago.

I am talking about five years ago. The village is not in the interiors
of 'progressive' Maharashtra; neither is it from predominantly
casteist Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is a fallacy that Maharashtra is
progressive and does not believe in the caste system. One just has to
travel to Marathwada and Vidarbha to see how it is practiced.

The truth is — like Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar said in his speech that he
had to publish after he was not allowed to speak — that to ensure the
true abolition of the caste system, intercaste marriages are a must
and they should be encouraged.

Caste system gains its strength through roti-beti (sharing food and
allowing marriages strictly within the community). When intercaste
marriages start taking place in the society on a large scale, false
egos will be forced to take a back seat. You might say they are
already happening. Yes, they are, but not enough.

All our English newspapers (supposedly liberal by virtue of being in
English) are full of community-based matrimonial advertisements.

All matrimonial portals assure the best matches from within
communities. So much for those who insist science and technology will
automatically lead to breaking of such practices.

It is the mindset that refuses to change. Let me end this on something
that struck me after the Khairlanji massacre shook us. Four members of
the Bhotmange family were killed by the villagers of Khairlanji on
September 29, 2006.

Two of the women were paraded naked, raped and then killed. All of us
remember it as the Khairlanji massacre and not the Bhotmange massacre.
Dalits don't have an identity, not even when they are raped and
killed. They sadly are remembered by the name of the village that
killed them.


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[ZESTCaste] Saif: Why should they have any objections?

 

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2011/aug/090811-Saif-Ali-Khan-objections-Aarakshan-controversial-topic.htm

Saif: Why should they have any objections?
By: Shubha Shetty-Saha Date: 2011-08-09 Place: Mumbai
Mid Day Archives

Saif Ali Khan lashes out against detractors of his upcoming film
'Aarakshan' based on reservation

Aarakshan deals with a controversial topic. Were you at any point
anxious while signing on for the film?
No, not at all! When I read the script, I thought it was a great
opportunity for me. It is fantastic that Prakashji (the film's
director/producer Jha) has broached an area of political concern.
These issues are inherent in India and someone has to speak about
them.

And now, with so many people raising objections to the film, what are
your thoughts?
I don't think what is happening is right. Once the Censor Board has
passed a film, without any cuts and with a U/A certificate, the least
one can do is allow the film to be released. Yes, the subject of the
film and the title itself has kind of invited controversies, but since
the Censor Board had no issues, I see no reason why there should be
objections raised by others? We must respect their judgement.

For someone like you who comes from an entirely diverse background,
was it a challenge to play a Dalit?
There is a certain responsibility that comes with every role. With
Aarakshan, there was a totally different kind of responsibility. Since
I was playing a Dalit and representing a certain community, I had to
take special care. I did a little bit of research. More than my
background, I think it is my fair skin and my personality that could
have worked against it. But I play this guy who is academically a
success, so with education comes a certain posture ¦ so that seemed
fine. But generally speaking, I think you and I will never be able to
understand what they have gone through, or have to go through. Dalit
children still have to clean toilets even while studying in government
schools. We have no idea what's happening in some parts of our
country.

Your film Agent Vinod has also been riddled with controversies...
going over budget, then there were
reports of you not getting along with the director Sriram Raghavan...
Agent Vinod is releasing in December. Yes, there have been all kinds
of stories, which is a good thing. It is good publicity for the film.
The movie has been made well within the budget. I am looking forward
to the release of the film. As for me not getting along with Sriram,
that's not true either. Yes, we do discuss things, which is natural.
Otherwise, I have implicit trust in him.

Why did you launch another film, Cocktail, even before the release of
Agent Vinod?
That's because we were getting the dates of the stars at the same
time. Cocktail is almost 70 per cent complete and we are looking at a
February 2012 release.

You have been offered many TV shows like Master Chef, India's Got
Talent etc. Why have you been turning them down?
Yes, I have been offered television shows. I wouldn't like to disclose
which ones. Some thing or the other didn't work out. But I am very
much open to doing television.

There are stories that you are planning a 2012 wedding with Kareena Kapoor...
I don't want to talk about my personal life simply because it is
distracting, and the incessant talks about it can get quite annoying.
I want to come across as a serious professional and not just someone
who is being talked about because of his personal life.

But is the wedding happening soon?
It's not happening soon Whenever it happens, we will announce it.

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[ZESTCaste] Madras High Court stays ''Aarakashan'' release

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/madras-high-court-stays-aarakashan-release/780507.html

Madras High Court stays ''Aarakashan'' release
PTI | 07:08 PM,Aug 08,2011

Chennai, Aug 8 (PTI) The Madras High Court today put on hold the
release of Prakash Jha's 'Aarakashan' till an amount of Rs 3.71 crore
borrowed by the producer is returned to the financiers. The film,
produced and directed by Jha, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan
and Deepika Padukone and is due for release all over the country on
August 12.Judge V Periyakarupiah issued the interim order.The film is
already embroiled in controversy with the National Commission for
Scheduled Castes dubbing it as anti-dalit. Some political parties have
also expressed their reservation over the subject of the movie.A
petition filed by two lawyers against the film is already pending in
Bombay High Court.

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[ZESTCaste] Video: Royal Saif not fit to play dalit

 

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/royal-saif-not-fit-to-play-dalit/206967

Royal Saif not fit to play dalit

Published On: August 3, 2011 | Duration: 3 min, 01 sec
Comments

A new controversy erupts over blue blood Saif Ali Khan's playing the
role of a dalit teacher in the already contentious Prakash Jha film,
Aarakshan.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/royal-saif-not-fit-to-play-dalit/206967&cp

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits run from pillar to post for 11 years

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalits-run-from-pillar-to-post-for-11-years/174336-60-118.html

Tamil Nadu
Dalits run from pillar to post for 11 years
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express
Posted on Aug 09, 2011 at 01:04pm IST

MADURAI: A sexagenarian Dalit couple from Vadapudupatti, falling
within the Allinagaram police station limits of Periyakulam in Theni
district, have been running from pillar to post for 11 years to
reclaim the house they had pledged for Rs 13,000.

In a police complaint, Rasu (60) and wife Muniyammal said they were
granted three cents of land in 1976 under the `1-lakh housing scheme.
Rasu then built a house on the plot with a bank loan and lived there
with Muniyammal. �

In 1996, he borrowed `13,000 from Selvam, a caste Hindu, of the same
village. As acknowledgement of the payment, the moneylender got Rasu's
thumb impression on a blank sheet of paper. Selvam reportedly told the
couple that instead of paying him the interest on the amount borrowed,
they could let him stay in their house for free. Rasu and Muniyammal
agreed to this proposal and went to Kerala, leaving their house under
Selvam's care.

They returned to the village in 2001 with the principal of `13,000 and
asked the moneylender to hand over their house. At that time, Selvam's
brother, Mayi, was living in it.

But, Selvam refused to accept the amount, claiming that the sum
borrowed was `1.3 lakh. He said the house would be vacated only if
that amount was paid to him.

The Dalit couple was also allegedly abused and threatened that they
would be murdered if they stepped on the land.

A shaken Rasu and his wife last week lodged a complaint with the
Allinagaram police, who have registered cases for issuing murder
threat and under The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act.

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[ZESTCaste] Maya snubs CAG, allocates more money to Dalit memorials

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Maya-snubs-CAG-allocates-more-money-to-Dalit-memorials/articleshow/9543222.cms

Maya snubs CAG, allocates more money to Dalit memorials
Manjari Mishra & Ashish Tripathi, TNN | Aug 9, 2011, 06.58PM IST

LUCKNOW: Mayawati government tabled supplementary budget of over Rs
10,800 crore in the assembly on Tuesday amid uproar by Opposition over
corruption and breakdown of law and order in the state.

The supplementary budget has allocated Rs 26 crore rupees for
providing security to chief minister Mayawati. The amount money will
be used to buy cars and 10 jammer vehicles.

Further, Rs 20 crore have been allocated for maintenance of two
government bungalows allotted to Maya in the state capital.
Significantly, despite being hauled up in the report of Comptroller
and Auditor General's (CAG) for wasteful expenditure of over Rs 60
crore on memorials constructed in the name of Dalit icons, the UP
government has allocated Rs 41 crore for beautification of Kanshi Ram
Eco park in Lucknow.

Apart from Rs 300 crore for widening of roads and over Rs 140 crore
for MNREGA, one fourth of the budget is for expenses on Dalit and
backward classes welfare schemes like Kanshiram urban housing scheme
for poor, Savitri Bai Phule Balika Madad scheme to support education
of Dalit and backward classes girls. The allocations have been made
keeping in mind BSP's core vote bank. The state assembly elections are
due in April 2012. Maya has only seven moths to prepare for the polls.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit activists burn effigy of Prakash Jha

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_dalit-activists-burn-effigy-of-prakash-jha_1574317

Dalit activists burn effigy of Prakash Jha
Published: Tuesday, Aug 9, 2011, 20:32 IST
Place: Phagwara | Agency: PTI

Demanding a ban on the screening of soon to be released film
Aarakshan, some Dalit activists today burnt the effigy of the film's
director Prakash Jha.

Surinder Dhanda, President of Ambedkar Sena and a host of other
activists presented a memorandum, addressed to the Punjab Chief
Minister, to the local SDM Manpreet Singh.

Claiming that reservation was their constitutional right, they accused
Jha of playing with their sentiments. The leaders appealed to the CM
to take immediate steps to stop the film's release, scheduled for
August 12.

They warned cinema houses and multiplex owners not to screen the film
without the consent of Dalits.

"In case they do so, they should be prepared to face the music," the
leaders said.

Earlier, the activists took out a protest march from local Plahi Gate,
passed through different bazaars, converged on National Highway 1 and
burnt the effigy.

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[ZESTCaste] JIMS students debates on “Aarakshan”

http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/JIMS-students-voiced-their-opinions-on-Aarakshan/5217177119

JIMS students debates on "Aarakshan"

India Infoline News Service / 17:37 , Aug 08, 2011
JIMS shared thoughtful concerns over the serious issue of reservation
at a debate on "Aarakshan"

Contrary to their casual demeanor, the young and dynamic students of
JaganNath Institute Management Sciences (JIMS), an institute of
excellence in the field of management studies and technical education,
today voiced their opinions and shared thoughtful concerns over the
serious issue of reservation at a debate on "Aarakshan", director
Prakash Jha's upcoming movie.

Organized at India Islamic Cultural Centre by STAR TV, the debate
involved the active participation of over 40 final year students of
JIMS pursuing their graduation in Journalism & Mass Communication.
Present at the debate were Director Prakash Jha and the star cast of
the above-mentioned movie, besides faculty members of JIMS.


What started with Mandal Commission back in 1979, reservation
continues to be a burning topic in the country till date pervading the
domains of education, government jobs or politics. Displaying their
sharp analytical skills, intellectual pluralism and holding true to
the image of an argumentative Indian, the students of JIMS impressed
the jury, Prakash Jha and the movie's entire star cast.

Speaking on the occasion Mrs. Nirmal Bhatnagar, Dean, Dept. of Mass
Communication, JIMS, said, "JIMS takes pride in participating in
today's debate. We believe in providing our students the best of the
opportunities to learn from and display their talent. Debates such as
these help in spreading awareness about the serious issues through
agenda setting function of mass media. Also, they provide an
opportunity to students to develop their mental faculties. Informed
students, in future, can bring about healthy changes in the country's
set up and contribute in making India the world's best democracy."

The educational institute's association with "Aarakshan" goes a step
beyond today's debate and participation of JIMS' students in it. The
Associate Director of this film (Mr. Karan Talwar) was a former
student (Batch 2003-06) at the Department of Mass Communication at
JIMS.


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