The shadow of censorship: 'Phule' and the rewritten history of caste

Jyotirao Phule, the 19th-century social reformer, holds a complex and often contradictory position in India's socio-political landscape. While leaders across the spectrum offer public praise, a distinct unease surfaces when his radical ideas about caste equality are engaged with directly. This tension has been thrown into sharp relief by the recent controversy surrounding the film Phule, which endeavours to portray the impactful struggle of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule against Brahminical dominance and for the empowerment of marginalised communities. Their pioneering efforts in education for girls and the advocacy for widow remarriage form the core of their transformative legacy.

The trailer for Phule, unveiled on March 24th, presented a promising narrative that appeared ready to confront the deeply entrenched issue of caste. In a Bollywood film industry often criticized for its reluctance to directly address this critical social reality, sometimes even propagating divisive narratives, "Phule" stood out as a potentially significant work. Initially slated for release on April 11th, coinciding with Jyotirao Phule's birth anniversary, the film's journey to the screen has been fraught with obstacles, encountering resistance within an industry that frequently overlooks the pervasive influence of the caste system, often prioritizing discussions of class dynamics instead.

Certain organizations, notably the All-India Brahmin Samaj and the Parashuram Aarthik Vikas Mahamandal, swiftly registered their objections to the film, asserting that it presents Brahmins in a negative light. Subsequently, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) intervened, demanding alterations and recommending changes that threaten to diminish the film's central message.

A closer examination of some of the proposed modifications reveals a troubling pattern. A potent scene depicting a man with a broom tied to his waist, a historically accurate symbol of the dehumanisation endured by Shudras under Peshwa rule who were compelled to sweep away their own footprints, has reportedly been suggested for replacement with a scene illustrating boys throwing cow dung at Savitribai.

While the latter undoubtedly portrays the hostility she faced, it arguably loses the specific historical context and the systemic nature of the earlier symbol of subjugation. Similarly, dialogue referencing the forced wearing of brooms by Shudras has been requested to be altered to the more ambiguous question, "Is this the way we will maintain our distance?" This revision dilutes the pointed historical reference and its intended impact.

Furthermore, the CBFC has reportedly sought to excise a reference to 3000 years of oppression under the caste system, suggesting its replacement with a vague statement about a system that persisted for many years. This change diminishes the long historical trajectory of the issue and subtly deflects accountability for pre-British era injustices. Even terms integral to the identity and resistance of marginalised communities, such as "Mang" and "Mahar," have been deemed too explicit, with the CBFC recommending softer alternatives.

In the subtitles, the term "caste" itself is proposed to be substituted with "varna," a term often associated with a less severe interpretation of the caste system as a division of labor rather than a hierarchical system based on birth. These alterations risk fundamentally undermining the film's capacity to accurately depict the historical realities confronted by the Phules and the communities for whom they advocated.

Jyotirao Phule's radicalism was rooted in his direct identification of the oppressor: a caste system sustained by discriminatory religious powers and practices. His response transcended mere critique; he actively challenged this system by establishing educational institutions for girls and marginalised groups, fearlessly persevering despite facing threats. Phule is a film that should encourage critical reflection on this oppressive system and its enduring consequences.

The demands for censorship, however, raise crucial questions about the boundaries of artistic expression and the persistent influence of the caste system in contemporary India. The controversy surrounding "Phule" underscores the ongoing tension between artistic interpretation and the sensitivities of a society still grappling with its historical injustices.

 

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