Review of the documentary: India Untouched

The documentary titled India Untouched, according to me is an excellent piece of work by

Stalin that depicts the theme of caste discrimination, untouchability and plight of the lower caste
which is still massively prevalent in our country. Spanning eight states and four religions, the
documentary depicts the continued oppression of Dalit, the broken people who suffer the
burden of the caste system being regarded as untouchables.
As far as the depiction of theme is considered I think the documentary completely
justifies the theme of untouchability which is depicted in the form of very accurate examples
from different parts of the country. It covers villages and towns from southern, northern and
western states and even the larger metros. These examples show innumerous forms of
discrimination beginning with symbolism like Dalit not being allowed to enter tea stalls and
temples and having to dismount from their cycles and take their shoes off in upper caste areas to
the issues of marriage and education. The lack of opportunities for the lower caste is depicted in
the footages of the rural schools where the teacher discriminates between the students based on
the caste. The lower caste students are not only forced to sit back but also brutally beaten and
punished for even minor mistakes whereas even the major sins of upper castes are ignored. Also
there is no access to medical facilities to the Dalit as the hospitals are very far and there have
been cases of children dying on the way to hospital. The better part about the documentary is that
it had interviewed the Banaras scholar and other Hindu scholars who interpret the Hindu
scriptures particularly Manusmriti to mean that the Dalit have no right of education and force
upon them the tasks like scavenging.
According to me, the documentary has been very well crafted although the depiction is
very basic cinematically with occasional split screen to break the monotony. But the reason I
appreciate the craft is that it completely justifies and illustrates its purpose with very well
depicted instances. Personally, it has been a great eye opener for me as I had never expected such
forms of untouchability being practiced in our country. Belonging to a higher caste and living in
a city where such discriminations are approximately nil, I have never been exposed to such ills in
the society. The documentary has interviewed Rajput farmers who proclaim that the Dalit should
always be afraid of them and no Dalit should sit in their presence. Even the police is under the
Rajput and is of no help to the Dalit. Also, there are incidents of brutality and violence against
the Dalit like the cases of burning their hands and rapes to show them their position. Such
incidents greatly influenced me creating a feeling of hatred and anger against such people. What
influenced me more is that the practice of untouchability is inculcated even in the children from a
very tender age.
The documentary also illustrates that it is not so that the religions other than Hinduism
have remained untouched with the issues of caste discrimination and untouchability. It exposes
the continuation of caste practices and untouchability in Sikhism, Christianity and Islam and

among the Communists in Kerala. Even within the Dalit there is a notion of untouchability
practiced by sub cast Dalit against lower sub casts, for example a Harijan boy refuses to drink
water from a Valmiki boy. Also the documentary has interviewed an urban Dalit doctor and his
wife who is a lecturer at a college .Thus the documentary illustrates not only the rural Dalit
problems but also the urban ones. The interview of a Dalit girl form Jawahar Nehru University
shows the practice of untouchability even in such reputed universities of India. Thus, all such
accounts made me realize the hollowness and ills of the Indian culture and society which we are
so proud of. A section on how newspaper matrimonial columns are divided according to caste
presents urban Indians with an uncomfortable truth: marriage is the leading perpetuator of caste
in India.
Another striking fact is that most of the people from lower castes also believe that they
are subordinate and accept their situation. Perhaps, it reflects the ideologies and lack of power.
Land, one of the major sources of power in rural areas, is distributed very unsymmetrically. Also,
political power which is reflected in terms of number plays a very important role in a violence or
in the elections. Therefore, the most powerful caste is generally the most populous. Caste system
is mainly based on the concept of purity and impurity, which has been permanently destined.
Such division drastically affects life chances. All these facts are very evident in the way the
entire documentary has been narrated.
The documentary really is a very illustrative piece of work for it made me perceive the
inflexibility and narrow mindedness of the Indian society. Stalin has put best efforts to showcase
the plights and oppressions faced by the people belonging to lower castes and the need to provide
reservations for the upliftment of such people. Living in an urban region and having to go to one
of the best schools it would have been impossible for me to realize such perils in the society,
although even urban Dalit face discrimination in some form or the other. Also, the best part of
the craft is that it is not restricted to a particular region or religion. Rather, it focusses on India as
a whole and illustrates the existence of untouchability throughout the country and in all religions.
The entire documentary has clearly been made with a pro reservation mindset and has
focused mainly on plights of lower castes. Although, whatever has been presented is very
accurate but there are other aspects also which have not been touched perhaps to maintain the
integrity of the theme. From my experiences, I feel that the reservation has given a lot of benefits
to lower castes, particularly in urban areas making them economically sound. I have seen people
from lower castes, not as talented as their upper caste counterparts, being in an economically
superior position just because of the system of reservation. But the documentary did not touch
upon any such case.

Another aspect on which the documentary could have improved is that it could have
focused more upon the discrimination against the lower castes in the urban metropolitan areas.
Most part of the documentary focuses mainly on the rural areas. It would have created a more

powerful impact and people would have connected more had the documentary involved the
urban areas more. Focusing more on the urban Dalit problems would have made people realize
that education alone is not sufficient to mitigate such evils. Nevertheless, overall the
documentary is a great piece of sociological craft and deserves appreciation.

India Untouched - Stories of a People Apart, a film directed by Stalin. K., takes us through eight states and four
religions as he explores different aspects and mutations of untouchability in India. The film brings to light many
interesting aspects of the problem of untouchability as he places the problem in a diversity of environments and
contexts. The documentary, through narratives of pain and humiliation, is a strong account of ongoing injustice,
gross denial of human rights, atrocities and the pathetic state in which Dalits are living in this country.
The film, for a start, points out one of the most basic misconceptions about caste in India that it is limited only to
Hinduism. Stalin is able to highlight the prevalence of discrimination not just among Dalit sub-castes in Hinduism,
but also in religions like Islam, Christianity and Sikhism that one thought to be caste-free.
The film documents the pervasive domination of the upper castes that often takes extra-judicial forms. For instance,
the film shows a Rajput who holds that the police must consult their community before filing a case of atrocity
against them. These statements depict the failure of the legal system in protecting the basic right sanctioned to every
citizen of India by constitution.
The film on one hand portrays the sense of superiority prevailing in upper castes and on the other, we see the plight
of oppressed classes because of pollution bestowed on them by religion. It looks at how scripture and ritual play
an important role in the perpetuation of caste. The film portrays the stand of several spiritual heads on the issues of
caste and untouchability.
The film destroys any illusions one might have about caste discrimination being a primarily rural phenomenon,
enforced through rituals of purity and pollution. It is shocking to know that discrimination is seen even in premier
institutions like JNU. The experiences of a doctor who is subjected to discrimination on the basis of caste is the
perfect example to show the operation of caste in a sophisticated way in the present day world. The doctor calls it
Hi-tech discrimination: even highly educated and meritorious Dalits are also subjected to untouchability and
discrimination. In the light of these incidents, even education is not going to eradicate discrimination and
untouchability. The prevalence of discrimination on the lines of caste in states like Kerala - which is recognized as a
progressive state for its cent percent literacy, development and communism - is astonishing. It is shocking to know
that even now in this so-called globalised world, Dalits are being denied a basic right like being allowed to draw
drinking water from public wells.
Discrimination makes itself felt even in the education sphere. Dalit children are made to sit in the last row of the
class and they are made to clean the toilets. The film depicts how a school going child in whose mind the seeds of
discrimination are sown mindlessly end up unwittingly practicing untouchability in some form or the other. The film
shows the pressing need to find an answer to the abomination of caste.

However, the film which highlights various form of discrimination, atrocities, and the plight of dalits end with a note
of hope. The vibrant music in the film demands a change - a change that will bring for the oppressed Dalit equality,
protection of his basic human rights and his life. The film calls for immediate action which will help those sections
of people who are denied rights and are subjected to oppression for ages. Prevalence of caste discrimination and
untouchability is certainly a black spot on the image of progressive India.