Ayushmann Khurrana’s upcoming film Article 15 is undoubtedly a landmark moment in Bollywood cinema. Especially considering how Bollywood is known for its caste erasure in films like the Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khattar starrer Dhadak, which was an adaptation of the Marathi film Sairat. And even though Ayushmann is being questioned for Article 15’s “white savior complex”, it’s still commendable to see how the Andhadhun actor has managed to bring the conversation to mainstream discussion platforms.
In order to continue working in this direction, Ayushmann recently launched a petition to put a ban on the use of the word ‘Bhangi’’ in a derogatory manner.
Ayushmann took to social media to urge his fans and audiences to sign the petition. He posted a video in which two police officers, in a conversation with Ayushmann, end up using the word ‘bhangi’’ to imply an insult of sorts. Ayushmann is quick to bring attention to the cops’ discriminatory behavior and urges the viewers to put a “ban on bhangi.” The word ‘bhangi’’ is used to refer to one of the lowest castes in India.
The caption of the video reads:
“Neechi jaati ke logon par jokes banakar hum kayi baar hans dete hai. Koi aap par aise hansega, toh kaisa lagega aapko? Aaiye, saath milkar iss bhedbhav par rok lagate hai. Sign the petition, #DontSayBhangi today.” (Sometimes we make jokes on people who belong to a lower caste and simply laugh it away. But if someone laughs at you like this, howwill you feel? Let’s all come together and work towards eradicating such discrimination. Sign the petition #DontSayBhangi today.)
Watch the video here:
“In our everyday lives, we casually use the word 'Bhangi' to address someone who lacks a sense of style or someone with an unhygienic living habit. And in doing so, we are unknowingly drawing comparisons of the upper caste society to the lower or backward caste. It's 2019, and we are slowly and steadily progressing towards gender equality, same-sex marriages, etc. So why is the Bhangi community still being treated as an outcast?” asks the petition.
The purpose of the petition is to garner enough support from citizens of India so as to get the attention of the Government of India and help blend this divide.
You can find the petition here.
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