Vijay Valmiki, Janhvi Kapoor, and the Problem With How Media Sees Caste

The attention to the remarks of celebrities like Kapoor, who have not experienced caste-based discrimination firsthand, over Dalit lives, reveals the media’s skewed priorities.

Dikshant Gehlot

Recently, Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor ignited a flurry of online discussion with her remark on the historical debate between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar concerning casteism. In an interview with The Lallantop, Kapoor expressed a desire to witness this debate firsthand, highlighting the contrast between Gandhi’s evolving perspective on caste and Ambedkar’s unwavering clarity. Although brief and cautious, her comments went viral. They were lauded by many as a bold foray into a historically contentious issue. However, few can deny that the timing and content of her remarks possibly bely a strategic PR manoeuvre particularly given their proximity to the release of her latest film.

Kapoor’s statements have been received with a mix of admiration and scepticism. While some praised her for addressing a sensitive topic in mainstream Bollywood, others, including Dalit activists and scholars questioned the depth and sincerity of her engagement with caste issues. This scepticism is well-founded, given Bollywood’s historical tendency to sanitise and simplify complex social issues for mass consumption. A prime example is Janhvi Kapoor’s own film Dhadak, a remake of the Marathi film Sairat. The original poignantly addressed caste dynamics, whereas Dhadak transformed this into a more palatable narrative of class difference, thereby erasing the specific caste context.

This erasure of caste in popular narratives is not an isolated incident but a systemic issue, as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had noted when he said, “Caste is a notion; it is a state of the mind.”

Savarna filmmakers and scholars often appropriate Dalit stories, stripping them of their caste specificity to fit a broader, more marketable framework of class struggle. This practice perpetuates the illusion that casteism is a relic of the past rather than a pervasive and ongoing reality in Indian society.

While the media covered Kapoor’s remarks extensively, a more pressing and tragic incident was afoot. On May 20, 2024, Vijay Valmiki, a Dalit sanitation worker at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), was found dead by hanging near Paschimabad. Valmiki, who had diligently served the JNU community for 12 years, left behind a family of four. Despite his long service, Valmiki often went months without wages, resorting to loans with high interest rates to sustain their families. The situation is similar for other sanitation workers too. They face termination without warning, obstruction from unionising, and regular casteist indignities. The systemic exploitation and discrimination against Dalit workers starkly contrast with the celebratory media coverage of Kapoor’s brief public engagement with caste issues.

To add context to Vijay Valmiki’s death it is essential to highlight the broader issue of fatalities among sanitation workers in India. According to a report by the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), 631 people have died cleaning sewers and septic tanks between 2010 and 2020??.

The death of Valmiki underscores the dire conditions faced by many Dalit workers, which remain routinely unreported by mainstream media.

Despite performing the same tasks contract workers at JNU are paid significantly less than their permanent counterparts, violating the principle of equal pay for equal work. The recent introduction of four labour codes by the Narendra Modi government for the purported ease of doing business, replaces 44 of workers’ existing protections. It further exacerbates these issues by promoting contractualisation and diminishing worker protections. This legislative shift reflects a broader trend toward precarious employment, which disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, including Dalits.

Kapoor’s claim that caste was never discussed in her household reflects a broader issue of ‘upper’ caste denial and ignorance – which make it easier to ignore these injustices. In many ‘upper’ caste families, casteist language and discriminatory practices are subtly embedded and transcoded in daily life. In his work One Step Outside Modernity: Caste, Identity Politics and Public Sphere, M.S.S. Pandian discusses how the discourse of untouchability has evolved in modern times. He explains that caste-based discrimination has been transcoded into notions of poor hygiene and expressions of social superiority. This perpetuates systemic discrimination and reinforces caste hierarchies.

When ‘upper’ caste households speak on caste, it is often to celebrates their community’s achievements while perpetuating subtle and outright discrimination. Kapoor’s assertion that caste was never discussed in her home is not only disingenuous but also indicative of a broader societal denial.

The attention to the remarks of celebrities like Kapoor, who have not experienced caste-based discrimination firsthand, over Dalit lives, reveals the media’s skewed priorities. As Malcolm X pointed out, “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”

Prominent journalists and media personalities from ‘upper’ caste backgrounds have spent their careers discussing caste and reservation issues, yet their newsrooms lack prominent Dalit anchors. This lack of representation further reinforces existing power dynamics.

This selective coverage underscores a troubling trend: the media’s preference for celebrity commentary over genuine activism. To genuinely address casteism, the media must shift its focus towards amplifying the voices of those who confront it daily. This means providing a platform for Dalit activists, scholars, and community leaders whose insights and experiences offer invaluable perspectives on caste dynamics. Furthermore, it involves holding prominent ‘upper’ caste people accountable for their roles in perpetuating or challenging caste hierarchies within their spheres of influence.

 The media must recalibrate its gaze. The tragic death of Vijay Valmiki and the ongoing struggles of Dalit workers highlight the urgent need for this change in focus.

Dikshant Gehlot has a Master’s degree from the Centre for Political Studies, JNU. He has been a Smitu Kothari Fellow at the Centre for Financial Accountability.

Courtesy : The Wire

Note: This news is originally published in thewire.com and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights.