SATYAMEV JAYATE episode 10: Aamir Khan sheds light on casteism and untouchability

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Tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure and less than human, Dalits or untouchables live a life that strips them of their dignity. Aamir Khan bravely discusses the social monster of casteism that runs deep in our psyche

What if you are born with a label or an identity that deems you as impure, unacceptable and even guilty not just for a lifetime but it continues to discriminate you even after you death? Aamir Khan asks a pointed question based on the way people are being coldly categorised on the basis of their cast and creed in our country. Are all men truly born equal? Not really. Just take a look at headlines in our mainstream newspapers and you will know India’s untouchables are relegated to the lowest jobs, and live in constant fear of being publicly humiliated. In the tenth episode of Satyamev Jayate Aamir casts light on untouchability.

The show begins with a heart-wrenching story of Dr Kaushal Panwar who was born into a lower-caste family. Right from her schooling years to the present day where she is working as a university professor in Delhi, Panwar faced discrimination at every step in her life. With her story Aamir brings forth a shocking tale to introduce the monster of untouchabilty that exists even 2012 India.The discrimination is so deep-rooted that even elected MPs are not spared. MP P L Punia who is also the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes was barred from entering the Kali temple in Odisha because he is from a scheduled caste and his community has been traditionally not allowed to enter the temple.

Documentary filmmaker Stalin reveals how untouchability is well-entrenched and is still being widely practiced across the country by people of all religions – right from children being discriminated at schools to people being ostracised at social functions. He shows us how dalit kids are forced to clean school toilets just because they belong to a particular creed. Stalin captures the biting reality in his camera and portrays it in his documentary film titled India Untouched. Aamir shows a few rushes of Stalin’s documentary to show the prevalent practice of discrimination, subjugation and casteism.

Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari believes that the labels of cast and community are so deeply ingrained in people’s mind that they continue to remain even after a person’s death, and the only way to stop caste-based discrimination is to refuse the existence of a caste system.

Aamir also discusses the provisions by law to stop manual scavenging. Statistically speaking, Aamir states that there are still around 13 lakh families across the country who continue to be employed in the most demeaning and humiliating profession ever known to man. Mostly people from lower caste (Dalits) are employed, or even forced to do manual scavenging, or cleaning other’s excreta.

Just like in previous episodes of Satyamev Jayate, in this episode too, Aamir gets different points of view and different voices in. And in the end, Aamir asked viewers all over the country to send in their opinion on the subject.He also urges young Indians to come forward and participate in wiping out the social evil of casteism
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Satyamev Jayate 8th July 2012 Episode Full View

For a country which has been independent for 65 years, it is a matter of shame that we have not yet shaken off the tyranny of caste-based discrimination. Countless people have to live in degrading conditions, children are unable to go to school, employment avenues are closed, and even education does not open bigoted minds.

Aamir Khan plans Rs 6.25 crore campaign for ‘Satyamev Jayate’

The actor, who is known for setting benchmarks with his films, is going all out to market his first ever TV show

If you are a Star Plus viewer, you must have noticed the high frequency with which the advertisements of Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate are being shown. The reason for this is that the channel has blocked all the 2,000 slots for broadcaster’s promos over 27 hours (Monday 7 pm to Tuesday10 pm) for this new show. And the value of these slots is a whopping Rs 6.25 crore!
The TV channel is going all out to create the required buzz and curiosity factor around Aamir’s first ever TV show as host-anchor and we hear that the actor is seeing the whole campaign through, with his usual perfectionist antenna on full alert. The actor is known to market his films with intelligent campaigns and great style, and he is leaving no stone unturned to see to it that his television debut also creates the right impact. It was Aamir’s idea that the footage from the making of the show itself be used to make the promos. He felt that this would help the team maintain the secrecy he demanded and also keep it real, which is the format of the show too.
The marketing campaign has definitely made this one among the most awaited events to take off on TV. We’ll have to wait to see if the actual show lives up to the expectations that the teasers have raised. But as we already know, Aamir hardly ever puts a foot wrong!

Amir Khan Satyamev Jayate Episode 8 (Sunday, 24 June 2012)

For decades our food and water have been contaminated by powerful, harmful pesticides which have been promoted as necessary for better agricultural output. But the reality is that we don't need pesticides for better yield, and their use is not only deadly for health but results in expensive farming methods. The solution is to adopt organic farming, which is possible and profitable, as the state of Sikkim has shown.

Amir Khan Satyamev Jayate: Is India banking on Aamir Khan for social reforms?

Gayatri Sankar

When Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan graced the small screen with ‘Satyamev Jayate’, one would have least expected the impact the show would have on the aam janta and the bureaucrats.

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The show is a hit for all obvious reasons. However, what is grieving indeed is the fact that the nation needed Aamir Khan to awaken its sunken self. Was India running short of ideas to correct the infected system? Maybe yes.

It looks as if Rajasthan Chief Minister Mr Ashok Gehlot needed Aamir Khan’s assistance in realizing the urgency to set up a fast track court to settle impending cases of female foeticide in the state.

“I am moved by Aamir`s programme and his gesture. I will definitely take up the issue and speak to the chief justice of Rajasthan to find a way,” Gehlot said while addressing media at a press conference. But wasn’t Mr Gehlot aware of this crime that his state was committing for years? Couldn’t he have formulated a way to deal with the malice much earlier? Perhaps not.

But while Mr Ghelot was kind enough to respond to Aamir’s appeal, Minister of State for Health, Rajkumar Sharma had a contrasting feedback to give on Aamir and his show.

He said, “The government took up the issue much before Aamir Khan`s programme. It is not because of him that the government is working against female foeticide.”

One can clearly see the lack of coordination in the state government; where one was acknowledging concerning issues, the other was trying to cover it up.

Nonetheless, there were more resolutions that were being worked out. It may have been in the wake of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ or a mere coincidence , the Lok Sabha passed the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Bill on 22nd May, precisely 10 days after the episode on child sex abuse was telecast.

Moving ahead, what’s interesting is that Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Kumar of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who heads the parliamentary standing committee on commerce, had invited Aamir to share the knowledge they gained while researching the episode on malpractices in the medical fraternity.

What was the committee doing prior to the telecast of the episode on medical malpractices? Why didn’t anyone discuss ways to uproot corruption from the healthcare system earlier?

The Indian Medical Association made Aamir a villain for allegedly defaming its fraternity and the medical profession. But the IMA had little to say when Medico Friend Circle (MFC) and the Forum for Medical Ethics Society (FMES) slammed the body for trying to silence “messenger” Aamir.

“We appreciate that you want to uphold the dignity of the medical profession. However, we feel that denying or minimizing the importance of issues raised on this show and demanding an apology from Aamir Khan is definitely not the most appropriate way of upholding the dignity of doctors,” said Dr Anant Phadke from MFC while talking to a daily.

So it clearly emerges that there is a huge discrepancy in the system, which might take years to get rectified.

However, one can see the changes being implemented with the Maharashtra Government announcing that generic medicines would be made available across all Government hospitals. In addition, the State Government has also planned to open medical stores across the state where generic medicines will be stocked in adequate amounts, and will be readily available for people.

Thanking the state government, Aamir tweeted, “Great news guys! Maharashtra govt. announces Generic medicines to be made available! Thank u CM sir Mr Chavan & Health Min Mr Suresh Shetty(sic).”

It feels good that the phenomenon called ‘Satyamev Jayate’ is directly or indirectly stirring souls but one question still remains unanswered - does India really need Aamir Khan to awaken social, moral, civic and national conscience?

Satyamev Jayate’s Episode 7 Song with Lyrics : Sakhi

This week, the 7th episode of Satyamev Jayate was aired. It was about domestic violence. Like every other week, a new song was played at the very end – titled Sakhi.

Performed by Meenal Jain, with lyrics by Swanand Kirkire, the music of Sakhi has been composed by Ram Sampath.

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Sakhi Lyrics

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Aansun ke sang naa bahungi sakhi
Ab naa mein gumsum rahungi sakhi
Sehne se behtar kahungi sakhi..

Tan ke ghaav pe marham haya ka
Mann ka ghaav hai pyaasa dava ka (Repeat once)
Sitam ke andheron mein sadiyon hai bilkhi
Masoom bholi wo pyaari khushi
Ghut ghut ke kab tak jiyungi sakhi
Gumsum main ab naa rahungi sakhi
Sehne se behtar kahungi sakhi
Aansun ke sang naa bahungi sakhi
Ab naa mai gumsum rahungi sakhi

Waar ye pyaar kaa kaisaa silaa hai
seh jo gaye barambaar milaa hai (Repeat once)

Zulmi na khaabon ke peeche chhupa hai
Kaayar sa chehera dil se dukhi..
Julm main ab naa sahungi sakhi
Gumsum main ab naa rahungi sakhi
Sehne se behtar kahungi sakhi
Aansun ke sang naa bahungi sakhi
Ab naa mai gumsum rahungi sakhi

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Check out lyrics of all songs ->; Hindi Lyrics

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TV Show – Satyamev Jayate Episode 7 (June 17th 2012)
Song Lyrics: Sakhi
Singer(s): Meenal Jain
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Ram Sampath
Music label: T-Series
Song Duration (mm:ss): 03:00

If there are any mistakes in the Sakhi Lyrics, please submit a comment below

SATYAMEV JAYATE episode 7: Will Aamir Khan tackle domestic violence?

The promos currently on air hint in that direction

Aamir Khan has dealt with several social evils on his show Satyamev Jayate. For the past six weeks, he’s been starting debates on female foeticide, child sexual abuse, dowry death, medical malpractice, honour killing and the ostracism of the disabled. We hear that this week he will be dealing with another crime – domestic violence.

The promos currently on air show Aamir asking a question: “Ek achcha pati kaun hai?” (Who is a good husband?) He then gives four options: Jo patni se pyaar karta hai (who loves his wife); Jo patni se darta hai (who is scared of his wife); Jo bachhon se pyaar karta hai (who loves his kids) and Jisse patni darti hai (whose wife is scared of him). You’ll agree that it sure seems as if this episode will definitely be about domestic violence. Right?