Landless
70 Minutes |Punjabi with English sub-titles | India | 2018
A film by Randeep Maddoke
January 25, Saturday | 7:00 pm
Bangalore International Centre [BIC]
#7 , 4th Main Road, Domlur II Stage
Entry free and open to all
The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker.
70 Minutes |Punjabi with English sub-titles | India | 2018
A film by Randeep Maddoke
January 25, Saturday | 7:00 pm
Bangalore International Centre [BIC]
#7 , 4th Main Road, Domlur II Stage
Entry free and open to all
The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker.
SYNOPSIS
With the advent of Sikhism in Punjab in the 16th century, the Sikh community sought to establish an egalitarian society. Over the years, those outside of the four-fold Hindu caste (varna) system were particularly attracted to Sikhism and hoped to find their place in this seemingly casteless society. However post independence once the zamindari system was abolished and the Green Revolution was ushered in, the social reforms carefully nurtured by Sikhism couldn’t stand up to the changes introduced by the new land reforms. Even as the former marginalized groups like the Jatts became a land owning class, the Avarnas - those outside the varna system and the lowest in the social order - continued to be landless. The film looks at the unending conflict over land, rights, and dignity between these communities in Punjab.
With the advent of Sikhism in Punjab in the 16th century, the Sikh community sought to establish an egalitarian society. Over the years, those outside of the four-fold Hindu caste (varna) system were particularly attracted to Sikhism and hoped to find their place in this seemingly casteless society. However post independence once the zamindari system was abolished and the Green Revolution was ushered in, the social reforms carefully nurtured by Sikhism couldn’t stand up to the changes introduced by the new land reforms. Even as the former marginalized groups like the Jatts became a land owning class, the Avarnas - those outside the varna system and the lowest in the social order - continued to be landless. The film looks at the unending conflict over land, rights, and dignity between these communities in Punjab.
THE DIRECTOR
Randeep was born as a Majhbi Sikh (considered ‘low-caste’) in the Maddoke village of Punjab. As a young boy, he spent a considerable amount of time working as an agricultural labourer and then as an activist in Khet Mazdoor Union (agricultural labour union). During this time he familiarized himself with communist ideas and completed his high school. He later joined the Government College of Arts in Chandigarh where he developed an interest in Photography. His photographs represent the experiences of everyday life of Dalits.
In his words - I document the experiences of dalits because the everyday life of a Dalit is intertwined with a multitude of things – their sufferings, joys, vulnerabilities, and antagonisms. The photographs play a role in documenting this discrimination which has been normalized, and kept alive largely in the memory of Dalits with the hope to end discrimination and achieve the equality. But, as the photographs suggest, this hope is still elusive…