Day: November 22, 2022

Pa. Ranjith is an Indian filmmaker who works in Tamil films. He made his directorial debut with the 2012 romantic comedy Attakathi, before earning unanimously positive reviews for his second film, the political drama Madras (2014). In 2016, he wrote and directed the gangster-drama Kabali and in 2018, Kaala both starring Rajinikanth. In 2021, he directed the highly acclaimed Sarpatta Parambarai, starring Arya and Pasupathy.

Pa. Ranjith was born at Karalapakkam, Avadi, Chennai. He has two brothers – Prabhu and Saravana. He graduated from Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai, and has described how his travels to and from his college often helped create inspiration for film ideas.

Sociocultural Initiatives

Ranjith extended his social work in another form, which is ‘Neelam Panpaatu Maiyam’ (Neelam Cultural Center). As part of this initiative, in honour of the 100 years of Dalit struggle, life-sized sculptures were established and the efforts of the Dalit activists were documented.

Neelam Panpaatu maiyam also conducted the three day arts festival – ‘Vaanam’ in Chennai between December 29 to 31, 2018. The festival was unticketed and many artists across Tamil Nadu participated in it. Also many artifacts were presented. Ranjith explained that this festival would act as a platform to discuss more complex social issues through art.

Neelam cultural center launched ‘Koogai Thiraipada Iyakkam’ (Koogai Film Movement). This movement was started to bridge the gap between literature and cinema. As part of this movement, the first initiative was to set up a library named ‘Koogai’.

Neelam cultural center rolled out their new campaign ‘#VoteOutHate’ and started producing short films on the same for a release in their official YouTube channel. The first film was Lovers in the afternoon directed by Rajesh Rajamani and the second film was ‘Share Auto’ directed by Jenny Dolly.

The Casteless Collective

Ranjith’s organisation, Neelam Cultural Centre, collaborated with the label Madras Records to form a 19-piece band called The Casteless Collective that includes four rappers, seven instrumentalists and eight gaana musicians, a popular folk music style in Tamil Nadu. The name of the band was inspired by a phrase – “jaathi bedha matra Tamilargal” – used by Tamil anti-caste activist and writer C Iyothee Thass. Iyothee Thassa Pandithar (1845-1914) was the first to moot the phrase “Jaathi Bedha Matra Tamizhargal” in the early 20th century by publishing the same in his Tamil Journal Tamizhan (1907-1914).

For more details visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pa._Ranjith

Sukhadeo Thorat (born 12 July 1949) an Indian economist, educationist, professor and writer. He is the former chairman of the University Grants Commission. He is professor emeritus in Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is an expert on B. R. Ambedkar.

Thorat hails from Mahar community of Maharashta. Thorat graduated with a B.A. from Milind College of Arts, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He obtained an M.A. in Economics from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, M.Phil/PhD in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Diploma in Economic Planning, Main School of Planning, Warsaw, Poland.

For more details visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhadeo_Thorat

Satyendra Murli (born 14 February 1983) is a researcher, media pedagogue and a journalist. He has been associated with Doordarshan (DD News), (public service broadcaster of India, Prasar Bharti, government of India) as an Indian television journalist; and other several media organizations. He teaches at university level as an assistant professor of communication and media studies. His research areas are communication, mass media, journalism, media studies, media pedagogy, Buddhism; and open and distance learning.

Satyendra Murli follows the ideology of Buddha and he is popularly known as an Ambedkarite journalist. He has been actively participating in social and political movements based on Phule-Ambedkar ideology for a long time, more than two decades. He strengthens the voice for human rights, freedom of speech, women rights, rights of tribals and dalits (indigenous people), diversity in media, representation of other backward classes (OBC) and religious minority.

Satyendra Murli is born in the Jatav family to Sushila Devi Jatav and Santoshi Ram Jatav in Birana, Dausa (Rajasthan), India. His grandfather was Shri Murli Ram Jatav, a farmer and a social leader.

Satyendra did his schooling at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Dausa; Shanti Niketan School, Mahwa and GSSS, Bhilwara with science subjects. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration, geography and Hindi literature from the University of Rajasthan (Jaipur); he completed his Master of Journalism and Mass Communication from the Centre for Mass Communication (Jaipur). He did PGDHJ from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Ministry for I & B (New Delhi). Satyendra Murli did his M.Phil. research degree on Buddhist ethics and news media from Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttarpradesh. He registered as a PhD research scholar and worked on media pedagogy.

Satyendra Murli a journalist with Doordarshan passionately spoke of double standards in the media. He argues, “If so-called lower caste or Dalit journalists raise their voice against the casteism, they are accused of being casteist and the ones actually perpetuating this casteism actually become national journalists”. He strongly urged journalists to stand together on issues of casteism and reservation.

Fore more details visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyendra_Murli

Narendra Damodar Jadhav (born 28 May 1953) is an Indian economist, educationist, public policy expert, professor and writer in English, Marathi and Hindi. He is an expert on Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Dr. Narendra Jadhav has completed (on 24 April 2022) his first term as a Member of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament. He previously served as member of the Planning Commission of India and the National Advisory Council. Prior to this, he worked as Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and headed economic research at the Reserve Bank of India.

Dr. Jadhav is a recipient of 72 national and international awards including four Honorary D.Litt Degrees and the title Commander of the Order of Academic Palms by the Government of France.

Dr Jadhav is about to complete his magnum opus – a 61-hour Mega Web Series titled ‘Indian Constitution: The Pride of Our Nation’. The Mega Web Series made in English with participation from 18 Supreme Court and High Court Judges, 34 MPs, 10 top Constitution experts and more than 30 domain experts of repute, is expected to be released in India and abroad soon in all major Indian languages, with a view to mark ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mohotsav’.

Narendra Damodar Jadhav was born on 28 May 1953 to a Mahar family from the village of Ozar (Nashik District) and grew up in Mumbai suburb of Wadala. In 1956, his family converted to Buddhism. Jadhav attended Chhabildas High School, Dadar. He completed his BSc in Statistics from Ramnarain Ruia College, University of Mumbai in 1973 and MA in Economics from the University of Mumbai in 1975. He later earned a PhD in Economics from Indiana University, USA in 1986

For more please visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narendra_Jadhav