Aamir Khan takes on real crusades in Satyamev Jayate
Aamir Khan — File Photo
MUMBAI: Over the last decade Aamir Khan has saved villagers from an oppressive tax, led a movement against corruption, educated parents about learning disabilities and fought India’s flawed education system.
But that was all in the movies.
Khan, one of India’s biggest Bollywood stars, is now taking on real-life crusades.
In a country where television is populated with scheming mother-in-laws, coy brides and mountains of melodrama, Khan has used a prime-time talk show to tackle gritty social issues that most Indians are not used to talking about.
From the stigma that dogs millions of Indians of the former “untouchable” caste, many of whom are forced to eke out livings in menial jobs, to the sexual abuse of children, Khan’s show has got Indian tongues wagging.
For the last 13 weeks, the 47-year-old Khan has produced and hosted “Satyamev Jayate” (truth always prevails), which has caught the eye of some of India’s most powerful politicians, but also attracted criticism of sensationalising sensitive issues.
After one show focused on the illegal practice of manual scavenging, Khan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss how the government could tackle the degrading practice.
More than a million Indians are estimated to be involved in manual scavenging, which sees them removing animal or human excreta using brooms, tin plates and baskets from dry latrines and carrying it to disposal grounds.
After another show, the chief minister of the northern state of Rajasthan promised a special court to fast track trials related to female foeticide, an illegal but widespread practice.
“I don’t think I fancy myself as some good Samaritan,” Khan told Reuters in an interview last Friday.
“I have tried to use my skill sets to the best of my abilities. Reaching out and telling people stories, tugging at your heartstrings, that’s where my skill-sets lie”, he said.
“We are combining journalism with good story-telling.”
The show is broadcast simultaneously across nine channels on the Rupert Murdoch-owned Star India Network, as well as on the state-run Doordarshan channel.
In the last episode of season one, which aired on Sunday, Khan touched on religious riots in the western state of Gujarat in which hundreds of people were slaughtered in 2002, an issue that is still hugely sensitive in India.
“The attempt is to look inward. The attempt is to see what am I doing wrong? What can I do better? What can I learn about this issue which I don’t know already?” Khan said.
Khan’s show has become popular with everyday Indians, claiming to reach around 800 million people, in a country of 1.2 billion. The show also has 1.4 million likes registered on its Facebook page and around 69,000 followers on Twitter.
But there has been criticism of Khan and his show.
S. Anand, a journalist who also runs a publishing house that focuses on caste issues, wrote a scathing article in Outlook magazine, accusing Khan’s handling of caste issues as being “manipulative and fake”.
Media observers say Khan has benefited hugely from his great public relations skills.
“He has a certain image that he would like to project through his movies and television — that of an intelligent Bollywood actor who cares and wants to do something for the country,” media columnist Sevanti Ninan told Reuters.
“He’s not just a star. He’s also clever about his PR.”
During shows, Khan often wipes away tears as his guests tell their emotional stories and hugs them as they leave the stage.
But this is not the first time Khan has spoken about social issues. Last year, he appeared on a stage with India’s most famous anti-corruption campaigner, Anna Hazare, who has pressured the government over a series of scandals.
why are we comparing always india and pakistan. the facts should be discussed only. in both the the countries,the influentialpeople can get away with anything.but i feel that interference of polyticians in routine process, is more in pakistan.
"The show is broadcast simultaneously across nine channels on the Rupert Murdoch-owned Star India Network, as well as on the state-run Doordarshan channel."
No wonder why Indian Media and Fox Channel have so much in common, both are biased, anti-muslim and anti-Pakistan. They are owned by same boss. I am so proud of Dawn, for being so blunt and non-biased. Why can't Indians appreciate the fact that Dawn is not biased like their homegrown pain.
Before I saw Amir Khans show my understanding for India was that "India mein to doodh ke nahreh bah rahee hain". The relity is totally opposite and now it seems like that there is not much difference in India and Pakistan as far as social issues are concerned. However, the internation media never shows the negative parts of India to paint India as a first worl country. Anyways, Good Job Aamir bhai. Keep it up. Happy to see a muslim going a good job.
Zulfiqar , happy to see a muslim doing a good job, Mate when will u guys stop looking every think through this muslim prism, get a life , he is an INDIAN it starts there and ends there
let amir khan's critics stew in their own fire!
amir khan has set high standards of journalism and social conduct that confirms to non violence and selflelss service of gandhi's rural india
not the IMF driven "india shining", where heartbreaking poverty exists with predatory materialism and shameless consumption
good bye fake colourful india – welcome to the 'real" grass roots india that cares and touches your soul
amir khan is a role model for the prsent day hip hop media crazed and empty headed young crowd in both india and pakistan
Appreciate if we could stop India-vs-Pakistan debate and X is better than Y equation here. Aamir discussed crimes against humanity (and they exist everywhere; in Asia, in Africa and in America – everywhere). He never meant to deface India.
@ Sadruddin – Yes thats what we Indians do.. look inwards first rather than blaming others for all the miseries in our lives… agree that India has many problems.. but the first step of solving the problem is to accept that problem…
We are proud to have people like Aamir Khan who have taken up these issues and used his stardom for a good cause… and we are also proud of this country which gives its citizens enough freedom to talk freely on these issues…
can they????????????????? (talk freely in presence of Bal Thakeray))
yes they can… Bal Thakrey is a leader of a party who is not rulling a single state.. so don’t give that much imporatance to that guy…
who is bal thakeray
Can we discuss female foeticide or Kashmir or Treatment of Dalits etc etc etc. I very much doubt it
I don't think you saw the program. These very issues were infact discussed.
He has discussed both female foeticide and ill treatment of Dalits, met chief ministers and got them to act by arresting doctors etc. His is the most watched program on Sundays and he mostly talks of issues relating to hindus but no one (hindu or muslim) has threatened to kill him yet. His program has been extended for another season and he is a practicing devout muslim too. Come here and see instead of doubting it. You doubt it because you live where you cant imagine someone doing it
should AMIRKHAN talk about terrorism???
islamic intorence toward non muslim???
AMIRKHAN IS REALLY PRETEND TO BE INTELLIGENT and FOOL INDIANS
should amirkhan go to kashmir and tell them to mantain peace????
should amir khan make such episode which show inequality of muslim women???
This is the true face of india. Poor people are being exploited,corrupt politicians and others are taking advantage.Mafia everywhere.The country is supposed to be the largest democracy in the world.Let's hope Satyamew Jayate will make whole India awake and true justice will people.
Mafia everywhere? Then what of the NGOs and individuals who are actually trying to solve the problem,isnt this a little too generalized?
It has exposed the reali;ties of India in a way that has shaken India with its abjet poverty, social issues, treatement of Dalits and minorities and how poor are exploited by rich. those who have seen rural india and urban Mumbai they precisely know the meaning of poverty and how Indians are living below poverty line silently and how farmers are treated by the govt and police. there are true pictures of India that is emerging in the show.
Yes u r right, but still we have the guts to project true picture and highlight our mistakes and correct them. But does ur countrymen have those guts
Girish, Namaste, I am proud that things are openly discussed in India but I see little progress as far as Dalit are concerned. they are getting the same treatment as before independence. I see no change in status. Poverty has increased manifold. rural poverty is shocking. Pakistan does not expose the abject poverty now in last 5 years, media is still slipping. poverty is rising so fast here that there are free "lungers" to feed them.
I see no difference between the two countries as far as poverty and treatment to minorities are concerned. both are ugly faces.
You have completely wrong opinion that India has remained in pre-independence era when it comes to treating Dalits and poverty.
Talking about the problem in India does not mean that the problems exist only here and it is rampant all across the country. It shows that the democracy is really active. I am not sure which other country voices about its problems so openly. Definitely not Pakistan.
Pakistani people even did not raise their voice when Bin Laden was killed in their backyard. Also there is no voice raised when some state actors are sponsoring terrorism. Even those who raised have gone silent.
There are still many places across the India where different treatment is meted out based on caste.
But it is definitely not as much as it was in the past.
The same holds even to poverty. If poverty levels were the same as it was 50 years ago, then how come India is a trillion dollar economy. Note that India has the largest percentage of middle class compared to any other country.
What you are seeing in the last decade or so is that media has become stronger which is bringing out stories. Earlier it was not the case.
Note that in India the main issue being talked today is economic slow down, corruption and lack of development in various places which in itself shows what the country is thinking about.
But when you look at pakistan, talk is only about bringing the major conflict with fundamentalists groups.
@ Sidruddin, sorry for your peace of mind…both countries are miles apart in their destiny and how they are viewed. it is ridiculous to compare both countries.
Yes Dear.. i totally agree with you on points related to poverty and dalits. But real devlopments in india has happened only after our economy was opened by our then finance minister in 1991.
After that the situation has improved a bit and still improving. I know that everyone will say about the treatments given to minorities. but please consider my words not only in india but in whole world treatment given to a person depends on it financial conditions and i mean it and have faced it myself. if a person is poor he/she will face descrimination and that’s a harsh reality. we had so many Muslims and sikhs and people of other religion who are holding important positions in the country. Our most loved president is Abdul Kalam Ji not even a single hindu president enjoyed the respect which he enjoyed.
Our top bollywood stars are also from minorities. we have reservation policy for dalits and lower caste ( but i m against it, as it beneifits only those who have money, thus i believe reservation should be given only on financial basis ).
Parents in india give so much importance to education of their children because they consider that as the best gift. which is the main reason for all these developments
and i m saying this from my personal experience.
Yes we do have problems and still we r fixing it, and i don’t know how long it will take to solve them completely.
But pls don’t mind can you say the same about your country, i mean the treatment given to minorties.
I am saying because i have never heard of anyone from pakistan minority community enjoying that much popularity and freedom as in india. may be i am wrong but yes i don’t heard. some days back i came to know abt the treatement given to Nobel prize winner from Pakistan Mr. Abdus Salam and i was shocked to learn that because he belongs to different part of Islam, he was given such treatment, that guy was not even a minority, he was a muslim but still. pls correct me if i m wrong.
But at last there is no point of pointing fingures at other as we know when we do this we use to point three fingures towards also.
and Kabir also said ” Bura Jo Dekhan main chala, bura na mila na koi, Jab apne ko dekha to mujhse se bura na koi ” . Long live Pakistan Long live India….
fyi he was not a muslim but thats another issue.india with all its problems has made amazing progress due to some brilliant leaders but in pakistans case its been the opposite unfortunately
We have Dalit chief ministers ruling 5 states. Let me see how many towns, let alone villages are allowed to be ruled by the oppressed minorities in Pakistan. If you are not seeing any progress than all I can say that you are blind, since none are more blind than those who refuse to see. Your Islamic supremacy is probably clouding your mind.
Dalits have over 50% reservations in education, jobs and promotions, its a crime to discriminate against dalits even socially- hundreds are thrown into jails every day for this, we have had three dalit Presidents, speaker of our national assembly is a dalit half the cabinet is dalit or other minorities. Of course many people are poor and hungry but we are trying. We are not perfect here in india and lets not have a India Vs Pakistan match on who is more miserable
you know whats the biggest difference between india and pak? hum apna kharch khud chalate hain. USA se bheekh nahi maangte
we acknowledge that and india has done much to eradicate these all…! you never see 50% reservation in any countries for education and employment…..!