Caste Violence, Censored Films, and Ambedkar’s Legacy

Apr 22

“Until you achieve social liberty, whatever freedom the law provides you is a deception.”
— Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Every April, India commemorates Dr. B.R. Ambedkar — architect of the Constitution, Dalit icon, and one of the most powerful critics of caste. But every April, we’re also reminded how fragile his legacy remains.

This year was no different.

In the very week of Ambedkar Jayanti 2025, the gap between symbolism and reality was on full display.

A Dalit man was burned alive in Prayagraj, leaving his children orphaned.
In Lucknow, Jaunpur, Jhansi, and Bikaner, Ambedkar statues were removed, vandalized, or desecrated.
And the upcoming film Phule, which centers two anti-caste reformers, was labeled “divisive” and targeted with calls for censorship.

Meanwhile, films like The Kerala Story and The Kashmir Files — which have been criticized for stoking communal fear and promoting state-aligned narratives — continue to enjoy full political support.

So what does it mean when stories about caste injustice are silenced, while propaganda is amplified?

Who gets to decide which truths are “too provocative”?

And what kind of freedom are we really practicing, if only certain voices are allowed in the room?

Ambedkar understood that democracy without social liberty is a performance. What we’re seeing now is the backlash to the very movements and memories that call out caste power for what it is.

This isn’t just about one week in April. It’s about the deep discomfort India still has with caste honesty.