For The Saviour of Untouchables

For The Saviour of Untouchables

For The Saviour of Untouchables

“Entirely unconscious of the cultural work we are doing through our pictures inspite of great handicaps, we are still looked upon as untouchables by people from whom we seek sympathy” said Sardar Chandulal Shah in inviting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to inaugurate “Achhut” (The Untouchable) at the Royal Opera House on Saturday the 23^rd December 1940.

In his inaugural speech Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel referred to the vital importance of the cinema in the life of a nation and stressed the necessity of using the immense potentialities of the film for the Indian film industry with patriotic enthusiasm Sardar Patel said, “That if “Achhut” really fulfills the ideals for which it is produced, it will have done a great and noble service to the cause of the Harijans. Untouchability is a blot on Hinduism and on India and must be wiped off as soon as possible. If the picture helps India to win Swaraj as untouchability is one of the chief obstacles in the road of freedom.”

While Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said the truth in recognizing the film as a tremendous weapon of culture and propaganda, Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of truth, “thinks” the cinema an evil. Why should there be such a great difference of opinion between the great leader and his first lieutenant? Mahatmaji has yet to see our pictures. The great apostle of truth can’t know the real truth unless his experiences it himself. Will he begin with “Achhut”? I shall ask Sardar Chandulal Shah to wait with the film tins and the Mahatma’s door, as we are all anxious to get his blessing for a struggling industry.

यह आर्टिकल फिल्म ईंडिया मेगेझीन १९४० से लिया गया है और अछुत शब्द प्रयोग आर्टिकल मे लिखा गया है यह शब्द प्रयोग हमारी किसी भी प्रकार से कोई भी व्यक्ति या समुदाय को ठेस पहुचाने हेतु नही लिखा गया यदि किसी को भी जाने अनजाने ठेस पहुची हो तो हमे क्षमा करे। - टीम सरदार पटेल.

Article & Photo Courtesy : FilmIndia - 1940 - Page - 7

Film Poster Courtesy - IMDB