Somnath Waghamare
I am Somnath Waghamare, a Graduate in Sociology and Post Graduate in Media studies from Sangli, Maharashtra, India. The past few years I have been working with the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, and currently as an apprentice with a Human Rights Organisation in Bangalore. I am associated with the progressive, Ambedkarite Dalit social movement in Maharashtra and am interested in making documentary films on Dalit issues. Last year I made a documentary film, titled – “I am not a witch” on the witch-hunting problem. It is the story of an old tribal woman from Nandurbar, Maharashtra, who faced social boycott.
{youtube}a1mBEhqUZTs{/youtube}
Promo of ‘The Battle of Bhima Koregaon: An Unending Journey’
Now I am working on the great history of the Mahar Regiment, the so-called untouchables, in ‘Bhima Koregaon Battle’ who fought and defeated crony Brahmanical rule of Peshwas. The title of the film is – ‘The Battle of Bhima Koregaon: An Unending Journey”. I have completed all the pre -production film work, from 20th December 2016 to 5th January 2017, by visiting the celebration of this event in Bhima Koregaon, which is attended by about 20 lakh people every year but not covered in any mainstream media.
For the film, I have interviewed historians, journalists, activists, students, youth, Mahar regiment officers, women, artists etc. Basically this film looks at the history of the battle of Bhima Koregaon and people’s views on today’s social – political – cultural issues with regards to Dalits. Also, about why historians, media etc. ignore this positive Dalit history. I plan to dedicate this film to our brother Rohith Vemula and inaugurate this film on 14th April 2017, the day of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, at NFAI – National Film Archive of India, Pune.
The film’s promo is ready (see above) and hence I request you to please share it widely.
~~~
