Indian Graduate Student Association to screen 'Papilio Buddha'

4:31 p.m., March 21, 2014--The Indian Graduate Student Association at the University of Delaware -- in collaboration with the Department of Women and Gender Studies, the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) and the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) – will host a screening of the film Papilio Buddha at 3:45 p.m., Saturday, March 22, in 206 Kirkbride Hall. 

The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the director, Jayan Cherian, who will be present at the event.

Events Stories

June 5: Blue Hen 5K

University of Delaware graduates planning to attend Alumni Weekend are encouraged to register for the annual Blue Hen 5K walk and run, which will be held Sunday morning, June 5.

June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

The film was an official selection for the 64th Berlin International Film Festival where it was also nominated for the Teddy Award, the international award for films with LGBT topics, at the Berlinale. 

Papilio Buddha is the story of a group of displaced “Untouchables” in the Western Ghats of India. Their struggle against the local powers and government is told through the eyes of Shankaran, an educated youth, who is indifferent to the resistance movement run by his father Karian, a one time communist who now feels betrayed by the movement. 

The film brings into focus an example of the epic land struggles which are fought in various regions of the state and all over India, and the oppression of indigenous people by the powerful political and social establishments. It also maps the environmental degradation and abuse of pristine mountain habitats by outside forces. 

The film helps highlight the exploitation of women and brings to light the emergence of new queer movements among the socially backward classes in one of India's most progressive states.