RAIPUR: An RTI reply has revealed that public broadcaster Doordarshan ’s main channels have never telecast the film on the principal architect of India's Constitution Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar ever since the movie was released 14 years ago.

Ironically, ruling and opposition parties are jostling with each other to appropriate Dr Ambedkar’s legacy every year on his birth anniversary.

Directed by Dr Jabbar Patel, the movie was made in 1999-2000 and has been co-produced by Union ministry of social justice and empowerment and government of Maharashtra.

National Film Development Corporation (NFDCL) clearly acknowledges that this movie, based on the life of Dr Ambedkar, has not been broadcast even once by any of the national TV networks. This movie is available in English and Hindi both apart from several other languages.

Rusen Kumar, a resident of Raigarh in Chhattisgarh and founder of India CSR, had filed the RTI with NFDCL seeking information about the movie. Its reply revealed that the movie is available in eight different languages including Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati and Oriya. Till date, it has been broadcast once in India, in Tamil language on regional Doordarshan Tamil channel- DD 5 (DD Podhigai) on December 6, 2012.

A copy of this movie is readily available with the ministry along with its distribution rights. Approximately Rs 8.95 crore was spent on the making and dubbing of the entire movie.

Rusen said he found that movie extremely motivating and encouraging.

“This, in many ways, indicates that the government has no interest in bringing forth and making Indians aware about Dr Ambedkar’s contributions to nation. If this continues, all citizens of India and future generations will have no knowledge about his iconic work and significant contributions,” he said.

Kumar said he is writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ministry of social justice for broadcasting on various national occasions and Dr Ambedkar’s birthday.

Kumar said he is writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ministry of social justice for broadcasting on various national occasions and holidays such as Republic Day, Independence Day

