The Newsletter 68 Summer 2014

"Satyamev Jayate": a quiet Indian revolution

Rituparna Roy

On 15 August 2012, a special Independence Day episode of the reality show Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Prevails) was aired on Indian television. It was a rare event in the nation’s media history, as it showcased the immediate social impact that the show had had in India: a fast track court set up in Haryana to address long-pending cases regarding female foeticide in the state; generic medicine stores in Maharashtra; streetplays performed to increase awareness about toxic food; a long overdue bill passed in Parliament to protect children from sexual abuse … the list was a long one.