The staff at Jagaran Media Center had hoped 600 people would attend, but more than 1200 attendees filled the seats of the auditorium at the premier of Dalan, a 52-part fictional television series that depicts the trials faced by three generations of a Dalit family. The audience was comprised of young and old, Dalits and non-Dalits, journalists, political figures, and members of the international community. The large turnout is an indication that groups lobbying for Dalit rights are getting their voices heard. However, the struggle is far from over. Although in major urban centers like Kathmandu, there is visible progress in the fight for equal rights and social inclusion for Dalits, this is not the case throughout Nepal. In smaller cities and villages, Dalits are still discriminated against and they remain marginalized in political, cultural, and economic spheres. The Jagaran Media Center views mass media as crucial sites of resistance to Dalit discrimination and uses a variety of mediums to create forums for the previously unheard voices of the Dalit community. Dalan is one of many media endeavours Jagaran Media Center has created to lobby for Dalit rights at political, social, and cultural levels.

Listen to my podcast about Dalan