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Pedaling to Freedom is a documetary film scripted, edited and directed by Vijay S. Jodha [1]
Pedaling to Freedom
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India boasts of many globally reputed institutions of higher education, yet suffers from widespread illiteracy especially among the female population.[1]
Pedaling to Freedom is a documentary film set in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The film revisits a unique, year-long initiative that took place there in 1993, in what used to be one of the poorest parts of the world.[9] As a result of this initiative 230,000 people learnt to read and write. Over 100,000 women learnt to ride the bicycle. Wages jumped up 1000% It happened in the space of just one year and cost less than one and a half dollars per person! The film relies on interviews with those who were associated with the project. Featured prominently is Kannammal, an insurance company office assistant took leave from work to volunteer for the project.[10] She served as a central coordinator and at the end of the project went back to her office where she remains an office assistant.[11]
Mobility was seen as an important tool for empowerment and in addition to reading and writing, women were taught how to ride the bicycle. [12] The film captures the conditions in the district including cycling classes for women where men often gather to crack jokes and taunt women trying to learn cycling. The filmmaker has also used archival footage and stills. The film highlighted the partnership between public and private bodies as well as work of 25,000 volunteers that made it all possible.[13]