
Union Minister Athawale requests a tax-free status for 'Phule'
1
2
Union Minister
Ramdas Athawale
has urged that 'Phule' be awarded tax-free status all over India.
'Phule' documents the life and work of Jyotirao and
Savitribai Phule
, the pathbreakers who led the movement against
caste-based discrimination
and gender inequality in India during the 19th century. Athawale praised the film's cultural and educational worth, calling for it to be exempted from taxes so its message could be spread far and wide.
Athawale made these comments during a special screening of the film in Mumbai on May 1, 2025, where he hailed the film's strong portrayal of social reformers
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule
and Savitribai Phule, and underlined its significance for modern-day Indian society.
"This film is a commendable effort to project the role played by Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule. All of us should watch it, particularly our legislators, so that they understand the social concerns raised in it. I suggest this film even to the President of India," Athawale said in a press note.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency
Planet Spark
Learn More
Undo
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale wishes the President to watch the movie
Athawale took the step further by recommending that 'Phule' be screened for all Members of Parliament and even for President Droupadi Murmu. He emphasized that the themes of equality, justice, and education in the film are important for policymakers to observe firsthand, as they remain relevant in contemporary India.
Overcoming Controversy
'Phule,' with Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the central roles, hit theaters on April 25, 2025. The release of the film was not controversy-free, with some groups objecting to its portrayal of caste-based discrimination. Despite that, the film has been highly praised for its realistic and sensitive representation of the Phules' unrelenting fight against social injustice, illiteracy, and gender bias.
Director's gratitude
Director
Ananth Mahadevan
, who attended the Mumbai screening, was overwhelmed with gratitude at Athawale's endorsement.
"The film is true to history and we have made it with all our heart. I am glad Athawaleji has endorsed the film today. Today, I am as happy as I am grateful to him for his wholehearted support for the film," Mahadevan said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
9 minutes ago
- Hans India
AAP leaders will face action for scams exposed by CAG reports: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which indulged in "wrongdoings" while in power in the national capital, will surely face legal action on scams which have been exposed by the CAG report, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday. Addressing mediapersons after a visit to a government school in north Delhi's Haiderpur village, CM Gupta said the previous Arvind Kejriwal government created an "artificial education system" under which even the buildings were so weak that they came crumbling down within two years. Pointing to the village school's building, built in 2018 and declared unusable within a few years, she said, "Action is still pending on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports... Their scams have just come to light. Once the law takes its course and action is initiated, only then will the proceedings against them begin." "What I just showed you was built in 2018 by the respected Kejriwal government, but it was lost after just two years because it was an artificial system," she said. The CM also targeted the much-touted education model of the previous AAP government and said, "Haiderpur village is a densely populated area, but even today, there is no English medium school or school teaching science. If children from this village or colony want to study science, where will they go?" She slammed the previous government and legislator for their "failure" to provide an English-medium school with a science stream in the village. "This speaks volumes about the direction in which their so-called education policy was moving," she said. Apart from criticising the poor quality of construction of government school buildings, she also lashed out at the AAP government for not making provisions for playgrounds. "There are zero sports facilities," CM Gupta said. "From security to sanitation, the state of government schools is pathetic. There is a severe staff shortage – including school principals," she said. The Chief Minister said the BJP government has started the process for filling up posts of principals and sprucing up security and sanitation facilities. "About 75 CM Shree schools will be developed across the city to give better education to students. These schools will be better than private schools," she said. CM Gupta also slammed the previous AAP government for launching a Board of its own in the city and maintained that the mistake will be rectified. She said the move has made Delhi students less capable of competing in other states and seeking admission in educational institutes outside the national capital.


Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
Judge blocks Trump's move to stop international Harvard students from entering US — Will other universities follow suit?
Judge halts Trump's order barring international Harvard students — what this means for US student visas Judge halts Trump's order on Harvard's international students — what does this mean for the future of student visas? A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's proclamation aimed at preventing international students from entering the US to study at Harvard University. The ruling comes amid an escalating legal battle between the Trump administration and the prestigious institution. US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order, stopping the government from enforcing the proclamation, citing concerns that the policy could cause "immediate and irreparable injury," as reported by the ABC News. Judge blocks Trump's proclamation citing potential harm The proclamation, signed by President Trump, invoked the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar foreign nationals from entering the US to study at Harvard for at least six months. It also directed the secretary of state to consider revoking visas of current international students enrolled at Harvard. In her order, Judge Burroughs prohibited the government from "implementing, instituting, maintaining, enforcing, or giving force or effect" to the proclamation. This legal move followed a lawsuit refiled by Harvard challenging the proclamation on grounds that it violates the First Amendment and misuses federal law. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Harvard's lawyers argued the president's actions were not taken to protect US interests but instead represented "a government vendetta against Harvard," as reported by the ABC News. They claimed the moves were retaliatory, targeting Harvard for exercising its constitutional rights to reject government control over its governance, curriculum, and faculty ideologies. A continuing feud between Harvard and the Trump administration This ruling builds on a previous decision by the same judge that blocked the Trump administration's attempt to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Although the Department of Homeland Security initially tried to revoke the program, the court issued a temporary order blocking that move. President Trump justified his proclamation by claiming Harvard refused to provide information about international students, was "extensively entangled with foreign countries," and engaged in discriminatory admissions practices. The proclamation also pointed to rising crime rates and called for investigations into potential misconduct by foreign students. "I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard's conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers," the proclamation stated, as reported by the ABC News. What does this mean for the future of student visas? The judge's decision protects Harvard's international students for now but raises broader questions about the future of student visa policies in the US. The administration's confrontational stance toward Harvard may signal possible restrictions for other institutions, raising concern across campuses nationwide. Legal experts believe this ruling could set a precedent safeguarding universities from similar government actions. However, the Trump administration has yet to clarify if it will appeal or pursue other measures. With the ongoing legal battles, international students and universities are closely watching the outcome. The decision could have far-reaching implications for immigration policy, academic freedom, and the US's role as a global education leader. As quoted by the ABC News, "This fight is about more than visas. It's about the protection of free speech and institutional autonomy." The case continues to unfold, shaping a critical conversation about immigration and education in the US. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!


Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
LeBron James and his sons look all chilled out as they enjoy Maui vacation together
LeBron James and his sons look all chilled out as they enjoy Maui vacation together (Image Credit: Getty Images) LeBron James and his sons, Bryce and Bronny, could not escape the camera and got spotted chilling out during their vacation in Maui. The trio was completely in holiday mood and was seen roaming around by fans. James is serving rejuvenation goals with his latest picture clicked in Mauvi. The fans were also amused by the picture and shared their thoughts about it. LeBron James heads out to Maui with sons Bronny and Bryce James LeBron James is out for vacation and enjoying a chilled-out escapade to Maui with his sons, Bronny and Bryce James. They were spotted wearing casual outfits and had kept low-key to avoid unnecessary attention. An X user shared LeBron James' picture and captioned it as: 'LeBron James spotted on vacation in Maui alongside teammate Bronny James — and future teammate Bryce James' The picture was originally posted on TikTok. It has garnered about 161.3K views till the writing of this news piece. LeBron James is making headlines with speculations around his retirement. He has showed immense faith in his team Los Angeles Lakers' composition and thinks that the team will be more powerful with the addition of Luka Doncic in it. LeBron James had to cut short his 2025 season due to a knee injury. Due to his injury, he also missed the Met Gala show this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Madonna's Daughter Steals the Spotlight with Her Gorgeous Red Carpet Look CleverClassic Undo His wife, Savannah James, attended the same on his behalf. LeBron was also filmed dancing recently, which raised questions about his departure due to injury. Fans shared interesting thoughts on LeBron James' latest vacation picture LeBron James is enjoying the team's offseason time by spending it with family and doing all things he likes the most. His recent picture from Maui vacation drew fans' attention too. They shared various view points while commenting on the picture. One fan commented on Bryce James' impending debut in NBA and said, 'Bryce will play for another team.' Since the post predicted Bryce James will follow in the footsteps of father and elder brother, a fan commented, 'They blend right in' An excited fan commented, 'Wow. 3 lakers in 1 photo' A fan sarcastically commented, 'Who needs championships when Dad is manipulating the Lakers?' Another fan shared his thoughts on future of LeBron's sons, saying, 'I feel like Bryce will be the better nba player compared to Bronny.' Also Read: 'It's a perfect matchup' - NBA icon LeBron James reacts to the face-off between OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, has made history by being the only father-son duo who have played NBA together, representing the same team.