New Delhi/Guwahati, For most of his professional life, 2010-batch IAS officer Ashwani Kumar has worked to bring about change through government policies, administration and institutional reforms.
Now, Kumar is taking a different route to social change storytelling with his acting debut in a film Devyani, a story that explores a father’s concerns for his daughter and deals with women empowerment. Currently serving as Secretary to the Assam government’s Information Technology Department and Director of DITEC, Kumar sees his entry into cinema not as a departure from public service or a pursuit of celebrity status, but as an extension of his commitment to social welfare. The film explores the bond between a father and his daughter and uses the intimate setting of a family to address larger questions concerning women’s safety, dignity, empowerment and the need for changing social attitudes. The film seeks to move the conversation around women’s safety beyond awareness and towards empathy, while challenging traditional perceptions of women’s strength and role within Indian households. The film thus represents an experiment in using storytelling as an instrument of social impact, with Kumar seeking to combine his experience as an administrator with his interests in writing and acting. Beyond administration, he is also a writer and actor who seeks to use storytelling and media to create a positive social impact. “I would urge people to watch ‘Devyani’ with an open mind.
If the film makes even one family think differently about the way we look at daughters and women’s strength, I would consider the effort worthwhile,” Kumar said.
