Raj Kapoor and Hindi Films: Catalysts of Political Socialization in India, 1994

This dissertation seeks to describe and analyze Raj Kapoor and Hindi films as direct and latent catalysis of political socialization in India. The main objective of this study is to portray that Raj Kapoor as an actor, director and producer of Hindi films endeavors not only to entertain people but makes them socially conscious by capturing the socioeconomic scenario in the aftermath of the partition of India in 1947, and socializes them to love each other, live in peace, and consequently, contribute towards the resurgence of a reformed, united and vibrant India. In order to defend the objective of the thesis, films in which Raj Kapoor established himself as an actor or a creator were reviewed and analyzed, and extensive fieldwork was undertaken in Bombay. The National Film Archive of India, Pune and the Price Gilbert Library, Atlanta provided secondary sources of information. The framework of analysis combines Gabriel Almond, G. Bingham owell and Sidney Verba's model of political socialization with Karl Deutsch's theory of communication and the New Left paradigm. This dissertation, in the final analysis seeks to establish that Raj Kapoor and Hindi films are capable of assisting the Indian state in the process of nation-building by instilling a buoyant sense of nationalism, and invoking universal values of nonviolence, love, unity, peace and friendship in the individual, national and international spheres. The significance of this research is unique as it seeks to establish the importance of Hindi film artists who contribute directly or indirectly in shaping the attitude, values and beliefs of the Indian people. Perhaps, this research work is path breaking as it seeks to analytically point out and reiterate the importance of love and nonviolence in the realm of politics, and in improving the quality of everyday life via Hindi films and artists like Raj Kapoor