Who is Nivedita Jha? The Real-Life Journalist Inspiring Bhumi Pednekar’s ‘Bhakshak’

Anticipating a child abuse movie without rattling viewers’ mental well-being is akin to walking a tightrope. Yet, these narratives courageously delve into the depths of a society plagued by heartlessness, where predators roam unchecked and victims suffer in silence. Enter ‘Bhakshak’ – Netflix’s groundbreaking addition to the scene, promising a fresh perspective on this critical issue.

‘Bhakshak’, is inspired by the harrowing true events of widespread abuse in a shelter home in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, tackles these issues head-on. However, it opts for a heavy-handed approach, which paradoxically diminishes its impact and veers towards preachiness. The film begins by jolting us with a terrifying incident, only to conclude with a didactic lecture, leaving us somewhat less moved than we could have been.

However, the movie is nothing without the journalist who came up with this hardcore criminal story. She is Nivedita Jha whose role was played by Bhumi in the film. And she is the heart of the story, who puts light on the

Vaishali Singh, a spirited yet small-time video journalist, along with her trusty cameraman, Bhaskar Sinha. Their journey begins innocuously enough when they stumble upon a report that sets off alarm bells regarding a shelter home for girls in Munnawarpur (a thinly-veiled alias for its real-life counterpart). Initially hesitant, Vaishali’s curiosity soon ignites a fiery determination to unearth the truth. Their investigation takes them on a gritty tour of state-run shelters across the region, where they fearlessly confront uncomfortable truths and demand answers that can no longer be ignored.

Who Is Nivedita Jha ?

Nivedita started her career with Navbharat Times but much like her movie she turned out to be an Independent journalist. In 2018, a TATA Institute of social Sciences report revealed that shelter homes in Bihar has turned out to become a hub for physical and sexual abuse of minor girls. Among the 17 shelter homes stated in the report was Bihar’s Muzaffarpur shelter home. And amid digging the facts she filed a PIL against the shelter home.

As the layers of truth were peeled back, it emerged that the horror within the shelter home extended far beyond sexual abuse – several minors had tragically met their demise at the hands of those entrusted with their care.

After numerous setbacks, the case finally landed in the hallowed halls of the Patna High Court in July 2018. However, instead of shedding light on the atrocities, the court’s response was unexpected – a sweeping ‘Blanket Ban’ on media coverage of the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.

Undeterred, Nivedita, the relentless journalist-turned-activist, refused to accept silence as the status quo. She boldly petitioned to lift the ban, citing the public’s right to know. Meanwhile, she tenaciously pursued justice, doggedly tracking the case’s every twist and turn until the perpetrators were brought to account. In a dramatic turn of events, approximately 11 individuals were apprehended and held accountable for their egregious actions.

Since then, Nivedita has occupied significant roles, serving as the president of the Bihar Working Journalist Union, acting as the Bihar President of the National Forum for Indian Women, and presiding over the Bihar Chapter of South Asian Women In Media.

Her journey since then has paved way for her success. Later, she has authored a book on social discrimination against girls in Bihar and Jharkhand.