“Is disease a crime?”: Exploring the possibilities of health humanities in Bhasi’s Aswamedham

This commentary analyses playwright Thoppil Bhasi's efforts to challenge the social stigma surrounding leprosy, focusing on the Nooranad leprosy sanatorium in Kerala during the second half of the 20th century. Bhasi's influential play "Aswamedham" (1962), is recognised as a pioneering work in literature in Kerala. Its impact on the discourse surrounding health, illness, and societal attitudes towards individuals affected by leprosy is examined through the lens of health humanities. "Aswamedham" embodied a powerful social critique, challenging the prevailing necropolitics and reshaping the public perception of people suffering from leprosy. The transformative power of popular theatre and film in confronting social stigma, promoting inclusivity, and fostering compassion in health-related issues is highlighted here. In this era, the Covid-19 pandemic led to harsh stigmatisation at both individual and societal levels. This commentary contributes to the growing domain of health humanities studies, underscoring the significance of popular theatre and cinema in confronting social exclusion and discrimination against those afflicted by disease and transforming public perceptions regarding health conditions.