Dalit movement in maharashtra

Sub Area: Recent Past

College of Engineering, PuneLiberal Learning Course

inSocial Science

In the 20th century

Dalit Movement in Maharashtra

What do mean by Dalits?The situation of Dalits before the 20th

century?Steps taken for the ascent of Dalits in 20th

centuryThe Ambedkar era: Real progress period of

Dalits in MaharashtraAmbedkar’s crucial step: Conversion from

Hindu-Mahar to BuddhistPost Ambedkar movements

Salient Topics….

Dalit…what do it mean?

Literal meaning is broken people

At first Mahatma Jyotirao Phule used this word for this class of people

They were untouchables

These people were exterior class people, this was the depressed class of society

Now, the official name is Scheduled Castes.

Origin:Caste system in India based on Varnas.i.e. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and the

Shudra.

The book named “Manusmriti” written by so called Hindu saint also supported the Varna system and gave it a follow-up.

In this caste system, basic rights and duties are assigned based on birth and are not subject to change.

Situation of Dalits before 20th century.

They were denied access to land and basic resources, forced to work in degrading conditions

No access to temples and other public places.Dalit children were made to sit at back or

even out of the classroom.They were typically considered low, impure

and polluting based on their birth.They were not allowed to live a standard life.The worst thing is that they were

untouchables in all manner.

Situation…..

Mahatma Jyotirao Phule:->First man who raised issue of Dalits.->Founded “Society for promoting

education for Mahar, Mang & others” for Dalits.

->Wrote books, and worked very hard.->He even worked for education of

women who faced triple burden: Class, Caste, and Gender.

->He himself defined the word Dalit for this backward class of people.

Steps for ascent of Dalits in 20th century.

Shahu Maharaj:-> King of Kolhapur. The father of

reservation system in India.-> Introduced Reservation facility for

Dalits for their ascent.-> Constructed special hostels for

backwards.-> Allowed Dalits to mix up with others

and also permitted them enter temples.

Dr. Ambedkar. First matriculate from Dalit. An Jurist, A Political leader, An advanced thinker, A philosopher, An Orator, An Anthropologist, An educationist, A social reformer, An Economist… overall he was an Intellectual personality from Dalit community only. Cabinet minister in first Indian government,

An architect of The Constitution of India.

The Ambedkar era:

Yeola Speech: “I was born as a Hindu, but I will never die as a Hindu”.

The Satyagriha of Kalaram temple of Nasik, and of the

lake of Mahad.Demand for separate constituency for the

Dalits.Representations of backward classes/Dalits in

Round Table Conference.Invaluable contribution as the chairman of

drafting committee of The Constitution of India for Dalits.

The Ambedkar era…..:

Religion must mainly be a matter of principles only. It cannot be a matter of rules. The moment it degenerates into rules, it ceases to be a religion, as it kills responsibility which is an essence of the true religious act.

I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality and fraternity.

Dr. B R Ambedkar

Ambedkar saw no hope for Dalits being Hindu. He chose Buddhism as a new religion for

Dalits: The Buddhism assures Equality, Liberty, Justice, Fraternity for all irrespective of one’s gender and birth. He turned to Buddhism on 14th October 1956. So thus, his followers turned.

The crucial step of Ambedkar:Renunciation from Hindu to Buddhist!

The voice of Dalits….

Amedkar died on 6th december 1956; The end of Ambedkar era.

He formed Scheduled Caste Federation, Labour Party for the ascent of Dalits.

The Idea of Republican Party of India was the brainchild of Ambedkar itself.

He gave a credo for all: Learn, Unite and Fight!

Post Ambedkar movement can be classified in some ways:

Post Ambedkar Movements

Political Front

• For real progress, Dalit needs to be part of system.

• For this, there is somehow active political front of Dalits which includes political parties such as Republican Party of India, BSP.

Literature Front

• Literature contributes a lot for the ascent of the society.

• In post Ambedkar movements, many from Dalit rising as writer and writing in the self defined Dalit Literature.

• This Literature may help them for upliftment to the general society.

The movement may be in Transit period at this time.

Though not fully united, Dalits try to make their position and acquire dignity in the mainstream society.

Despite their struggle, mainstream society is not yet ready to accept them as equal common human being.

Laws are there, but Atrocities also there.The responsibility of society is to accept

Dalits as humans.

Evaluation of Dalit movements.

We need to….

A people and their religion must be judged by social standards based on social ethics. No other standard would have any meaning if religion is held to be necessary good for the well-being of the people.

Dr. B R Ambedkar

Sachin GaikwadSY, B Tech in Information TechnologyMIS: 111208054E-mail : sach7793@gmail.com

gaikwads12.it@coep.ac.in

Thank You.

http://www.ncdhr.org.in/www.wikipedia.orghttp://www.brainyquote.com/www.google.comhttp://www.dalitnetwork.org/Who were Shudras? By Dr. B R AmbedkarThe Constitution of India

Bibliography