Chavdar Tale Satyagraha: The Golden Era in the Movement of Equality! …………. Dr. D. S. Sawant
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The world may have seen many struggles for “human liberation “, “satyagraha” in many places, but, The Satyagraha for water, carried out by Vishwaratna Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar at Mahad
was unprecedented, as it was the first and only Satyagraha in the world, held “for water”, and therefore it is unmatched in the history of the world.
One should not assume that the Satyagraha was just a coincidence, the objective behind it was caste annihilation, to realise slaves, that they are slaves and enslavement of slaves and ultimately the creation of an egalitarian society.
Dr. Babasaheb, who gained the knowledge of freedom, equality, brotherhood and justice from home and abroad, and had also gained an ideological, moral standing. Because of his egalitarian zeal, he was deeply annoyed and saddened by the racist mentality in India. Due to the caste system in India, which is not found anywhere else in the world, a large group of people here were referred to as untouchables, and they were kept separate from the upper caste Hindus. They were deprived of basic and vital, public resources like water. They were banned in many respects, the religious system was strictly prohibited them from walking on the streets, spitting was banned, and the life of the human being was made worse than that of an animal. Therefore, emanating from Babasaheb’s ideology, this movement of holistic transformation became an oxygen, a consciousness and a spark to the exploited society that has been enslaved for thousands of years.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s devotion to life and value-oriented behavior led to a proactive blueprint for the Satyagraha. . Even so, the struggle was not at all simple, yet it was won by a court battle on the occasion,
Oh, where dogs, cats and cattle are not forbidden to drink water, why should human beings be forbidden? We are human too! We have the same right over the natural resources as you do! Babasaheb proposed a new theory of change. And the revolutionary direction of the fight was decided. So it became a manifesto of human liberation! And that is why the history of Satyagraha of Mahad’s Chavdar Lake was written in golden letters.Thanks to the intense and active intellectual leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Dr. Babasaheb says that no one will die forever by drinking the water of Chavdar Lake. This does not mean that “drinking water from a tasty lake will alleviate our suffering or improve our situation or reduce our injustice”, it is just a matter of how one human being treats another human being? all human beings have the right to equality. This is our attempt to show. At the same time, we should have “at least the rights of humanity” and equality. It was a battle to break the shackles of slavery, to revolt against tyranny, and to call for Elgar against inequality.
On August 4, 1923, C.K. Bole a member
of the Non-Brahmin Party. brought a resolution in the Mumbai Provincial Legislature and the Mumbai Legislature passed the resolution stating that “the untouchable group would have the right to occupy all the property built and protected at the government’s expense. These included public water bodies, wells, lakes, etc”. On this occasion, C.K. Bole said that untouchability is a stigma attached to the name of our motherland. We protest against the untouchability of Hindi people living in Africa, but why do we remain silent I do not know,
when this happens in our own homeland.Untouchability is hurting the entire country. According to this resolution, on January 5, 1924, the municipality of Mahad passed a decision to implement this law. Even so, the untouchables did not have the courage to go to the lake and fetch water. The Dharmamartandas here were so skeptical. they were not having law-abiding attitude and that is why the untouchables had to live their lives in extreme poverty and without meeting their basic needs.
The “Colaba District Bahishkrut Class Council” was convened at Mahad on 19th and 20th March 1927. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and the chief convener was Sambhaji Tukaram Gaikwad and Ramji Kadrekar. He appealed to men and women from all over Maharashtra to attend the conference. In response to this call, more than five thousand men and women from all over Maharashtra had gathered. even though they did not dare to touch the water. So water worth forty rupees was bought for them for drinking purpose, from upper caste Hindus.
Due to the presidency of Babasaheb, this Satyagraha had taken a different form. The enthusiasm of the Satyagrahis had reached Shige. Since this Satyagraha is at Mahad near Raigad and Due to Gandhi’s support for the Satyagraha, the Satyagrahis were chanting “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai”, “Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai” and “Doctor Ambedkar Ki Jai”. And various upper caste people Tipnis, chire, Shaikh, were helping.
On March 20, it was decided that all the Satyagrahis would go to the actual pond and fetch water. And in a very disciplined, non-violent way, these satyagrahis started moving towards the tasty lake in a very patient atmosphere, Babasaheb touched the water, filled it with water and drank the water. Babasaheb’s holy touch must have sanctified that lake too, know! Everyone filled their fingers, even their fists, against the racist mentality, the system was given a handful! The Satyagraha of Mahad’s Chavdar Lake has literally undermined the established Manuvadi system here and it should not be taken lightly to say that it has seen a new sparks with its own water. B. C. Hate describes it accurately in his book “Where the Water Burns”.
The struggle for human liberation began. That is why this fight became the beginning of the movement for basic human rights. This day was not only unprecedented for the untouchable society , but it was also to be celebrated in the history of the world for the promotion of human rights and remembrance of human values. This Satyagraha marked the beginning of human rights!
This Satyagraha is called by various names like Mahad’s Satyagraha, Chavdar Lake’s Satyagraha, Mahad’s Muktisangram, Mahad’s Social Revolution, which is why the government has to celebrate March 20 as “Social Empowerment Day”.
The orthodox, priestly class here was extremely uneasy, upset about the tasty lake cases. How can they remain silent? They fought a scuffle and spread a rumor throughout the Mahad that after distributing the water of Chavdar Lake, the gathered crowd would now go to the temple of Vireshwar and distribute the temple. Our religion is in danger! Such rumors were spread. And from there, the upper caste Hindus marched on the crowd with sticks and weapons in their hands and attacked the innocent people who were preparing food. Several people were injured in the attack. Someone’s arms were broken, someone’s legs were broken in pain, and someone’s head was broken. Bhikaji Gaikwad, son of the organizer Sambhaji Gaikwad, was seriously injured and died on 5 January 1929. The manner in which Sanatan people attacked this crowd was horrible, heartbreaking. In it, women and children were brutally beaten. But Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who always loved the value-based way of life, fought this battle with utmost restraint, conscience and non-violence. Blessed is the leader and blessed are the followers!
Later, the Sanatanis took out 108 jugs of water from the Chavdar pond and purified it by making Panchagavya in the form of cow urine and dung. How this hypocrisy is? What to say about this mentality ?, and unscientific vision? Unfortunately, the Hindu community did not realize till today that this fight was also for the unification and empowerment of Hindus. (Later, due to the erudition of Barrister Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, on March 17, 1937, the court granted untouchables the legal right to drink water from Chavdar Lake.)
Babasaheb wrote three articles on Chavdar Lake in (exiled India) Bahishkrut Bharat to elaborate on his role. Babasaheb says in the headline that our party Is of truth “Pachivirath Vijanama” should be proved, but care should be taken while writing in the context of excluded class. He goes on to say that “we do not need the sympathy of clowns or hypocritical patriots”! “We have no faith in you”!”We do not value your advice as much as a stick of grass”!he warned If you don’t want to support our rights, then stay away! Remember if you bring obstacles in our way and bewer from provoke others. The then “Bhalkar” Bhopatkar had given a traditional response to the Satyagraha of Chavdar Lake. To which Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar replied that our party is for justice. “The excluded class is not made of dung wax. They have so far won the battlefield. So we know they will not be slandered in front of any people.” We will not tolerate those who threaten us with our backs. The Satyagraha of Chavdar Lake is a satyagraha that demonstrates that all human beings in the world have equal rights to all the resources of nature over natural resources. This sanctuary is not just for water but for basic human rights. Now the untouchables must stop living in bondage. We have to fight for it. We have to make our socio-economic and political progress. We must get good industry, business and jobs by focusing on education. Only then will we be saved. Our meeting is unprecedented. The French Revolution was a proclamation of equality, brotherhood and justice similarly our meeting today is a proclamation of equality, so it has global significance.
Today is the mark of the 94th anniversary of this struggle. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar consciously chose 1927 as the year for Satyagraha because 1927 was the birth centenary year of Mahatma Phule. Isn’t this disciple who completes the work of Guru, different from the world!
The result of this struggle was a huge awakening in the untouchable society, their self-esteem was awakened. Slaves became aware of slavery and revolted! In order to establish their human rights, they reduced the fines against the established. Also, the message was given to the proposed community that the elimination of untouchability is to strengthen Hindu Dharma, to unite the Hindu community, so our work, thoughts and actions are strengthening the nation.
The movement of the untouchables went on for fifty years ahead at that time due to Dr. Amberkar. but unfortunately after Babasaheb’s Mahaparinirvana, this “steel organization” of Babasaheb’s movement, is little miled,due to not having a strong, studious, visionary and sincere leadership. remember only the Ambedkarite society can stop the destruction of constitution, injustice, oppression, rape and social structure. Other communities who eat malida in the name of Babasaheb should also support this community, their eyes should be opened, otherwise time will not forgive anyone! Therefore, I hope that the movement intended by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar will win if we stay united and fight this destructive force. On the occasion of Satyagraha of Chavdar Lake, Regards to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Satyagrahis!
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