Gandhiji's Visit to Indupur - Dhumat
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Orissa Review * August - 2004 Gandhiji's Visit to Indupur - Dhumat Sukadev Sahu Translated by Marina Priyadarshinee Mohapatra In 1933, the British Administration in India Veda, from Veda to Laksmanpur, Laksmanpur tried for a complete division of the Hindu to Gopinathpur, Bahukuda - Siswa - Patapur - society by according special voting rights to Nischinta Koili-Kalatia-Salar-Bhagawatipur- the untouchables. Gandhiji started hunger strike Kendrapada-Barimula-Indupur. Amidst many in Yaraveda jail opposing this people Jadumani Mangaraj, dangerous move of the British Gopabandhu Chaudhury, Administration and their anti- Narayan Birbar Samanta, Indian attitude. He came out Rajkrishna Bose, Rama Devi, successful in this attempt. Then Binod Kanungo, Annapurna started the movement against Maharana and others untouchability all over India. accompanied him. The people This was the first of its kind in of Dhumat-Indupur including India as prior to that there was the untouchables covered a no such movement against distance of three miles to untouchability. welcome Gandhiji. Being Orissa was fortunate overwhelmed by hearing the enough to become the centre- Bhajans sung by the stage of this movement. In untouchables Gandhiji told that 1934 Gandhiji started his long all his fatigue went away journey on foot from Puri, the listening to such melodious abode of Lord Jagannath. During his journey songs, the recital of Harinam-Kirtan by his on foot Gandhiji went to Patna for a few days Harijan bretherns. That was 31st of May, 1934. after covering some places in Cuttack District. A wonderful commotion was in the air of the Again he resumed his journey from Bairi after entire village. The heartfelt slogan "Victory to his return from Patna. Mahatma Gandhi" filled the air. Waves of the blowing of conchshells mingling with From Bairi to Champapur, Gandhiji 'Hulahuli' were coming from the adjacent started his journey on foot, and reached at villages. The calm and dazzling light of the Dhumat via-Indupur at about 9 O'clock in the morning greeted the new guests. In the midst morning. He covered Champapur hat to reach, of graceful singing of birds came a vibrant tone 11 Orissa Review * August - 2004 of silent mutiny. What a nice scenery of process of Suddhi and asked as to who would Gandhiji's wayfare for the social upliftment of do the rituals ? Gandhiji told firmly that the the downtrodden that had been becoming grand Suddhi does not mean somebody to tonsure his and graceful. All sections of people from the head or shave his face or the washerman nearby villages assembled in many places to completing the washing job. When somebody have a glimpse of this greatman. The cleans his internal being, it is the right kind of unfathomable urge and excitement in them to Suddhi. So, if somebody does not shave his see this heroic personality was beggar's head it means nothing. Without asking any other description. question the Sanatanis returned. The movement of the Congress Then Gandhiji asked both the Sanatanis volunteers to set free the villages from the and the Congress volunteers to mend shakles of the Sanatanis (Puritans) was in full themselves, but in vain. The Sanatanis refused force. The musings of the upheaval was heard to have a compromise. in the home-stead, in the field, in the sky and There was a vast congregation of people above all in the air, everywhere. At this very in the Melan ground with a Bhaktavilas matt moment the arrival of Gandhiji in Dhumat to welcome Gandhiji. The meeting was held consolidated this Apalak Movement against with more than five thousand people assembled injustice and suppression and lighted the lamp there. At the outset, a welcome paper was read of freedom. out and presented to him on behalf of the people The Bhaktavilas matt was earmarked for of Dhumat-Indupur. Birakishore Behera had Gandhiji's rest. After returning from Barimula written and read out the same in the meeting. Gandhiji took his bath sitting on a stone which The congratulatory letter was almost as has been preserved till to-day as a mark of follows : respect to the Greatman. Universally Respected Mahatmaji ! Some Sanatanis (Puritans) there arrived When four crores of untouchables who by the time when Gandhiji was engaging are the backbone of this country were himself with the Charkha after finishing his segregated from the Hindu social mainstream lunch. and the Hindu society was about to Narayan Ch. Dash, Natabar Jasdev, disintegrate, you appeared as a saviour, a Jagmohan Routray, Jadumani Mangaraj, Vinod Dadhichi of this era who started the movement Kanungo and other Congress volunteers and against untouchability and thereby gave a new Samskar-loving people were present with lease of life to Hinduism. Therefore, you are Gandhiji. The Sanatanis raised many questions not the saviour of Hinduism alone, rather the regarding untouchability. Gandhiji, on the other entire humanity is grateful to you. We, therefore, hand, replied the querries accordingly. When salute you. Every year the river Birupa inundate the Sanatanis were defeated in the logical our cornfields and homestead land and within arguments, they were forced to reconcile and next five years it may devour our houses land. told that they did agree with Gandhiji that there Amidst this horrifying natural calamity we are is no sin in touching the untouchables. But the also fighting against untouchability while the Congress volunteers did not agree to the villagers of our sorroundings outcaste us in our 12 Orissa Review * August - 2004 marriage ceremonies and in other social festive The volunteers come together and assembled occasions. Still, we accost you that hereafter in a place as soon as they hear the sound of we will fight against untouchability and for the Begul and drum. It was needless to say that development of Harijans with renewed vigour Gandhiji's Ram Rajya was not a distant dream and patience. May God let you live long. May as felt from the craze and new upheavel among this pious journey of yours become successful. the people. Your drive against untouchability and Bapu's dream had taken a concrete shape development of Harijans may come out after innumerable heroes made supreme successful ! We pray God for your wishes to sacrifices. The country is independent to-day. come true ! But Gandhiji is no more with us. The undying In the meeting Gandhiji voiced his words of Mahatma Gandhi is still reverberating opinion about the social enigma and in the hearts of the villagers for what he told eradication of untouchability. Shri Rajkrishna here some fortyfour years ago. This Melan Bose translated Gandhiji's speech into Oriya. ground surrounded with Ashoka & Bakul In order to collect funds all the presentations groves became a holy place after getting the made to Gandhiji were auctioned. People took pious touch of the Greatman. part in the auction to possess them. Pravabati Villagers had built a pillar of Devi, wife of Natabar Jagdev of Indupur reminiscence to remind that auspicious presented Gandhiji with her golden bangles. occasion in this graceful surroundings. A In total Rs.93 7½ ana (Rupees nintythree and replica of Gandhiji has been made at the top seven ana & a half) were collected. Gandhiji of a pillar. Below the pillar the Snana Pathar also gladly accepted a copy of Odiaa (Bathing stone) has been placed. Shri Biraja Barnabodha. Roy, a noted Gandhian and social worker After the meeting Gandhiji went to donated this stone statue of Gandhiji. Angeishpur and then to Bari - Sahaspur - The statue of Gandhiji amidst the floral Purusottampur - Budhaghat and after Jajpur he decorations of Kadamba and Bakula offers new crossed Cuttack District. lease of life almost like the wafts of the There was a kind of victory celebration morning breeze. in the village after Gandhiji's visit and exit. This is the English rendering of "Agni Jugar Innumerable new volunteers came forward to Kahani" by Sukadev Sahu, p.31 to 35. consolidate the village committee. They were bereft of sleep in the night. The movement against untouchability gathered momentum. For Khadi and Charkha there were ceremonies observed in many places. A theatre group was organised in the Marina Priyadarshinee Mohapatra lives at Plot village with the help of some zealous youth. No.1697/1, Godavari Gardens, Patia, Bhubaneswar-31. 13.