Editor-in-Chief: Prem Kumar Chumber Contact: 001-916-947-8920 Fax: 916-238-1393 E-mail: [email protected] Editors: Takshila & Kabir Chumber VOL- 6 ISSUE- 12-13 September, 2014 www.ambedkartimes.com www.ambedkartimes.org Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Poona Pact and the Current Situation Efforts to purchase Dr Ambedkar former Prem K. Chumber (Editor-in Chief) www.ambedkartimes.com Residence in London for an Ambedkar Memorial Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar devoted his entire life pounds to purchase the property. proposed memorial will be a cul- for the emancipation and empowerment of the London (Ambedkar Times "I am delighted that the Govern- tural and educational centre that Scheduled Castes of India who for centuries have News Bureau)- Efforts are being ment of Maharashtra has sup- generations of Indians in the UK been compelled to live in deplorable situations. He made to convert the former Lon- ported the FABO, UK's initiative and visitors interested or inspired tried different ways for this noble cause while set- don residence of Dr B.R. Ambed- to purchase the house where Dr by Dr Ambedkar’s key roles in ting the goal of annihilation of caste. First, he did kar into an Ambedkar memorial. Ambedkar lodged while he was furthering social justice, human his best to improve upon the situations through re- He lived at 10 King Henrys Road studying at the London School of rights and equal treatment issues forms within Hinduism. But soon, he realized that London in 1921-22 during his can visit. The bedrooms would reforms within Hinduism will not work for the anni- higher studies in the London be ideal for some students from hilation of caste because without caste the whole School of Economics. English Dalit background from India who structure of Hinduism would come down like a Heritage has already recognised complete their post graduate ed- house of cards and that would not be acceptable to the historicity of 10 King Henrys ucation in the UK and visitors to its protagonists at all. Annihilation of caste at the Road, NW3 by installing a ‘blue London as part of Dr Ambedkar first instance requires doing away with the Hindu plaque’ on the property. This was missions worldwide, “said Arun Sastras (sacred scriptures/law books), which Hin- installed with the efforts of Kumar, General Secretary of duism would never agree to comply with. Thus the FABOUK and unveiled in Decem- FABO, UK. Efforts of Dr. other way and rather the only way open to seek ber 1991 by Roy Hattersley MP, Nitin Raut- Cabinet Minister Gov- casteless social order was to say good bye to Hin- the then Deputy Leader of Labour Economics," said Santosh Dass ernment of Maharashtra (GOM), duism and construct a new society under a different Party. In this house where he President of FABO,UK. Mr. R K Gaikwad IAS (Indian Ad- religion for the Ex-Untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar fi- lodged, Dr Ambedkar enriched "We are still awaiting of- ministrative services), Ex Secre- nally left Hinduism and established a new social-re- his academic studies and ficial confirmation," she said. tary & Commissioner Social ligious order popularly known as Navayan-Buddhism strengthened his resolve to chal- Total cost includes the current Justice Department, Mr. Ramesh (Buddha and His Dhamma) where no one is sub- lenge the impact of the Caste asking price for the property as Katke Deputy Registrar GOM, Dr jected to any social discrimination based on ascrip- System and British Rule in India. advertised at 3.1 million pounds, Vijay Kadam, Social Activist, Mr. tive and primordial notions of caste and creed. In The owner has put this 2,050 sq an estimated 2, 17,000 pounds Siddharth Kharat Private Sectary between, Dr. Ambedkar battled many struggles for ft property on sale. The Federa- as stamp duty (payable at 7 per to Dr. Raut, Mr. Lalit Khobragade the betterment of living conditions of the Scheduled tion of Ambedkarite and Buddhist cent on the eventual purchase Officer on Special Duty to Minis- Castes. Poona Pact was one of such major Organisations (FABO) availed this price), legal costs, house insur- ter are much appreciated who struggles. timely opportunity and ap- ance costs and necessary reno- gave their unflinching support for It was through this historic Pact that Dr. proached the Government of Ma- vations to the property. “The this dream project. Ambedkar got voice for his people in the provincial harashtra for a grant of 4 million legislative structures in the form of certain fixed number of seats. That was 1932. A lot has changed now in 2014. State in India is fast withdrawing from 100 DAYS OF MODI POINTS TO EMERGENT DISASTER its responsibilities towards the people. It firmly be- ECONOMY, RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS AREAS OF BIGGEST CONCERN lieves that market can save them from all the hard- ships they face. In other words neo-liberalism is The Ghadar Alliance, a US-based toto all corporate demands and Alliance. educational/watchdog coalition eliminate existing safeguards. “The privileging of eco- being projected as the messiah of the Scheduled created by concerned citizens in From the evidence available, can nomic growth as the primary goal Castes. In such a changed scenario downtrodden the wake of the BJP victory, today we not conclude that the minimal functions to dictate an amnesia has to rethink rather critically about the nature of released a comprehensive ‘100- protections for ordinary people are about Modi’s Gujarat record with struggle that they have to wage for the acquisition day report’ evaluating the per- being wiped out to favor corpora- US investors eager to capitalize formance of the Modi tions?” he added. on the Indian market,” added Pro- and protection of their rights. Quite interestingly, government’s first 100 days in The report is replete with fessor Snehal Shingavi, also a co- there is also fast emerging a viewpoint from within office. such detail as it compares the founder of the Ghadar Alliance. the academic circles of the Scheduled Castes which The report, titled “Fast Modi budget with the previous “And for many of us born and says that neo-liberal market economy offers lots of Track to Troubling Times,” (modi- United Progressive Alliance raised in a racialized US context, opportunities to the former untouchables who no- facts. org) is being released as budget, and points to such facts the targeting of minorities in India Modi prepares for his first visit to as the BJP government’s plan to by Hindu reactionaries uncomfort- longer face any social exclusion in the aftermath of the US as India’s Prime Minister. raise four times more money ably corresponds to our own ex- 1991 Globalizing India. This view-point also talks Modi’s US tour begins on Sep- through the ‘sale of State assets’ periences with anti-immigrant about Dalit billionaires and their own chambers of tember 26th. The report is the than the previous government did. racism here.” commerce. What it forgets is that in the free market first independent ‘people’s’ report The report highlights the empow- The report compares the economy only those are welcome who have the to be published since Modi came erment of violent gangs of the su- first 100 days of the new govern- into office, and identifies the premacist Hindu Right under the ment with Modi’s 12 years of rule capital to invest. And the capital in India used to be economy, religious extremism and Modi dispensation. In the three in Gujarat. “Examining Modi’s first the prerogative of the upper castes only. Lower human rights as grave areas of months since Modi took charge, 100 days in the context of his castes were deliberately kept out of reach of the concern. “We have been very there have been over 600 cases record in Gujarat reveals a number capital by all possible means under the garb of a dis- careful and meticulous in collect- of anti-minority violence in one of disturbing parallels, and these ing data only from public sources single state, Uttar Pradesh (a state parallels legitimize the report’s criminatory and hegemonic religious social order. to build an evidence-based and in the North), and several cases of predictive capacity,” said Man- What about the millions of lower castes who do not fully data-driven report,” said Raja forced ‘reconversion’ of Dalits davilli. have requisite capital to enter into the so-called non- Swamy, economic anthropologist (India’s so-called untouchable The report is the first in a discriminatory market economy in India. Would they and one of the authors of the re- castes) to Hinduism. “If there is series of actions that the Ghadar be not discriminated in this new economic order? port. “When it comes to the econ- one thing that is clear already it is Alliance is initiating to keep a con- omy, our report shows that the that under Modi, Hindu suprema- sistent and critical focus on the Neo-liberalism is no more different from capitalism. new administration wants to elim- cist gangs will virtually rule the BJP/RSS from outside India. We must not forget that the two main enemies of inate all democratic protections in streets. There is a palpable sense The Founding Committee the lower castes are, as cautioned by Babasaheb Dr favor of corporate giveaways and of insecurity today among minori- of the Alliance is intergenera- B. R. Ambedkar, Capitalism and Brahmanism. Both ripoffs. One example of this are ties, Dalits and women as non- tional, of multiple faiths, of di- of them are once again busy in fashioning new per- the amendments that the Modi state actors have turned verse professions and geography. regime has proposed to the Land hyper-aggressive, and Modi, “We represent the true mutations and calculations to keep their hold Acquisition Act of 2013 that do through his consistent silence and diversity of India rather than the intact. Thus to face the realities of current situation away with meaningful safeguards refusal to hold offenders account- narrow homogeneity of Modi sup- in contemporary India, the teachings of Babasaheb for those losing land, especially able, has given tacit approval” porters lining up to welcome him Dr. B. R. Ambedkar are of utmost value as they have for India’s poor, marginal peas- said Anu Mandavilli of the San here in the US,” said Dr. Swamy. antry and indigenous peoples. The Jose Peace and Justice Center For more Information been ever. proposed amendments accept in- and a cofounder of the Ghadar www.ghadaralliance.org www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-6 2 Issue-12-13 www.deshdoaba.com September, 2014 COMMUNAL DECISION 1. In the statement made by the prepared to recommend to Parliament spects to the special conditions of the Committee. Prime Minister on Ist December last on that alternative should be substitued Province. His Majesty's Government do 15. The special seats allotted to behalf of His Majesty's Government at for the provisions now outlined. not consider that these special De- Commerce and Industry, Mining and the close of the second session of the 5. Seats in the Legislative Coun- pressed Classes constituencies will be Planting will be filled by election Round Table Conference, which was cils in the Governor's Provinces, or in required for more than a limited time. through Chambers of Commerce and immediately afterward endorsed by the Lower House if there is an Upper They intend that the constitution shall various Associations. The details of the both Houses of Parliament, it was made Chamber, will be allocated as shown in provide that they shall come to an end electoral arrangement for these seats plain that if the communities in India the annexed table. 20 years if they have not previously must await further investigation. were unable to reach a settlement ac- 6. Election to the seats allotted to been abolished under the general pow- 16. The special seats allotted to ceptable to all parties on the communal Muhammadan, European and Sikh con- ers of electoral revision referred to in Landholder will be filled by election by questions which the Conference had stituencies will be by voters voting in paragraph 6. special Landholders constituencies. failed to solve His Majesty's Govern- separate communal electorates cover- 10. Election to the seats allotted to 17. The mehod to be employed for ment were determined that India's con- ing between them the whole area of Indian Christians will be by voters vot- election to the University seats is still stitutional advance should not on that the Province (apart from any portions ing in separate communal electorates. under consideration. account be frustrated, and that they which may in special cases be excluded It seems almost certain that practical 18. His Majesty's Government have would remove this obstacle by devising from the electioral area as "Back- difficulties will, except possibly in found it impossible in determining and applying themselves a provisional ward"). Madras, prevent the formation of In- these questions of representation in the scheme. Provision will be made in the dian Christian constituencies covering Provincial Legislatures to avoid entering 2. On the 19th March last His Constitution itself to empower a revi- the whole area of the Province, and into considerable detail. There remains, Majesty's Government, having been in- sion of this electoral arrangement (and that accoringly special Indian Christian nevertheless, the determination of the formed that the continued failure of the the other similar arrangements men- constituencies will have to be formed constituencies. They intend that this communities to reach agrement was tioned below) after 10 years with the only in one or two selected areas in the task should be undertaken in India as blocking the progress of the plans for assent of the communitits affected, for Province. Indian Christian voters in early as possible. the framing of a new constitution, the ascertainment of which suitable these areas will not vote in a general It is possible that in some in- stated that they were engaged upon a means will be devised. constituency. Indian Christian voters stances delimitation of constituencies careful re-examination of the difficult 7. All qualified electors, who are outside these areas will vote in a gen- might be materially improved by slight and controversial questions which not voters either in a Muhammadan, eral consituency. Special arrangements variations from the numbers of seats arise. They are now satisfied that with- Sikh, Indian Chritian (see paragraph 10 may be needed in Bihar and Orissa, now given. His Majesty's Government out a decision of at least some aspects below), Anglo-Indian (see paragraph where a considerable proportion of the reserve the right to make such slight of the problems connected with the po- 11 below) or European constituency, Indian Christian community belong to variations, for such purpose, provided sition of minorities under the new con- will be entitled to vote in a general con- the aboriginal tribes. that they would not materially affect stitution, no further progress can be stituency. 11. Election to the seats allotted to the essential balance between commu- made with the farming of the 8. Seven seats will be reserved for Anglo-Indians will be by voters voting nities. No such variations will, however, Constitution. Mahrattas in certain selected plural in separate communal electorates. It is be made in the case of Bengal and Pun- 3. His Majesty's Government have members general constituencies in at present intended, subject to investi- jab. accordingly decided that they will in- Bombay. gation of any practical difficulties that 19. The question of the composi- clude provisions to give effect to the 9. Members of the "Depressed may aise, that the Anglo-Indian con- tion of Second Chambers in the scheme set out below in the proposals Classess" qualified to vote will vote in a situencies shall cover the whole area of Provinces has so far received compara- rerating to the Indian Constitution to be genereal constituency. In view of the each Province, a postal ballot being tively little attention in the constitu- laid in due course before Parliament. fact that for a considerable period these employed, but no final decision has yet tional duscussions and requires further The scope of this scheme is purposely classess whould be unlikely, by this been reached. consideration before a decision is confined to the arragngement to be means alone, to secure any adequate 12. The method of filling the seats reached as to which Provinces shall made for the representation of the representation in the Legislature, a assigned for represetatives from back- have a Second Chamber or a scheme is British Indian communities in the number of special seats will be as- ward areas is still under investigation, drawn up for their composition. His Provincial Legislature, consideration of signed to them as shown in the table. and the number of seats so assigned Majesty's Government consider that the representation in the Legislature at the These seats will be filled by election should be regarded as provisional composition of the upper house in a Centre being deferred for the reason from special constituencies in which pending a final decision as to the con- province should be such as not to dis- given in paragraph 20 below. The deci- only members of the "depressed stitutional arrangement to be made in turb in any essential the balance be- sion to limit the scope of the scheme classes" electorally qualified will be en- relation to such areas. tween the communities resulting, from implies no failure to realise that the titled to vote. Any person voting in such 13. His Majesty's Government at- the composition of the Lower House. framing of the Constitution will neces- a special constituency will, as stated tach great imporance to securing that 20. His Majesty's Government do sitate the decision of a number of other above, be also entitled to vote in a gen- the new Legislatures should contain at not propose at present to enter into the problems of great importance to mi- eral constituency. It's intended that least a small number of women mem- question of the size and composition of norities, but has been taken in the hope these constituencies should be formed bers. They feel that at the outset this Legislature at the Centre, since this in- that once a pronouncement has been in selected areas where the depressed object could not be achieved without volves among other questions that rep- made upon the basic questions of classes are most numerous, and that, creating a certain number of seats spe- resentation of the Indian States which method and proportions of representa- except in Madras, they should not cover cially allotted to women. They also feel still needs further discussion. They will, tion the communities themselves may the whole area of the Province. that it is essential that women numbers of course, when considering the com- find it possible to arrive at a modus In Bengal it seems possible should not be drawn disproportionately position, pay full regard to the claims vivendi on other communal problems, that in some general constituencies a from one community. They have been of all communities for adequate repre- which have not as yet received the ex- majority of the voters will belong to the unable to find any system which would sentation therein. amination they require. Depressed Classes. Accordingly, pend- avoid this risk, and would be consistent 21. His Majesty's Government have 4. His Majesty's Government wich ing further investigation, no number with the rest of the scheme for repre- already accepted the principle that Sind it to be most clearly understood that has been fixed for the members to be sentation which they have found it nec- should be constituted a separate they themselves can be no parties to returned from the special Depressed essary to except that of limiting the Province, if satisfactory means of fi- any negotiations which may be initiated Classes constituencies in that province. electorate for each special woman's nancing it can be found. As the finan- with a view to the revision of their de- It is intended to secure that the De- seat to voters from one community. cial problems involved still have to be cision, and will not be prepared to give pressed Classes should obtain not less The special women's seats have ac- reviewed in connection with other consideration to any representation than 10 seats in the Bengal Legislature. cordingly been specifically divided as problems of federal finance, His aimed at securing the modification of it The precise definition in each shown in the table, between the vari- Majesty's Government have thought it which is not supported by all the parties province of those who (if electorally ous communities. The precise electoral preferable to include, at this stage, fig- effected but they are most desirous to qualified) will be entitled to vote in the machinery to be employed in these ures for a Legislature for the exising close no door to an agreed settlement special Depressed Class constituencies special constituencies is still under con- Province of Bombay, in addition to the should such happily be forthcoming. If, has not yet been finally determined. It sideration. schemes for separate Legislatures for therefore, before a new government of will be based as a rule on on the gen- 14. The seats allotted to "Labour" Bombay Presidency proper and Sind. India act has passed into law, they are eral principles advocated in the fran- will be filled from non-communal con- 22. The figures given for Bihar and satisfied that the communities who are chise committee's report. Modification stituencies. The electoral arrangements Orissa relate to the existing province. concerned are mutually agreed upon a may, however, be found necessary in have still to be determined, but it is The question of constituting a separate practicable alternative scheme, either some provinces in Northern India likely that in most province the Labour Province of Orissa is still under investi- in respect of any one or more of the where the application of the general constituencies will be partly trade union gation. Governor's Provinces or in respect of criteria of untouchability might result, and partly special constituencies as rec- 23. The inclusion in the table of the whole of British India, they will be in a definition unsuitable in some re- ommended by the Franchise (Continued on page 3) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-6 3 Issue-12-13 www.deshdoaba.com September, 2014 (Continued from page 2) which will not exceed 10 - has not yet figures relating to a Legislature for the been fixed. The number of general Central Provinces including Berar does Communal Decision seats will be 80, less the number of not imply that any decision has yet special Depressed Class seats. been reached regarding the future con- fixed. It is accoringly, not possible in Orissa, 2 Europeans, 2 Indians, Central d. One of these seats is a Tu- stitutional position of Berar. each Province to state with certainty Provinces (including Berar), 1 Euro- madar's seat. The four Landholders' London 4th August, 1932. how many Europeans and Indians re- pean, 1 Indian, Assam, 8 Europeans, 3 seats will be filled from special con- Allocation of seats in provincias spectively will be returned. It is how- Indians ; Bombay (without Sind), 4 Eu- stituencies with joint electorates. It is legislatures dy cfrt QWly (a), (b), (c), (d), ever expected that, initially, the ropeans, 3 Indians, 1 European, and 1 probable, from the distribution of the (e) afid df mqlb explain kIqf hoieaf hY. numbers will be approximately as fol- Indian. electorate, that the members returned The composition of the bodies through lows :- Madas, 4 European, 2 Indians ; b. Seven of these seats will be re- will be one Hindu, one Sikh and two which election to these seats will be Bombay (including Sind), 5 Europeans, served for Mahrattas. Muhammadan. conducted, though in most cases either 3 Indians, Bengal, 14 Europeans, 5 In- c. As explained in paragraph 9 of e. This woman's seat will be filled predominantly European or predomi- dians, United Provinces, 2 Europeans, the statement, the number of special from a non-communal constituency at nantly Indian, will not be statutorily 1 Indian, Punjab, 1 Indian, Bihar and Depressed Class seats in Bengal - Shillong. srkfrI irkfrz ivc pUnf pYkt

Telegram from Government of Bom- bay, Dated 24th September, 1932 S.D. 6125. Text of agreement arrived at between the leaders of the Depressed Classes and of the rest Hindu community, together with cov- ering letter signed by Pandit Madan Malaviya, is as follows. The signatories to agreement are Pandit Malaviya, Jayakar, Sapru, Chunilal Mehta, Ambedkar, Rajah, Solanki, Ra- jagopalachariar, Birla and 20 others.* The agreement is not signed by Gandhi, but the signatories state that presssed Classes for each of such re- shall be made to secure a fair repre- munal Award of 4th August last, the he has accepted it :- served seats by the method of the sin- sentation of the Depressed Classes in agreement provides for general con- "I have the honour to enclose gle vote and four persons getting the these respects, subject to such educa- stituencies within which seats are re- the agreement which has been arrived highest number of votes in such pri- tional qualifications as may be laid served for the Depressed Classes, at between the leaders of the De- mary election shall be the candidates down for appointment to the public subject to important conditions as to pressed Classes and of the rest of the for election by the general electorate." services." the manner in which the reserved seats Hindu community in connection with "3. The representation of the De- "9. In every Province out of the are filled.The Government, in their the representation of the Depressed pressed Classes in the Central Legilsa- educational grant an adequate sum Award which was given in the absence Classes in the Legislatures and to re- ture shall likewise be on the principle of shall be earmarked for providing edu- of agreement between the communi- quest you to arrange for its transmis- joint electorates and reserved seats by cational facilities for the members of ties, were solely concerned, in relation sion to His Excellency the Viceroy, the the method of primary election in the the Depressed Classes." to the Depressed Classes, to provide Secretary of the State for India and the manner provided for in clause 2 above * It appears from an unofficial adequate security that the interests of Prime Minister. We request that in view for their representation in the Provincial telegram that the signatories were : these classes should be observed by of Mahatama Gandhi's present condi- Legislatures." Madan Mohan Malaviya, T. B. Sapru, M. the new Legislatures. As the represen- tion immediate action may be taken to "4. In the Central Legislature R. Jaykar, B. R. Ambedkar, R. Srini- tatives of the Depressed Classes and enable him to break his fast." 18 per centum of the seats allotted to vasan, C. Raja Gopalacharia, Chunnilal other Hindus acting together believe The following agreement has the general electorate for British India Mehta, M. C. Rajah, P. G. Solanki, V. I. that the scheme now forwarded by been arrrived at between leaders acting in the said Legislature shall be reserved Muniswamy Pillay, V. Dharmalingham, them to His Majesty's Government is on behalf of the Depressed Classes and for the Depressed Classes." Pillai Hari Das, N. Shivaraj, G. D. Birla, adequate for that purpose, the Govern- of the rest of the Hindu community re- "5. The system of primary elec- Rajendra Prasad, A. V. Thakkar, H. M. ment, in accordance with the procedure garding the representation of the De- tion to a panel of candidates for elec- Jagannathan, S. N. Shiv Tarkar, B. H. which they laid down in paragraph 4 of pressed Classes in the Legislatures and tion to the Central and Provincial Verale, R. R. Bakhle, P. Baloo, Rajbhoj, their Award, will recommend to Parlia- certain other matters affecting their Legislatures as herein before men- N. S. Kajrolker, G. A. Gavai and appar- ment in due course the adoption of the welfare :- tioned shall come to an end after the ently five other unnamed. clauses of the agreement dealing with "1. There shall be seats re- first 10 years unless terminated sooner representation in the Provincial Legis- served for ther Depressed Classes out by mutual agreement under the provi- Poona Pact latures in place of the provisions in of general electorate seat in the Provin- sions of clause 6 below." The following statement by His paragraph 9 of the Award. It will be un- cial Legislatures as follows : Madras, 30 "6. The system of representa- Majesty's Government will be an- derstood that the total number of the ; Bombay with Sind, 15 ; Punjab, tion of Depressd Classes by reserved nounced in the Indian Legislature on general seats including those reserved 8 ; Bihar and Orissa, 18 ; Cen- seats in the Provincial and Central Leg- the morning of Monday, 26th Septem- for Depressed Classes under the agree- tral Provinces, 20 ; Assam, islatures as provided for in clauses 1 ber : ment, will in each province remain the 7 ; Bengal, 30 ; The United and 4 shall continue until deternined by His Majesty's Government has same as the number of general seats Provinces, 20 ; total 148. These figures mutual agreement between the com- learnt with great satisfaction that an plus the number of special Depressed are based on the total strength of the munities concerned in this settlement. agreement has been reached between Class seats provided in their decision. Provincial Councils announced in the "7. The franchise for the Cen- leaders of the Depressed Classes and His Majesty's Government note that the Prime Minister's decision." tral and Provincial Legislatures for the of the rest of the Hindu community re- agreement deals also with certain "2. Election to these seats shall Depressed Classes shall be as indicated garding the representation of the De- questions outside the scope of their be by joint electorates, subject, how- in the Lothian Committee report." pressed Classes in the new Legislatures Award of 4th August. Clauses 8 and 9 ever, to the following procedure : All "8. There shall be no disabili- and certain other matter affecting their deal generally with points, the realisa- members of the Depressed Classes reg- ties attaching to anyone on the ground welfare. tion of which will be likely to depend in istered in the general electoral roll of a of his being a member of the De- In place of the system of gen- the main on actual working of the Con- constituency will form an electoral col- pressed Classes in regard to any elec- eral constituencies combined with spe- stitution but His Majesty's Government lege which will elect a panel of four tions to local bodies or appointment to cial Depressed Classes constituencies take note of these clauses as a definits candidates belonging to the De- the public services. Every endeavour contained in the Government's Com- (Continued on page 4) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-6 4 Issue- 12-13 www.deshdoaba.com September, 2014 The Parvati Satyagrah of Pune: Breaking a 180-year old tradition The Parvati temple entry satyagrah that was organised by a few Depressed Class and caste Hindu leaders on 13 October 1929 to secure entry for the Depressed Classes to the temple at Pune was a part of the initial awakening of untouchables at the beginning of the 20th century. The Parvati temple, located in the south- and let the temple open for darshan to who numbered around 150 were vastly tunate and was ern part of Pune, is actually a complex of them. Since the appeal evoked little re- outnumbered by the orthodox Hindus who without doubt four temples dedicated to different Hindu sponse from the trustees, the local de- overpowered the satyagrahis and pre- engineered by deities- Shiva, Ganesh, Kartikeya and Vit- pressed class leaders supported by a vented them from entering the main tem- the so-called thal. Of these the one dedicated to Lord group of a few caste Hindu leaders too ple gates by pelting stones and brickbats sympathisers of Shiva, also known as Devadeveshwara decided to join the demand and formed a at them. The supporting caste Hindu lead- the movement. (Lord of Lords), is the most prominent Satyagraha Committee with Shivram ers received serious injuries in the con- The untouch- one. It was constructed in 1749 by Nansa- Janba Kamble and P. N. Rajbhoj as re- frontation and had to be taken away for ables therefore Dr Hemant Devasthali heb Peshwe or Balaji Bajirao, one of the spectively its Chairman and General Sec- medical treatment. need to guard Formerly Principal, Ness Wadia College Peshwas (Brahmin Prime Ministers) who retary. The Committee served a public While Dr Ambedkar supported themselves of Commerce, University of Pune, Pune came to wield enormous power during the notice to the temple trustees on 2 October the satyagraha, he was not present at the against the ap- tenure of Shahu Sambhaji Raje Bhosale 1929 drawing their attention to the fact protest because of his preoccupation with parent supporters of any of their mov- (1708-1748), the grandson of the founder that the temple was open to all Hindus as other work or because it was dominated ments. of the Maratha Kingdom, Chhatrapati per the order issued on 15 March 1842 by by the caste Hindu leaders. However, in a 4. While a change in public opin- Shivaji. Under the Peshwas, from 1713 till the Collector. As such, the notice said, the detailed analysis of the incident in the ar- ion is important for a movement, it would their defeat in 1818 at the hands of the trustees were not within the law if the un- icle in Bahishkrit Bharat mentioned above, be unwise to wait for it to come about of British, the Brahmin culture and influence touchables being Hindu were disallowed he made following points: its own. It is immensely important to un- thrived and reached its peak. It was little temple entry. The notice wanted the 1. The physical assault on satya- dertake deliberate and planned efforts to bring it about. The satya- graha is the most effective instrument to mould the public opinion and as such is a supportive comple- ment to the attainment of the objectives of a move- ment. It would be there- fore unwise to give up on satyagraha and wait for a gradual change of public opinion of its own against untouchability. 5. It is wrong to exhort the untouchable commu- nity to defer the question of untouchability till the at- The Parvati Temple constructed in 1789 tainment of freedom and Members of the Parvati Satyagraha Committee- Shivram Janba Kamble (1875- during the heyday of the Peshwa rule put up a united front Sitting: Shivram Kamble (Chairman) & 1942) who chaired the Parvati against the British. On the Keshavrao Jedhe (Vice Chairman, Assistant Committee)) trustees to issue a grahis who were Satyagraha Committee worked as other hand it is important Standing: S. R. Thorat ( Vice Chairman), public declaration very few and a butler and organised many peti- to support the movement R. S. Ghatage (Secretary & Treasurer), K. M. Patade (Accountant) in the matter protesting in a very tions, conferences and temple and against untouchability and within three days. non-violent way hotel entry movements in the win over the untouchables wonder therefore that the untouchables, This left the trustees with no alternative was a ‘demonic’ act. Pune area from 1903 to 1930. to the side of freedom regarded as the lowest in the caste hier- but to take a public stand on the issue. If the opponents of fighters. It would be a archy, were disallowed the entry to a tem- The trustees however held ‘that temple entry continue to react in violence, more effective strategy to create a more ple, constructed by a powerful Brahmin. the temple is a private property and was it would not be long before the untouch- consolidated and united counterforce The Parvati Satyagrah, following constructed by Nanasaheb Peshve ables too do so. against the British. The Parvati satya- on the heels of the Mahad Satyagrah of through his private fund. While the temple 2. The behaviour of the caste graha could not succeed and increased 1927, thus was an attempt to break a 180- is a Hindu place, allowing the untouchable Hindus associated with the satyagraha the distrust between Dr Ambedkar and his year old tradition. Dr Babasaheb Ambed- classes to approach the deity as close as was little short of hypocrisy. The caste followers on the one hand and the Con- kar in an editorial in Bahishkrit Bharat (15 the caste Hindus would be the violation of Hindus initiated the satyagraha move with gress and Mahatma Gandhi on the other. November 1929) traces the origin of the the original intentions and the trustees an open letter in the press. Yet it was the It was a part of the general awakening satyagraha to a meeting of a few Pune have no authority to do so.’ same people who completely dissociated among untouchables in the initial years of Brahmins, called to deliberate on efforts This was thus an outright denial themselves from the event on the very the last century and despite failure they could undertake to mitigate the prob- of the acceptance of the demand of the day the trustees of the temple gave out a strengthened further the faith of untouch- lem of untouchability. The meeting ended satyagrahis who were left with little option public vindication of their stand in the ables in the united fight against obnoxious with a decision to let the Hindu temples in but to go ahead with their action. local newspaper. The coincidence clearly Hindu practices. various areas of the city open to the un- The satyagraha was led by two indicated prior secretive understanding on It did provide inspiration to the touchables. Following the meeting, an prominent depressed class leaders, Shiv- the issue between the Sangh and the untouchables in various parts of the coun- open letter was written to the trustees of ram Janba Kamble and P. N. Rajbhoj, and temple trustees. try to pursue their effort for temple entry the Parvati temple making an appeal to was supported among others by a few 3. The withdrawal of support at in their respective areas and to that extent end the discrimination against the un- noted caste Hindu leaders like N. V. Gadgil the last moment by as many as 60 to 65 instilled confidence in the movement of touchables within the temple precincts and Keshavrao Jedhe. The satyagrahis untouchables themselves was most unfor- untouchables. srkfrI irkfrz ivc pUnf pYkt

(Continued fron Page 3) level of the Franchise for Depressed Legislature at the Centre. This again is Agreement, but that these questions pledge of intention of caste Hindus to- Classes (indeed, for Hindus generally) a subject (outside the terms of their are still under consideration. ward Depressed Classes. must be determined at the same time Award) which is under invesigation as To prevent misunderstanding it There are two other points out- as that for other communities is being part of the whole scheme for election may be explained that the Governer- side the scope of their settled, and the whole subject is under for the Legislature at the Centre, and ment regard the figure of 18 percent, Award : (1) The Agreement consideration by His Majesty's Govern- no piecemeal conclusion can be for the percentage of British India gen- contemplates that the franchise for the ment ; reached.What has been said on these eral seats at the Centre to be reserved Depressed Classes should be that re- (2) The Agreement also pro- two points should be regarded as im- for Depressed Classes as a matter for comended by the Franchise (Lord Loth- vides for a particular method of electing plying that His Majesty's Government settlement between them and ians) Committee. It is obvious that the Depressed Class representatives for the are against what is proposed in the other Hindus.