sign in sign up
<<
Home , Harijan Sevak Sangh

Orissa Review * September-October - 2007

Gandhiji and Harijan Movement in Orissa

Balabhadra Ghadai

"Harijan Service is a religious obligation. There is prison. He said, "What I want, and what I am no room in it for cunning. It has to be absolutely living for, and I should delight in dying for, is the faithful and non-violent. It can be accomplished eradication of , root and branch. only by sacrifice and penance. I very much fear Separate electorates for Harijans, he thought, that we shall not be able to win the trust of would paralyse the cause of reform. The nation Harijans without self-purification it should not was shocked at Gandhiji's decision. The leaders surprise us, if today they look upon all we do of various communities including Dr. Ambedker, with suspicion and distrust. Hitherto we had been a prominent Harijan leader, met and a settlement riding their shoulders. We must dismount if we was reached. Gandhiji accepted it and the famous would do justice to them, and regard them as we Yervade pact was signed. regard other Hindus……," so writes Gandhiji in '', dated March 12, 1931. Gandhiji's fight against untouchability was a hard task, for he found lack of support among The Second Round Table Conference his own followers. He started an All India Anti- brought no boon for the Indian rather it injected a touchability League in September 1932 and the poisonous serum into India's Freedom Struggle. Weekly, Harijana, in January 1933. On may 7, In August 1932 the British Prime Minister Ramsay 1933 he had an unusual experience as he began Mac Doland announced the famous Communal a twenty-one day fast for self-purification, on Award which provided separate electorates for the communities like the Hindus, the Muslims, the Harijan cause. was handed Sikhs, the Christians and other minorities such as over to Harijan Sevak Sangh. Eradication of the Harijans Mahatma returned from the untouchability being an important Constructive Round Table Conference dejected, deceived and Programme, Gandhiji could never tolerate social distressed. On his return, however, the Congress inequality, the feeling of high and low among the Working Committee authorized him to resume the citizens of India. He could not tolerate that a Movement which was community the human beings should be treated launched again. He was arrested but the as worse than animals. Movement continued. Despite his many fasts, he felt that the hearts In protest against the Communal Award, of the people still needed to be changed. After Gandhiji began his fast unto death, inside the recovering his strength at the Wardha Ashram,

58 Orissa Review * September-October - 2007 he set out on a tour of the country on November tribute to his selfless deeds and exhorted the 7, 1933. audience to emulate his noble ideas. A branch of Harijan Sevak Sangha was Gandhiji began his historic or organized at Cuttack under the Chairmanship of Footmarch on the 9th May, 1934 at 5.30 a.m. Balukeswar Acharya, a renowned Kaviraj of along Puri-Cuttack road. His party included A.V. Cuttack. Smt. Devi, Laxmi Narayan Mishra Thhakkar, Miss Bira Ben, Sushila Ben Uma and Satyanarayan Sengupta were chosen as Bajaj, Pravavati Devi, Balaji Gobindji Desai, Secretaries. Acharya Harihar Das, Harekrushna Damodar Das, Gapabandhu Chaudhury, Rama Mahatab, Bichitrananda Das, Radhanath Ratha Devi, Harekrusna Mahatab, Nilakanth Das and and Gunanidhi Mahanty were prominent others. Members. The Utkal Harijan Sevak Sangha in Gandhiji visited Kadua Ashram founded by Orissa undertook various reformative the Late Gapabandhu Das, stayed in its Harijan programmes like allowing the untouchable fra boarding and thereafter he addressed a large cases to the temples, public tanks and wells, gathering at Birapurasttampur. On the 13th May, opening of schools and hospitals for the children 1934 Gandhiji and his party went from Balakati and teaching them the simple rules of Health and to Satyabhamapur and the Harijan were invited Hygiene. On the other hand some conservatives to dine with the team of padayatris there. On May opposed this movement. Prominent leaders like 15th, 1934 Gandhiji performed the ceremony of Nilakanth Das, Lokanath Mishra, Raghunath opening the Kunja Bihari Temple at Balianta to Mishra requested for opening the doors of the all Hindus including Harijans. At Telengapenth temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri for the people about 2000 people shouting "Gandhiji ki jai" of all castes but the Raja of Puri opposed it. But followed Gandhiji on his route. Gandhiji and his in various places of Orissa the Harijans enjoyed party arrived at Kajipatna from Telengapenth. An the privileges of free entry into the temples. address was presented there to Mahatmaji by the In 1934, Gandhiji wanted to launch Harijan neighboring villagers. In the evening May 16,1934 Movement in Orissa for eradication of there was a huge meeting of the citizens of Cuttack untouchability. He arrived at the Jharsuguda on the Kathajodi sands. Gandhiji appealed to the Junction on the 5th May, 1934 at 5 a.m. and from people to give up caste prejudices, intoxicants, Jharsuguda he motored to Sambalpur. He abolish purdah, use the homespun and to open temples, wells and schools to the Harijans. collected a good amount of money for Harijan Fund. On may 6, 1934 Gandhiji left for Anugul. In order to attend a meeting of A.I.C.C. The vicious attitude of the Deputy Commissioner Gandhiji and his party left Cuttack for Patna on of Anugul to foil Gandhiji's visit could not be the 16th May, 1934 by the Puri Express successful. Gandhiji's name exerted an extra- suspending his pilgrimage on foot after covering ordinary appeal and thousands thronged to have 54 miles from Puri to Cuttack in 8 days. He again a Darshan. He pointed out that untouchability has returned to Orissa on 21 May to resume his no place in the Shastra and urged the people to second phase of Padayatra in Orissa. On return gospel the idea of untouchability from their minds. from Patna, Gandhiji cancelled the rest on his On the 8th May, 1934 Gandhiji unveiled the statue programme of tour on foot on account of of the Late Pandit Gapabandhu Das and paid high monsoon. Gandhiji and party left for Wardha on

59 Orissa Review * September-October - 2007 the 8th June, 1934 via Balasore and Kharagpur. organizations were born to take up the Harijan In his farewell address he spoke to the uplift. Dr.H.K.Mahatab established Karma volunteers"you have laboured with rater devotion Mandir ( Temple of Duty) at Agarpada. and never complained of overwork. You have Gopabandhu Choudhury established Sevaghar laboured night and day in order to make the (Abode of service) at Bari in the district of pilgrimage a success….. I would ask you to Cuttack. There were other similar institutions, such continue the work so well began in the villages. I as Gopabandhu Sebashram of Sakhigopal, leave Utkal with happy memories of association Ashram of Soro, Sebakutir of Delang, with you". Patitamohan Mission of Berhampur and Harijan The immense footmarch in Orissa for Sevak Sangh of Jajpur all dedicated to Harijan Harijan upliftment had a significant impact on welfare. national life. It gave a momentum to the programmes like village reconstruction. Harijans' welfare and Khadi throughout Orissa and Balabhadra Ghadai is the Principal of M.K. College, heralded a new era of social emancipation. Some Khiching, Mayurbhanj-757039.

60