Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Topic: Caste Movements (కుల ఉద్యమాలు)

 

Topic: Caste Movements (కుల ఉద్యమాలు)

Context & Recap:

  • This lecture is part of the SRRM (Socio-Religious Reform Movements) series, following the class on Satya Shodak Samaj and Jyotirao Phule.

  • Focus: Ambedkar's contributions and Gandhi's role/views concerning caste, particularly the conflict between their approaches.

  • Exam Relevance: Important for Group 2/Prelims (facts). The Gandhi vs. Ambedkar ideological conflict is particularly crucial for Group 1 Mains/UPSC Mains.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

  1. Mahar Movement:

    • Ambedkar belongs to the Mahar caste (Dalit community in Maharashtra).

    • He was not the founder of the Mahar movement.

    • Initial Founder: Gopal Baba Walangkar (గోపాల్ బాబా వాంగేల్కర్) - Started in the 1890s.

    • Walangkar's Journal: The Vital Vidhwamsak (ద వైటల్ విధ్వంసక్) - Marathi journal (UPSC Prelims fact).

    • Ambedkar later became the most prominent leader of the movement.

  2. Mahad Satyagraha (మహద్ పోరాటం) - 1927:

    • Place: Mahad, Maharashtra.

    • Issue: Denial of access for Dalits to drink water from the public Chavdar Tank (చౌదరి చెరువు).

    • Action: Ambedkar led Dalits to the tank and drank water, asserting their civic right.

    • Significance: Fight for access to public spaces/resources (tanks, libraries, parks) for Dalits.

    • Manusmriti Dahan: In December 1927, during the Mahad Satyagraha, Ambedkar publicly burned the Manusmriti, viewing it as a text justifying caste hierarchy and discrimination.

  3. Kalaram Temple Entry Movement (కాలారామ్ ఆలయ ప్రవేశం) - 1930:

    • Place: Nashik (నాసిక్), Maharashtra.

    • Goal: Secure entry for Dalits into the Kalaram temple.

    • Outcome/Impact on Ambedkar: The struggle and resistance faced led Ambedkar to believe that temple entry wouldn't fundamentally change the caste system or the mindset of upper castes. He started focusing more on political rights and separate identity.

  4. Opposition to Khoti System (1932-33): Fought against this oppressive land tenure system in Maharashtra that exploited tenants.

  5. Education & Theses:

    • Born: Mhow, MP (మౌ).

    • Graduation: Elphinstone College, Bombay (BA).

    • Higher Education: Supported by scholarship from Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda.

    • Columbia University (New York) Theses:

      • Ancient Indian Commerce.

      • National Dividend.

      • Castes in India.

    • London School of Economics (LSE) Thesis (PhD): The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution.

  6. Titles:

    • Modern Moses (ఆధునిక మోజెస్).

    • Pole Star of Dalit Movements (దళిత ఉద్యమాల ధ్రువతార) - by Anand in "The Post-Ambedkar Dalit Movement" book.

    • Modern Manu (ఆధునిక మను).

    • Babasaheb (బాబా సాహెబ్).

  7. Journals (పత్రికలు):

    • Mooknayak (మూక్ నాయక్ - Leader of the Dumb/Voiceless).

    • Bahishkrut Bharat (బహిష్కృత్ భారత్ - Excluded India).

    • Prabuddha Bharat (ప్రబుద్ధ భారత్ - Enlightened India). (Note: Vivekananda also had a journal with this name).

    • Samata (సమత - Equality).

    • Janata (జనతా - People). (Speaker notes Samata & Janata were later associated with other leaders/Telangana movement).

  8. Books (గ్రంథాలు - Key Ones):

    • Annihilation of Caste (కుల నిర్మూలన) - Very influential.

    • Untouchability.

    • Who Were the Shudras?

    • What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables.

    • Buddha and His Dhamma.

    • Buddha and Karl Marx.

    • Thoughts on Pakistan.

    • Pakistan or the Partition of India.

    • States and Minorities.

  9. Institutions/Organizations (సంస్థలు):

    • Samata Sangh / Samaj Sangh (సమతా సంఘ్ / సమాజ్ సంఘ్).

    • All India Scheduled Castes Federation (AISCF) (అఖిల భారత షెడ్యూల్డ్ క్యాస్ట్ ఫెడరేషన్).

    • The Education Society (ది ఎడ్యుకేషన్ సొసైటీ).

    • Independent Labour Party (ILP) (ఇండిపెండెంట్ లేబర్ పార్టీ) - Contested 1937 elections, won 15 seats in Bombay.

    • Republican Party of India (RPI) - Evolved from AISCF after Ambedkar's death.

  10. Political Career Highlights:

    • Attended all three Round Table Conferences (RTCs) representing Dalits.

    • Demanded Separate Electorates for Dalits.

    • Signed Poona Pact (1932) with Gandhi (after Gandhi's fast against Communal Award), accepting reserved seats within the general electorate instead of separate electorates.

    • Member of Viceroy's Executive Council (1942) - Labour Minister.

    • Chairman, Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution.

    • First Law Minister of Independent India.

  11. Slogan: "Educate, Organize, Agitate" (చదువుకో, సంఘటితం అవ్వు, పోరాడు).

  12. Conversion to Buddhism (1956):

    • Date: October 14, 1956.

    • Place: Nagpur (నాగపూర్) - Deekshabhoomi (దీక్షా భూమి).

    • Mass Conversion: Along with approx. 3,65,000 followers.

    • Reason: Believed caste discrimination was inherent to Hinduism and liberation for Dalits lay outside it. Found Buddhism's emphasis on equality, rationality, liberty, and fraternity appealing. It was an indigenous religion.

    • Quote: "I was born a Hindu... but I will not die a Hindu".

    • Died shortly after (Dec 1956).

Mahatma Gandhi

  1. Background: Born into an upper caste (అగ్రకులం).

  2. Views on Caste:

    • Supported the Varna System (వర్ణ వ్యవస్థ) based on hereditary occupation/duty (as an ideal social order).

    • Strongly opposed Untouchability (అంటరానితనం) and caste discrimination.

    • Believed in reforming Hinduism from within.

    • Advocated for "Change of Heart" (హృదయ పరివర్తన) among upper castes towards Dalits.

  3. Timeline of Action: Focused on anti-untouchability work mainly after major political movements (NCM 1922, CDM 1933) as part of his Constructive Programmes (నిర్మాణాత్మక కార్యక్రమాలు).

  4. Term "Harijan":

    • Coined by Gandhi for Dalits, meaning "Children of God".

    • Borrowed from poet Narsinh Mehta (Vaishnava saint) who used it for Devadasi children.

    • Criticized by Ambedkar and others (e.g., Pisari Veerayya - పీసరి వీరయ్య) as patronizing and inadequate.

  5. Publications: Harijan newspaper.

  6. Organizations:

    • Harijan Sevak Sangh (1932): Founded by Gandhi for the welfare of Dalits.

    • All India Anti-Untouchability League (1932): Founded by Gandhi.

      • President: G.D. Birla (Shyam Das Birla).

      • Secretary: Thakkar Bapa.

      • Hyderabad Branch President: Waman Nayak (వామన్ నాయక్).

      • Hyderabad Branch Secretary: Ravi Narayana Reddy (రావి నారాయణ రెడ్డి).

  7. Actions in Gujarat:

    • Sent workers to Bardoli (Leader: Chimanlal Mehta - చియాన్ లాల్ ?) and Kheda (Leader: Ravishankar Maharaj - రవిశంకర్ ?) to work against alcoholism and promote reform among Dalits.

    • Renamed the 'Kaliparaj' (Black People) community to 'Raniparaj' (Forest People/Original Inhabitants).

Gandhi vs. Ambedkar - Key Differences

AspectGandhiAmbedkar
Birth CasteUpper Caste (Vaishya)Dalit (Mahar)
LifestyleSimple, AsceticWestern-educated, Professional attire (Suit-Boot) - Symbol of aspiration
Varna/Caste SystemSupported Varna ideal, opposed untouchability & discrimination.Rejected Varna/Caste system entirely as inherently oppressive.
Eradication MethodInternal reform of Hinduism, Change of Heart (Hrudaya Parivartana).Political power, Separate Electorates (initially), Education, Organization, Agitation, Annihilation of Caste, Leaving Hinduism.
Primary Goal PriorityFirst Independence, then social equality.First Social & Political Equality, then Independence.
Representation of DalitsClaimed to represent all, including Dalits ("Harijans").Argued Gandhi/Congress didn't truly represent Dalit interests; sought separate Dalit leadership.
Key ConflictsSeparate Electorates vs. Reserved Seats (Poona Pact), View on Hinduism.View on Hinduism, Pace/Method of Reform, "Harijan" term.
Path for DalitsRemain within a reformed Hinduism.Annihilate caste; ultimately, convert out of Hinduism (chose Buddhism).

Other Points:

  • Gandhi's focus on Dalit issues intensified after the RTCs and the Poona Pact.

  • Ambedkar's approach shifted from seeking reform within Hinduism to seeking political power and eventually conversion.

  • The debate between them highlights fundamental differences in strategy and ideology regarding caste and its relationship with Hinduism and nationalism.

No comments:

Post a Comment