Babasaheb Dr B.R Ambedkar

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CHAPTER 21
THE REVOLT OF THE
UNTOUCHABLES
The movement of the Untouchables against the injustice of the Hindu
Social Order has a long history behind it, especially in Maharashtra. This
history falls into two stages. The first stage was marked by petitions
and protests. The second stage is marked by open revolt in the form
of direct action against the Hindu Established Order. This change of
attitude was due to two circumstances. In the first place it was due to
the realization that the petitions and protests had failed to move the
Hindus. In the second place Governments had declared that all public
utilities and public institutions are open to all citizens including the
Untouchables. The right to wear any kind of clothes or ornaments are
some of the rights which the British Indian Law gives to the Untouchables
along with the rest. To these were added the rights to the use of public
utilities and institutions, such as wells, schools, buses, trams, Railways,
Public offices, etc., were now put beyond the pale of doubt. But owing
to the opposition of the Hindus the Untouchables cannot make any use
of them. It is to meet the situation, the Untouchables decided to change
the methods and to direct action to redress their wrongs. This change
took place about 1920.
I
Of such attempts at direct action only few can be mentioned so as
to give an idea of the revolt of the Untouchables against the Hindu
Social Order. Of the attempts made to vindicate the right to use the
public roads, it is enough to mention one, most noteworthy attempt in
this behalf was that made by the Untouchables of Travencore State in
1924 to obtain the use of the roads which skirted the temple at Vaikom.
These roads were public roads maintained by the State for the use of
everybody, but on account of their proximity to the temple building, the
Untouchables were not allowed to use certain sections which skirted
the temple too closely. Ultimately as a result of Satyagraha, the temple
compound was enlarged and the road was realigned so that there the
Untouchables even if they used it were no longer within the polluting
distance of the temple.