Ambedkar

Mahad Satyagraha was a satyagraha led by B. R. Ambedkar on 20 March 1927 to allow untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad (currently in Raigad district), Maharashtra, India.[1] The day (20 March) observed as Social Empowerment day in India.[1]

BackgroundEdit

Bronze sculpture depicting Mahad movement by B R Ambedkar

By the Indian caste system, untouchables (Dalits) were segregated from the casteHindus. They were banned from using water bodies and roads which were used by caste Hindus. On August 1923, Bombay Legislative Council passed a resolution that people from the depressed classes should be allowed to use places which were built and maintained by the Government.[2] In January 1924, Mahad which was part of the Bombay Province passed the resolution in its municipal council to enforce the act. But it was failed to implement because of the protest from the caste Hindus.

SatyagrahaEdit

Flyer published before Mahad Satyagraha in 1927

In 1927, Ambedkar decided to launch a satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) to assert their rights to use water in the public places.[citation needed] His Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha arranged a conference on Holi 19-20 March 1927 in Mahad,[citation needed] in which more than thousand people were gathered. At the end of the conference, they marched to the Chavdar Tale (tasty water lake), the main tank of the town and they drank water from the tank.[3]