MAHAD SATYAGRAHA 29
“The Conference agreed. The delegates immediatly formed themselves into a procession and started volunteers with slogans, boards and placards were pacing slowly. The procession reached the Tank and took its round. And what were the Caste Hindus doing ? The streets were deserted. They had shut their houses and the Orthodox Hindus were wriggling with excruciating venom in their hearts. After one hour and a half, the procession returned to the pandal about noon without any mishap.” [1]
“ D R . AMBEDKAR AT RAIGARH
“Untouchables” Bathe in Ganga Sagar Tank
A correspondent writing under date January 5 in “ Kolaba-Samachar of Pen, says” After the conclusion of the Satyagraha Conference Dr. Ambedkar proceeded to Raigarh, the famous fortress and the capital of Shivaji, in company of about a hundred Untouchables. He encamped in the Raigarh Dharmashala and the watchmen of that place, one Yesu Shedge, a Mahratta by caste and maintained by the Dharmashala Committee, looked after the requirements of the visitors. He asked them not to touch the waters of the Gangasagar Tank. He suggested that if they wanted to take bath, they could do so in another tank nearby, specially built for the Untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar and others, however, “defiled” the waters of the “ Gangasagar.”
The correspondent adds that this has led to great excitement among the Mahrattas of the Raigarh valley, most of whom are sepoys in the army, the valley being a good recruiting field.” [2]
Comments
“Commenting editorially on this episode, “ Kolaba-Samachar” in its issue for January 7 refers to the methods followed by Dr. Ambedkar pointing to a suggestion made in its columns that Government should see its way to prosecute Dr. Ambedkar and his followers. The paper sets its face against the suggestions on the ground that Indians must do as much as possible to settle their own quarrels and should never invite Government of their own accord, to interferes.” [3]
1 : Keer P. 104.
2 : The Bombay Chronicle dated 12th January 1928.
3 : Kolaba-Samachar, dated 7th January 1928.