34 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Within A Month
To see them and to say they were Untouchables would be absurd. All the same in the eyes of the orthodox they were so. They have not only to cure themselves of Untouchability but have to uplift the orthodox who are immersed in the slough of prejudice. Their struggle is an essentially patriotic and essentially human struggle.
With such a huge dead weight the nation cannot rise. So long as equal elementary rights are not conceded and assured to them, Hinduism shall stand shackled and manacled. In asserting their rights and in raising themselves, these warriors of the so-called Untouchable classes are raising the country and the Hindu religion. Dr. Ambedkar is now busy organising the next campaign in right earnest. It has been decided to start it within a month probably on the Hindu New Year’s Day when every Hindu house-holder flies a flag. The leaders of these Depressed Classes propose to fly their flag of “equal human rights to all” on that day and, God willing, they will do it.” [1]
This is an article by D. V. Pradhan about Mahad Satyagraha —
“TRIUMPH OF JUSTICE
When in March last, Dr. Ambedkar led the Untouchables to the Chawdar Tank at Mahad, the orthodox section of the Caste Hindus lost their sleep, appetite and all over the “Sacrilege” and mercilessly belaboured the poor unsupported Untouchables while they were returning from the tank. Soon after, criminal proceedings were taken against the rowdies and they were punished for disturbing the public peace. Every effort was made by these so-called “Protectors” of the religion to oppose the Untouchables from coming near the tank and they were encouraged in their action by the orthodox press. It was to assert their right of ordinary human privileges, the Untouchables launched the Satyagraha Movement, and in December last, a conference of about 10,000 assembled and unanimously resolved to march on to the tank. But the Orthodox Caste Hindus who smelt this resolve
1 : The Indian National Herald, dated 28th February 1928.