MAHAD SATYAGRAHA 35
by their nose got a temporary injunction from the sub-judge of Mahad against the Untouchables using the tank of the ground that it was the private property of one Mr. Chowdhari and the touchable classes. Having secured this respite from the authorities, the touchables thought that they had gained the upper hand at the expense of the Government and the Untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar at once saw through the game, but decided to postpone Satyagraha till the civil suit was disposed of. The suit came for hearing on 23rd February 1928 before Mr. Vaidya, the sub-Judge of Mahad, and Dr. Ambedkar by his lucid exposition not only got the injunction cancelled but also convinced the judge the bona-fide of their right to use the public tank. Since the ban has been removed, the tank is now to be open for public use as per the resolution of the Bombay Legislative Council.
Satyagraha to be Launched
Now, in a public meeting held on Sunday the 26th February, in Bombay, attended by about 2,000 people, it was resolved to relaunch the Satyagraha at Mahad. The Satyagraha Committee is meeting shortly, and the exact date will be announced shortly.
Those who are following and studying the Untouchable Movement in this part of the country under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar can very safely and boldly say that the movement is cosmopolitan in character. It is not simply for the opening of the tank for public use, but a movement of this kind with its manifold activities is directly paving the way for the evolution of the national movement for asserting their ordinary privileges of citizenship. It was only recently that Dr. Ambedkar announced his intention to open khadi centres for the Untouchables and thus help the great constructive programme blessed by Mahatmaji, with Khaddar on body and Satyagraha in mind against all evils, this movement is bound to succeed.
One word to my friends. As every good movement has to pass through various stages of obstacles and it will have to meet the friendly foes as well open foes-of whom the former are more dangerous-so also this Satyagraha has to face all the obstacles put on the way and come out triumphant at last. I only appeal to my friends that in facing these hardships from friends or foes, they