Shri Kant
25 Dec 1927: "Manusmriti Dahan Din"
25 Dec is an important day for Mulnivasis (original habitants of India) as "Manusmriti Dahan Din", as it was on this day in 1927 that Manusmriti was publicly burned by Dr. Ambedkar, during the "Maha-Sangharsha" of Mahad Satyagraha, and is an important mile stone against Brahmanism. Let us all remember this day with pride
Orthodox hindus had arranged that Dr. Ambedkar does not get a ground for meeting, but a Muslim gentleman, Mr. Fattekhan, gave his private land. They had arranged that no supplies of food, water or anything else could be bought, so everything was brought from outside by our men.
The volunteers had to take a vow of five items:
1. I do not believe on Chaturvarna based on birth.
2. I do not believe in caste distinctions.
3. I believe that untouchability is an anathema on Hinduism and I will honestly try my best to completely destroy it.
4. Considering that there is no inequality, I will not follow any restrictions about food and drink among atleast all Hindus.
5. I believe that untouchables must have equal rights in temples, water sources, schools and other amenities.
Dr. Ambedkar came from Bombay by boat "Padmavati" via Dasgaon port, instead of Dharamtar, though it is longer distance, because in the event of boycott by bus owners, they could walk down five miles to Mahad. Some people later tried to say that Dr. Ambedkar decided to burn Manusmriti at the eleventh hour, as he had to withdraw the programme of drinking water from Chavdar Tank under court orders and persuasion by the Collector. That is not true, because right in front of the pendal of the meeting a "vedi" was created beforehand to burn Manusmriti. Six people were labouring for two days to prepare it. A pit six inches deep and one and half foot square was dug in, and filled with sandal wood pieces. On its four corners, poles were erected, bearing banners on three sides. Banners said,
1. "Manusmriti chi Dahan Bhumi", i.e. Crematorium for Manusmriti.
2. Destroy Untouchability and
3. Bury the Brahmanism.
On 25th December, 1927, at 9 p.m., the book of Manusmriti was kept on this and burned. At the meeting there was Babasaheb's historical speech.
The main points of speech:
We have to understand why we are prevented from drinking water from this tank. He explained Chaturvarna, and declared that our struggle is to destroy the fetters of Chaturvarna, this was the starting point of the struggle for equality. He compared that meeting with the meeting of 24th Jan. 1789, when Loui XVI of France had called a meeting of French peoples representatives. This meeting killed king and queen, harassed and massacred the upper classes, remaining were banished, property of the rich was confiscated, and it started a fifteen year long civil war. People have not grasped the importance of this Revolution. This Revolution was the beginning of the prosperity of not only France but whole of Europe and has revolutionized the whole World. He explained French Revolution in detail. He then explained that our aim is not only to remove untouchability but to destroy Chaturvarna, as the root cause lies there. He explained how Patricians deceived Plebeians in the name of religion. The root of untouchability lies in prohibition of inter-caste marriages, that we have to break, he thundered. He appealed to higher varnas to let this "Social Revolution" take place peacefully, discard the shastras, and accept the principle of justice, and he assured them peace from our side. Four resolutions were passed and a Declaration of Equality was pronounced. After this Manusmriti was burned.
There was a strong reaction in Brahminical press; Babasaheb was called "Bheemaasura" by one paper. Dr. Ambedkar justified the burning of Manusmriti in various articles. He ridiculed those people that they have not read the Manusmriti, and declared that we will never accept it. For those who say it is an outdated booklet so why give importance to it, he invited attention to atrocities on untouchables and said, these are because Hindus are following this book. And further asked, if it is outdated, how it matters to you if somebody burns it. For those who enquire, what is achieved by untouchables by burning it, he retorted, what M. Gandhi achieved by burning foreign clothes, what was achieved by burning "Dnyana-prakash" which published about marriage of Khan-Malini, what was achieved by those who burned Miss Mayo's book "Mother India" in New York, what was achieved by boycotting Simon Commission formed to frame political reforms? These were the forms of registering the protests, so was ours against Manusmriti.
He was further declared, that if unfortunately, this burning of Manusmriti does not result in destruction of "Brahmanism", we will have to either burn the "brahman-grast" people (i. e. affected by Brahmanism), or renounce Hinduism.
25 Dec 1927: "Manusmriti Dahan Din"
25 Dec is an important day for Mulnivasis (original habitants of India) as "Manusmriti Dahan Din", as it was on this day in 1927 that Manusmriti was publicly burned by Dr. Ambedkar, during the "Maha-Sangharsha" of Mahad Satyagraha, and is an important mile stone against Brahmanism. Let us all remember this day with pride
Orthodox hindus had arranged that Dr. Ambedkar does not get a ground for meeting, but a Muslim gentleman, Mr. Fattekhan, gave his private land. They had arranged that no supplies of food, water or anything else could be bought, so everything was brought from outside by our men.
The volunteers had to take a vow of five items:
1. I do not believe on Chaturvarna based on birth.
2. I do not believe in caste distinctions.
3. I believe that untouchability is an anathema on Hinduism and I will honestly try my best to completely destroy it.
4. Considering that there is no inequality, I will not follow any restrictions about food and drink among atleast all Hindus.
5. I believe that untouchables must have equal rights in temples, water sources, schools and other amenities.
Dr. Ambedkar came from Bombay by boat "Padmavati" via Dasgaon port, instead of Dharamtar, though it is longer distance, because in the event of boycott by bus owners, they could walk down five miles to Mahad. Some people later tried to say that Dr. Ambedkar decided to burn Manusmriti at the eleventh hour, as he had to withdraw the programme of drinking water from Chavdar Tank under court orders and persuasion by the Collector. That is not true, because right in front of the pendal of the meeting a "vedi" was created beforehand to burn Manusmriti. Six people were labouring for two days to prepare it. A pit six inches deep and one and half foot square was dug in, and filled with sandal wood pieces. On its four corners, poles were erected, bearing banners on three sides. Banners said,
1. "Manusmriti chi Dahan Bhumi", i.e. Crematorium for Manusmriti.
2. Destroy Untouchability and
3. Bury the Brahmanism.
On 25th December, 1927, at 9 p.m., the book of Manusmriti was kept on this and burned. At the meeting there was Babasaheb's historical speech.
The main points of speech:
We have to understand why we are prevented from drinking water from this tank. He explained Chaturvarna, and declared that our struggle is to destroy the fetters of Chaturvarna, this was the starting point of the struggle for equality. He compared that meeting with the meeting of 24th Jan. 1789, when Loui XVI of France had called a meeting of French peoples representatives. This meeting killed king and queen, harassed and massacred the upper classes, remaining were banished, property of the rich was confiscated, and it started a fifteen year long civil war. People have not grasped the importance of this Revolution. This Revolution was the beginning of the prosperity of not only France but whole of Europe and has revolutionized the whole World. He explained French Revolution in detail. He then explained that our aim is not only to remove untouchability but to destroy Chaturvarna, as the root cause lies there. He explained how Patricians deceived Plebeians in the name of religion. The root of untouchability lies in prohibition of inter-caste marriages, that we have to break, he thundered. He appealed to higher varnas to let this "Social Revolution" take place peacefully, discard the shastras, and accept the principle of justice, and he assured them peace from our side. Four resolutions were passed and a Declaration of Equality was pronounced. After this Manusmriti was burned.
There was a strong reaction in Brahminical press; Babasaheb was called "Bheemaasura" by one paper. Dr. Ambedkar justified the burning of Manusmriti in various articles. He ridiculed those people that they have not read the Manusmriti, and declared that we will never accept it. For those who say it is an outdated booklet so why give importance to it, he invited attention to atrocities on untouchables and said, these are because Hindus are following this book. And further asked, if it is outdated, how it matters to you if somebody burns it. For those who enquire, what is achieved by untouchables by burning it, he retorted, what M. Gandhi achieved by burning foreign clothes, what was achieved by burning "Dnyana-prakash" which published about marriage of Khan-Malini, what was achieved by those who burned Miss Mayo's book "Mother India" in New York, what was achieved by boycotting Simon Commission formed to frame political reforms? These were the forms of registering the protests, so was ours against Manusmriti.
He was further declared, that if unfortunately, this burning of Manusmriti does not result in destruction of "Brahmanism", we will have to either burn the "brahman-grast" people (i. e. affected by Brahmanism), or renounce Hinduism.
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