25^th December – A Glorious Day

- A day of Burning of Manusmruti -

 

 

Dated: 25th December, 2014

New Delhi

          Today is 25^th December which is celebrated across the Christian world as the birth of Jesus Christ – Messiah or Liberator, and is termed as Christmas. In the world of untouchables or Dalits, on this day the Liberator - Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. Ambedkar publically burnt the Manusmruti on 25^th December 1927, thus this day is known as and celebrated as "Manu Smruti Dahan Divas".

          It was on this day in 1927 that Manusmruti was publicly burned during the "Maha-Sangharsha" of Mahad Satyagraha. This is an important milestone in the movement of untouchables to strive for and build their struggle against Brahmanism. This landmark day should be remembered by the indebted followers with pride and one must take inspiration to strive for building a just society and reclamation of human dignity.

          As a ploy to stop this event to happen, it was designed by opponents Manuvadis  that Dr. Ambedkar must not get a ground for the 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 the individual volunteers who came to participate in the meeting. The volunteers had to take a vow of five items;

·        I do not believe on Chaturvarna based on birth;

·        I do not believe in caste distinctions;

·        I believe that untouchability is an anathema on Hinduism and I will honestly try my best to completely destroy it;

·        Considering that there is no inequality, I will not follow any restrictions about food and drink among at least all Hindus; and

·        I believe that untouchables must have equal rights in temples, water sources, schools and other amenities.

          As the boycott of the event was anticipated from the bus operators, Dr. Ambedkar travelled a longer distance from Bombay to Dasgaon port by "Padmavati" boat, instead of Dharamtar, to reach Mahad in time even if they have to walk for five miles to Mahad.

          A rumor was later on spread by some people that Dr. Ambedkar decided to burn Manusmruti at the eleventh hour, as he had to withdraw the programme of drinking water from Chavadar Tank under court orders and on the persuasion of the local Collector. But it is far from true. The programme of burning of Manusmruti was well planned and in the front of the meeting pandal, a "vedi" was created before hand to burn the Manusmruti. 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 sandalwood pieces. On its four corners, poles were erected, bearing banners on three sides. Banners carried the following slogans / message;

·        "Manusmruti chi dahan bhumi", i.e. Crematorium for Manusmruti.

·        Destroy Untouchability; and

·        Bury the Brahmanism.

          On 25^th December, 1927, at 9 pm, the book of Manusmruti was kept on this and burned at the hands of Bapusahib Sahastrabuddhe and another five six Dalit Sadhus.

          At the meeting there was Baba Sahib'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 Louis XVI of France had called a meeting of French people’s 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 untouchabilty but to destroy chaturvarna, as the root cause lies there. He explained how Patricians deceived Plebeians in the name of religion. The root of untouchabilty 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 sastras, 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 Manusmruti was burned as mentioned above.

7.       There was a strong reaction in Brahmanical press, Babasahib was called "Bheemaasura" by one paper. Dr. Ambedkar justified the burning of Manusmruti in various articles. He ridiculed those people that they have not read the Manusmruti, 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 the innumerable atrocities on the Dalits (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 Dalits by burning it?

          He retorted;

What M.K. 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 Manusmruti. He further declared, that if unfortunately, this burning of Manusmruti does not result in destruction of "Brahmanya", we will have to either burn the "brahmanya-grast" people (i.e. affected by brahmanism), or renounce Hinduism.

          Let all of us pay tribute to this glorious and great day – a watershed moment in the history of struggle of depressed classes for attainment of basic human rights in this vertically stratified society.

          We still have to travel many a miles, the path before us is all uphill; the struggle before us is mammoth, but the objectives for which it is waged are just and humane, thus if we make efforts in unison, in right way, we are definitely bound to succeed.

          Jai Bhim……..

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