[There was a strong reaction in Brahmanical press, Babasahib 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say it is an outdated booklet so why give importance to it, he invited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 Dalits and said, these are because Hindus are
following this book. And further asked, if it is outdated, how does it matter
to you if somebody burns it. For those who enquire, what is achieved by Dalits
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.]
Dr. K. Jamanadas
Today is Christmas, 25th of December. It is celebrated all over
the Christian world as the birth of Jesus Christ. But for the whole world of
Dalits, it is an important day as "Manu Smruti Dahan Din", as it was
on this day in 1927 that Manusmruti was publicly burned down by Dr. Ambedkar,
during the "Maha-Sangharsha" of Mahad Satyagraha, and is an important
mile stone in Dalit struggle against Brahmanism. Let us all remember this day
with pride.
Manuvadis had arranged that 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 at least 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
Manusmruti at the eleventh hour, as he had to withdraw the programme of
drinking water from Chavadar 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 sandle-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 Manusmruti was
kept on this and burned at the hands of Bapusahib Sahastrabuddhe and another
five six dalit sadhus.
In the pendal, there as only one photo, and that was of M.
Gandhi, so it seems, dalit leaders including Dr. Ambedkar had yet to be
disillusioned at Gandhi. At the meeting there was Babasahib'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 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.
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 atrocities on dalits and said, these are because Hindus are
following this book. And further asked, if it is outdated, how does it matter
to you if somebody burns it. For those who enquire, what is achieved by Dalits
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 further declared, that if unfortunately, this burning of
Manusmriti 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 great day.
