Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: People know Dr. BR Ambedkar as the architect of the Constitution or because of his work for the Scheduled Castes, but what were those events? Due to which he was forced to think that he is being discriminated against.
Regarding this, Ambedkar writes in his autobiography 'Wanting for a Visa' that discrimination on the basis of caste can be explained in two ways. First, information should be given and second, talk about the unequal treatment meted out to you. He told his experiences while choosing the second method. He writes that being a Mahar caste, I knew that he would have to sit separately in the class. It was necessary to have a peon after the master's permission to drink water and hair could not be cut from outside because no one wanted to be impure, but some such incidents happened which had a deep impact on his mind.
What happened on the way to Koregaon?
Ambedkar says that the first incident is of 1901. His father was working as a cashier in Korgaon, Satara. Here the Bombay government (Government of Maharashtra) was digging ponds to provide work to the famine-afflicted farmers. After the death of his mother, he along with his elder brother and elder sister's two sons (sister had also died) lived with his elderly aunt in Satara.
Ambedkar, accompanied by his elder brother and elder sister's two sons, set out to meet his father during the summer vacations in Satara. All the people reached the railway station in new clothes from their homes and from here reached Masoor, the nearest station of Satara. Then started waiting for his father's peon, but no one came even after a long time.
Ambedkar said, “After some time the station master came and seeing our ticket asked where to go? The master could not guess by looking at our clothes that we belong to the Mahar caste. In such a situation, when he came to know, his facial expressions changed. Apart from this, none of the bullock carts standing at the station wanted to make us sit even after paying more money for the fear of being impure. After some time the master came to us and asked if you can drive a bullock cart? On this we said yes and then the drivers got ready because they were getting more money and they did not even have to drive the vehicle. In this way, after many difficulties, we reached Satara. Here we came to know that the letter written by us had not reached our father that we were coming because the peon had forgotten to give him the letter written by us.
Ambedkar says that he was only nine years old when all this happened, so this incident left an indelible mark on his mind.
Hotel not found in Baroda
Ambedkar came to Baroda while studying abroad because Maharaja Baroda State had given the expenses for his stay and education here. For this reason he had to work for them, but on coming here the biggest question was where would he live?
Ambedkar says that while studying outside he had lost his mind that he was an untouchable, but he remembered all this after coming to India again. He knew that Hindu hotels would not be available to him. In such a situation, he reached the Parsi hotel, but only Parsis were allowed to stay here, so he along with the caretakers lied that he was a Parsi. This drama did not last long and on the 11th day some people stood in front of him with sticks.
Ambedkar writes that when I remember this, tears come to my eyes. I can never forget that dozens of people are asking me to leave. In such a situation, I realized that along with Hindus, I am also untouchable for Parsis.
Why did Dr. BR Ambedkar's leg break?
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar says that in 1929, the Bombay government constituted a committee to investigate the atrocities on the Scheduled Castes (SC). He was also its member. When Ambedkar reached Chalisgaon with this, the SC people waiting here asked him to stay, but he used to go back after checking in Ghulia village. After saying a lot, he comes back to Chalisgaon after Ghulia.
SC people from Chalisgaon take Ambedkar to Maharwada in a horse cart, but while going he was hit by a car and then while crossing a bridge, he fell on the stony ground. Due to this his para was broken. After this he came to know that no tangawala was ready to take him so one of the people who came to pick him up started the tonga and because he was not going to run everyday, this accident happened.
'Is this what your religion has taught you'
Ambedkar decided to roam around with the companions of the movement. Regarding this, he first decided to go to Daulatabad fort located in Aurangabad, Hyderabad. While going here, the clothes of Ambedkar and his companions were filled with dust, as soon as they reached near Daulatabad Fort. There was a tank full of water here. In this, some people with him washed their hands and feet, but there was a ruckus on this. An old Muslim came towards them and shouted that you have spoiled the water. He asked that have you guys forgotten your status?
Ambedkar says on this, did your religion teach this only? Will you let us drink water if we become Muslims? Due to this the atmosphere calmed down a bit and he was allowed inside the fort with the condition that he cannot touch the water. They say that this shows us that an untouchable person for a Hindu is also an untouchable for a Muslim and a Parsi.
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