Dr. Ambedkar and the Mahar Movement

357 Pages·1969·16.721 MB·English

by  Eleanor Mae Zelliot

69-21,466
ZELLIOT, Eleanor Mae, 1926-
DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE MAHAR MOVEMENT.
University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D., 1969
History, modem
University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan
@ COPYRIGHT
Eleanor Mae Zelliot
1970
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DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE MAHAR MOVEMENT
Eleanor Mae Zelliot
A DISSERTATION
in
South Asia Regional Studies
Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
1969
Supervisor of Dissertation
Graduate Group Chairman
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
INDEX
Ad-Dharm, 51, 170, 258 Bagade, Bapuji Namdeo, 145
Adi-Dravida, 6, 51, 68, 143-4, Bakhale, R.R., 132
152, 157, 168n Balu, P. (or Baloo), 133, 182, 186,
Agarkar, Gopal Ganesh, 45-6, 67, 188, 206, 251-2
74, 101 balutedar, 19, 21, 166; in Vidarbha
All-Religions Conference, 214-27 40-1, 108n
Ambedkar, Bhimrao Ramji, forces Bansode, Kisan Fagoji (or Bansod),
shaping life, 4-5, army back­ 44-5, 69, 73-80, 81, 94, 119,
ground, 83-4, education, 84-92, 121, 146n, 206
marriages, 85, 232, in Baroda, Baroda, Gaikwad of, 48, 85n, 86,
86, 90, 93; attitudes on temple 86n, 89, 92, 142, 147
entry, 107-17, 120, on mass Bhakti movement, 14, 16, 27, 29,
movement, 128, on Indian inde­ 34, 58, 60-9, 118, 234-5, 236,
pendence, 138, 175-6, on Hindu­ Bhandare, R.D., 298
ism, 197-9, 202, 203-4, 212-3, Bhandari (caste), 160
227-8, on Buddhism, 199, 229-32, Bhandarkar, R.G., 45, 50n, 67
234; his newspapers, 117-21, Bhangi (caste), 23, 68n, 299
his circle, 129-31, dual role, Bhatkar, P.N. (or Bhatkai), 118,
172-4; testimony to Southbor- 155
. ough Committee, 81-3, 150-2, Bhave, Vinoba, 299
to Simon Commission, 170-2, at Bhole, R.R., 225, 251, 264n
Round Table Conferences, 174-81; Bhopatkar, L.B., 110, llln
on Viceroy's Council, 2S3-5, in Birla, G.D., 190n, 233n
Constituent Assembly, 267-70, Bole, S.K., 85, 100, 105, 160-1
as Law Minister, 268, 270, in Bombay Government, 47-8, 154-5
Rajya Sabha, 269n, 274-5, death,- Bombay Legislative Assembly, 246,
10, 238-9. See also Bombay 249, 252-6
Legislative Assembly, Bombay Bombay Legislative Council, 72,
Legislative Council, Depressed 158-66, 171, 281n
Classes Institute, Indian Labour Brahman, 19, 24-5, 26, 27n, 28
Party, Poona Pact, Republican 42, 54, 62, 63, 64, 66, 69n, 70,
Party, Scheduled Castes Federa­ 74, 82, 84, 99, 109, 111, 112,
tion, passim. 114, 119, 123, 124, 129, 130,
Ambedkar, Ramabai, 85, 232 148n, 152, 153-4, 178, 276;
Ambedkar, Savita, 232, 234n Chitpavan Brahman (caste), 58,
Ambedkar, Yeshwant, 85, 240, 291 211
Anarya Doshparihar (or Doshpari- Brahmo Samaj, 42n
harak or Doshpariharakham) Buddhism, 1, 9, 10, 18n. 51, 85,
Mandali, 50, 58-9 199, 214, 218-20, 229-30, 231-
Apte, Hari Narayan, 46, 153 41, 289; Buddha, 199, 214, 219,
Army, 2, 3, 4, 15, 33, 38, 41, 230; in South India, 143, 209-10,
52-60, 69-71, 83-4, 85, 101, 235; Buddhist Society of India,
121n, 141, 158n, 264 291-2
Arya Samaj, 42n, 215, 215n, 217 Chambhar (caste), 18, 25, 31-2, 33
Aryan, Untouchables as pre-, 49-51, 39, 52, 55, 57, 61, 103, 106-7,
58, 70, 151 122-3, 132-4, 182, 251-2, 271
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iv
Chandavarkar, N.R. , 145, 147, 158, education, 6, 29, 34, 37, 38, 41,
159n 42-9, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78,
Chandraseniya Kayastha Frabhu (or 84-90, 91, 92, 94, 105, 106,
C.K.P.) (caste), 52, 100, 101, 108, 117, 118n, 119, 123-4, 125.
130-1, 245n , 250 128-9, 160-1, 164-5, 230, 234n,
Chaurasia, S.D. Singh, 280 248, 289; Hartog Committee on,
Chavan, Yeshwantrao, 278, 297 162
Chitre, A.V., 101, 131n Elphinstone, Mountstuart, 29, 47
Chitre, K.V., 13In
Christian Church, 6, 13, 42, 68n, Gadgil, N.V., 109, 114, 226
79, 110, 162, 168n, 169n, 181, Gaikwad, B.K. (Dadasaheb), 51n,
204, 215, 227; conversion to, 113, 114, 116, 128n, 211, 251,
29-30, 71, 75n, 181, 199-200, 263-4, 265, 294
201n, 206, 209, 213, 214, 216, Gandhi, Mohandas K. (Mahatma), 46
217-8 67, 93-9, 107, 112, 133, 137,
Cokhamela, 14, 16n, 21n, , 60-5, 174, 176, 177, 178-90, 191-5,
67, 68, 69, 75, 76, 79, 112, 121, 198, 201, 203-4, 209, 216, 224-5,
196, 234-5 244, 263n, 265, 273, 276, 284,
conferences, 6, 76, 77-8, 94-107, 296, 298, 299
175-6, 184-5, 202-3, 211-14, Gawai, G.A., 74, 76, 82, 108, 146n,
243, 258-9 148-50, 169-70, 188
Congress, Indian National, 16, 57, Ghatge, R.S., 59, 72, 109, 164
59, 94, 110-1, 112, 115-6, 135, Gholap, D.D. 53, 118n, 158-9
138, 145-6, 154, 167, 176, 181, Godbole, Waman, 235
189, 190, 191, 244, 248, 252, Gok’nale, Gopal Krishna, 45, 46n,
253, 254, 255, 256, 265, 269, 67, 130, 159, 277
270, 272, 273, 274, 278, 279,
294, 297, 298 Harijan, 191-3, 254, 267; Harijan
conversion, 30, 59, 79, 93, 110-1, sevak Sangh, 190, 192, 193
113, 117, 136, 181, 199-200, Hindu Code Bill, 270
202-34, 242. See also Buddhism, Hindu Mahasabha, All-India, 75,
Christian Church, Muslims, Sikhs. 103n, llln, 134, 186n, 207-8, 224
Cripps, Stafford, 258, 266
Independent Labour Party, 243-57,
Depressed Classes Association, 265
- 168n, 183 Iravas (caste), 6, 143, 208-10,
Depressed Classes Institute (or • 295
Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha),
97, 121-9, l-68n, 182 Jadhav, B.V., 153, 176n
Depressed Classes Mission Society, Jadhav, D.G., 38n, 251
44, 46, 144-5, 146, 147, 148, Jadhav, D.M. (Madkebhua), 130n
158 Jadhav, M.K., 86n, 162-3, 164
Depressed India Association, 82, Jatav (caste), 168n, 258n, 267n
121-2, 144, 146, 149 Jayakar, M.R., 86n, 111, 186, 208,
Deshmukh, Panjabrao, 108 224, 261
Dewey, John, 87-8, 151 Jedhe, K.M., lOln, 109
Dhed (caste), 122, 144, 146 Jinnah, Muhammad Ali, 157, 256,
Donde, M.V., 130, 264 263n
Dougre, Rai Bahadur, 146n, 147 Joshi, N.M., 132, 153, 176n
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Joshi, S.M., 109 Maharashtra, as state, 11, geo­
graphical divisions, 11, social
Kabir Panth, 28-9, 230 structure 13-5, British in,
Kadam, Krlshnaji S., 103 15-6, as country of Kahais, 79,
Kadam, V.B., 87-8 Christian Church in, 29-30,
Kadrekar, Bhaskarrso, 130, 131n elite attitude toward Gandhi,
Kajrolkar, N.S., 182, 207, 271 194-5, united, 275-8, 293
Kamble, B.C., 272 Malaviya, Madan Mohan, 75, 110,
Kamble, Shivram Janba, 38, 44, 154, 186, 207-8, 224
58, 59, 69-73, 79-80, 81, 94, Mandal, Jogendranath, 267
96, 109, 119, 121, 140-1, 252 Mang (caste), 18, 26, 31, 32, 33,
Kausalyayan, Anand, 238-9 39, 52, 67, 109, 122, 132-3,
Kelkar, N.C., 111, 153, 207 134, 290, 295
Keluskar, K.A., 85, 229 Mann, Harold H., 19n, 36-8, 72
Keshavsut, 24-5 Manusmriti, 103-4, 105, 106, 1-29,
Khairmoday, C.B. (or Khairmode), 170, 205-6
164, 290 Maratha (caste), 12, 14n, 16, 17
Kharat, Shankarrao, 290, 297 19, 36, 43, 44, 51, 52, 54, 55,
Kher, B.G., 115. 123, 129n, 252-3 56, 58, 91, 112, 123, 134-5, 145
Khoti system, 247, 254-5, 282; 150, 153-4, 181, 276-8
Khoti Sabha, 252 Masur^ar Maharaj, 210—1
Kolhapur, Maharaja of, 15, 43, Mate, A.M., 98n, 163
91-2, 96, 132 Medhe, S.N., 124, 164
Kosambi, Dharmanana, 230 Mehta,'Ashok, 273
Kothari, Walchand Ramchandra (or Moonje, B.S. (or Moonji), 67, 184,
V.R.), 146n, 153 186, 189, 208, 224-5
Krishnajee, Gangaram, 59, 70 Muslims, 5, 13, 54, 55, 56, 71, 76
Kshatriya status, 12, 49, 51-2, 70 79, 93, 99, 101, 110, 138, 139,
Kulkarni, A.R , 250 141, 142-3, 150, 170, 171, 176-7
Kunbi (caste), 12n, 34, 255 178, 180, 187n, 188, 206, 211-2,
Kurtakoti, Dr. (Shankaracharya), 216, 227, 262-3; and conversion,
208-10, 225 75n, 111, 181, 199-200, 206, 210
213, 214-5, 218, 220-2, 228, 263
labor unions, 131-2, 255 Muslim League, 244-5, 252, 256,
Lohia, Rammanohar, 281 260-1, 267
Lokanatha, 219-20
Naik, Deorao, 130
Mahanubhava (sect), 28, 273 Namashudra (caste), 6, 144, 154,
Mahar (caste), numbers, 17-8, pot- 163n, 171
jats, 13, 18, 77; 96. proverbs Narasu, P. Lakshmi, 231
on, 25-6, urbanization, 35-9, Narayana Guru, Sri, 6, 209
occupational change, 15, 33, 41 Nariman, G.K., 123
56, 78, and other castes, 31-2, Nehru, Jawaharlal, 230, 273, 286n,
132-6, attitude toward Ambedkar, 299
7, 193-4, 195. See also army, Nehru, Motilal, 154, 175
balutedar, Bombay Legislative newspapers of the Mahar movement,
Council, conversion, conferences, 51, 71, 74, 79, 91, 117-21, 125,
ed-cation, newspapers, religious 127, 159, 196, 291
practices, satyagraha at Mahad, Nikalji, R.S., 162
temple entry, village role, Non Brahman Movement, 5, 12, 13,
watandar, passim. 16, 42-4, 82, 91-2, 97, 101,
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v i
Non Brahman (con't), 108, 109, 111, Republican Party of India, 1, 9,
132, 134-5, 145-6, 176n, 194; in 245, 278-86, 293-6
South, 82, 144, 145, 152 Rcham, P.J., 251
Round Table Conferences, 72, 113,
Paranjpye, R.P., 123, 129, 153, 116, 125, 126, 173, 174-82,
157, 160-1 189, 132, 197
Parsis, 13n, 90, 93, 123, 127
Parulekar, G.V., 254 Sahastrabuddhe, G.N., 104, 124,
Patil, Bhaurao, 43-4, 87n, 135 130, 13In, 132
Patitpawan Baba, 206 Samarth, M.B., 131n
Peoples Education Society. 1, 131n, Sangarakshita, Stavira, 232n
239, 288-9 Sanjivaya, N., 293
Peshwa, 14, 15, 52, 53, 55, 56 sanskritization, 8, 94
Phule, Jotiba, 5, 32, 42-3, 57, 78, Sapru, Tej Bahadur, 157, 186, 261
132, 135, 230 Sathe, Annabhau, 290
Poona Pact, 182-91 satyagraha, 281-3: at Vaikam, 98-
Pradhan, D.V., 131n 100, 209, at Mahad, 102-3, 115,
Prasad, Rajendra, 186, 299 126, 160, 256-7, for separate
Prarthana Samaj, 42, 44-6, 74 electorates, 266-7. See also
temple entry.
Rajagopalachari, C., 186, 224 Satyashodak Samaj, 43
Rajah, K.C., 157, 158, 170, 174, Savarkar, V.D. (Veer), 75n, 102
183-4, 186, 188, 189, 190n, 207, Scheduled Castes Federation, All-
224, 261 India, 245, 257-62, 265-7, 271-
Rajbhoj, P.N., llOn, 112, 133n, 274, 278, 280
164, 185, 186-7, 188, 206, 232, Scheduled Tribes, 271, 279-80
252, 271 Setalvaa, C.H., 123, 129, 186
Ram Jagjivan, 207, 208, 216, 267, Shende, N.R., 74n, 76, 290
273n, 298 Shinde, Vithal Ramji, 44-5, 46,
Rama Charana, 168n, 174 57-8, 75, 118n, 135, 145, 147-8,
Ramananda Panth, 28 153, 158, 163, 230
Ranade, Mahadev Govind, 45, 66, 67, Shivraj, N. (or Shiva Raj), 175,
263n, 277 258
reform (social), 4, 6, 15, 16, 42- Shivaji, 14, 15, 53, 112, 286n
46, 49, 61, 66, 74, 85, 248 Shivtarkar, S.N., 103, 123, 133-4,
reforms (political), 5, 8, 81, 182, 251
137-195; Minto Morley, 138-9, Sikhs, 178, 180, 215, 227; conver­
140-2, Montagu-Chelmsford, 139, sion to Sikhism, 210, 213, 217.
143-7, 152, Southborough Com­ 219-20, 220-26
mittee, 81-3, 147-58, 167, 168, Socialist Party, 272, 273, 274
Muddiman Committee, 138, 155-8, Solanki, P.G., 162, 163, 164, 188,
Simon Commission, 139, 163, 175, 207
167-172, 197, Franchise Committee Srikant, Laxmidar, 163
of 1932, 98n, 139, 182, 183-4, Srinivasan, Rettamalle, 168n, 174,
198, Government of India Act of 176n, 177, 188, 193n, 198n, 207
1935, 139, 243. See also Round Starte Committee, S8n, 139, 163-7,
Table Conferences, 259-60
religious practices of Mahars, 22,
26-29, 77, 116. See also Bhakti, temple entry, 71, 73, 78, 79, 107-
Cokhamela, temple entry. 117, 120, 126-7, 189-90, 200-1,
i
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temple entry (con't), 210, 227, 248,
254; at Amraoti, 108-9, at Par-
vati in Poona,,109-12, 113, 121,
185, at Kalaram in Nasik, 113-17,
175, 200, 202, 205-6, 211, 252
Thakkar, A.V., 163, 186, 190n
Thaware, G.M., 183-5, 189n, 273-4
Tilak, B.G. (Lokmanya), 130, 147-8,
193, 194, 197-8, 211, 277
Tilak, Shridhar Balwant, 130
Tipnis, Surendranath G., 100-1,
102, 131n, 250
Upasham, S.A., 164
Varale, B.H., 164
Venkatrao, B.S., 211
village role of Mahar, 3-4, 15, 16-
24, 30-33, 39, 40, 50, 64, 78
Walangkar, Gopal Baba, 2-3, 5, 27n,
52, 57-9, 85, 94, 119, 151
watan, 19-20, 32, 33, 124, 159, 247,
249, 254, 256, 281
Yag^vkar, Gopal Swami, 27n
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bibliography x - xlv
Glossary xlvi - xlvii
A Note on Nomenclature xlviii - xlix
A Note on Transliteration 1
Preface and Acknowledgements li - liii
Introduction 1 - 1C
Chapter I - The Mahar Background 11 - 80
The Traditional Mahar Role 16 - 26
The Religious Role 26 - 30
19th Century Change 30 - 41
The Effect of Social Reform 42 - 49
The Legitimization of Ambition 49 - 51
The Mahar Army Tradition 51 - 60
Cokhamela 60 - 69
Fre-Ambedkar Leadership 69 - 80
Chapter II - Dr. Ambedkar and the Mahar Movement, 1917-1935 81 - 136
Ambedkar: Background for Leadership 83 - 94
Ambedkar's Methods:
Conferences 94 - 107
Temple Entry 107 - 117
Newspapers 117 - 121
Depressed Classes Institute 121 - 132
The Mahars and Other Castes 132 - 136
Chapter III - The Mahars In Politics, 1917-1935 137 - 195
Early Reaction to the Reforms 140 - 148
The Southborough Committee 148 - 158
Mahars in the Legislature 158 - 167
The Simon Commission 167 - 174
The Round Table Conferences 174 - 182
The Poona Pact 182 - 191
"Harijan" vs. "Scheduled Caste" 191 - 195
viii
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ix
Chapter IV - The Leiigious Conversion Movement, 1935-1956 196 - 241
The Announcement of Conversion 202 - 214
Sikhism, Islam or Christianity? 214 - 226
The Delay in Conversion 226 - 234
Conversion to Buddhism 234 - 241
Chapter V - Political Development, 1935-1956 242 - 286
The Independent Labour Party 245 - 257
The Scheduled Castes Federation 257 - 278
The Republican Party 278 - 286
Conclusion 287 ■ 301
MAPS
Map I The Maharashtra Area 302
Map II Scheduled Caste and Buddhist Percentage of Population
by District in Maharashtra; Percentage of Mahars returned as
Buddhists, 1961 Census of India 303
Map III Buddhist Population of India by State, 1951 and
1961 304
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Ahir, D. C.: Babasaheb's Massage. Delhi: Institute of Buddhist
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_______. India's Debt to 3uddhiBm. New Delhi: Maha Bodhi Society
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Altekar, A. S.: A History of Village Communities in Western India.
Madras: Oxford, 1927•
Alva, Joachim.: Men and Supermen of Hindustan. Bombay: Thacker, u9*+3.
Anand, Mulk Raj: Untouchable. London, New York: Hutchinson Inter­
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Arthur, T. C.: Reminiscences of an Indian Police Official. London:
Sampson Low, Marston and Company, 189^.
Ashly-Brovn, W.: On the Bombay Coast and Deccan. London: Society
for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, 1935.
Asian Guide to First General Elections. Bombay: Asia Publishing
House, 1951.
Austin, Granville: The Indian Constitution - Cornerstone of £i Nation.
Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 19^.
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