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MOVEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
Dalit movements have aroused all over India as a
protest against the injustice and sufferings of the
Dalits, the untouchables.
Though they had particular aims at first, later they all
merged to a national movement with the common aim
of emancipation of Dalits from the evils of caste(Varna
system) and society.
First lot of such movements happened in Maharashtra
termed Marathi Dalit Movements.
HISTORY
BRIEF HISTORY OF DALIT MOVEMENTS IN MAHARASHTRA:-
Steps taken for the ascent of Dalits in 20th century
The Ambedkar era: Real progress period of Dalits in
Maharashtra
Ambedkar’s crucial step: Conversion from Hindu- Mahar
to Buddhist
Post Ambedkar movements
HISTORY
Dalit: Literal meaning is broken people
Traditionally
considered lower the Hindu hierarchical
system, a number of Mahars during the twentieth century
converted to Buddhism, Ambedkar being one of them.
They rose against the upper-caste domination in the early
twentieth century and revolt was called the Mahar
movement.
MAHAR MOVEMENT
The Mahar movement brought the smaller and
untouchable castes onto a single platform and also
brought a degree of awareness and unity enabling them
to create a separate political party; a system of education
including schools and colleges, hostels; and an effective
Buddhist conversion movement.
MAHAR MOVEMENT
The Mahar Movement in Maharashtra was designed
over the years with the ideology and program initiated
by various leaders from time to time.
Before Dr Ambedkar’s rise as an emancipator of the
“untouchables”, the Mahars tried to raise their social
status within the Hindu religion.
Many efforts made by various leaders give us a picture of
the origin of Dalit Movement on the one hand and a
clear perspective of this movement on the other.
MAHAR MOVEMENT
G.B. Walangkar was the first to fight for the rights of the
Mahars in Maharashtra.
He retired from military service in 1886 and mobilized
people and made them conscious about their human rights.
He highlighted the grievances of the people through his
writings in two Marathi newspapers, Dinbandhu and
Sudharak, in which he argued that casteism and
untouchability had no religious base and were creations of
the Hindus. To prove his theory he wrote a booklet titled
“Vital Vidhvansak”.
MAHAR MOVEMENT
He established Anarya Doshpariharak Mandali at Dapoli in
the localities of Ratnagiri district, where the untouchable
castes such as Chambhar and Mahar pensioners lived.
In 1890, recruitment of the Mahars, the Chambhars, etc to
army was stopped.
On top of it, those in service were also asked to leave.
MAHAR MOVEMENT
In the 20th century, the term "Dalit literature" came into use
in 1958, when the first conference of Maharashtra Dalit
Sahitya Sangha (Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) was
held at Mumbai.
Dalit literature, which looks at history and current events
from a Dalit point of view, has come to occupy a niche in the
body of Indian literary expression.
Sathe wrote directly from his experiences in life, and his novels
celebrate the fighting spirit in their characters who work
against all odds in life.
Dalit literature emerged into prominence and as a collective
voice after 1960.
They portrayed the life and struggles of the lowest strata, the
low caste.
Buddhism and Karl Marx shaped and influenced Dalit writers.
What is the
difference in the
Dalit consciousness
of Hindi and Marathi
literature?
Limbale: