B.R. AMBEDKAR AND HIS DEPRESSED CLASSES MOVEMENT

B.R. AMBEDKAR AND HIS DEPRESSED CLASSES MOVEMENT

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar's movement worked for the upliftment of the untouchables by fighting for their educational, legal and political rights and encour­aging them to throw off the traditional caste duties imposed on them. His programme involved mass agitations, con­demnation of the Manusmriti and symbols of. caste hier­archy, and breaking of caste restrictions by doing the tabooed. His own caste, the untouchable Mahars who had earlier (in the 19th century) organised themselves under Gopal Baba Walangkar now began to vehemently demand liberation from caste restrictions. Ambedkar founded the Depressed Classes Institute (Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha) in
History Bombay in 1924, a Marathi fortnightly, Bahishkrit Bharat, in 1927, the Samaj Samta Sangh (1927) and the Independent Labour Party. He organised the Mahad satyagraha in 1927, the Parvati temple satyagraha (1928) and the Kalasam temple satyagraha (1930-35), to grant temple entry rights to the depressed castes. The Scheduled Caste Federation, a political party, was formed by him in 1942.