Sunday, 20 July 2014

Mukta Salave, The First Dalit Women Writer on Caste and Religion


THE FIRST DALIT GIRL STUDENT/Writer on Caste and Religion-
Mukta Salve, grand daughter of Lahuji Salve, a fourteen-year 'Matanga' 
(untouchable) girl studying for three years and studying in third standard 
in school of Mahatma and Sawitrbai Phule, was honored for the best essay in 
school by Major Candy. In reply she said in English, "Sir, give us Library 
and no Prizes."
Her essay on "Dharma" (Religion) was read in a gathering of about 3000 
people in presence of Major Candy. Some thoughts in her essay are worth 
remembering even now, after a century and half, as she raised the question 
capable of shattering whole of Brahminism. If we are not authorized to read 
the scriptures created by Brahmins, she asked, how do we belong 
to this religion?
She said:
"The Brahmins say that, the Vedas are their own property. Only we should 
see them. This makes it clear that we do not have a book of religion. If 
the Vedas are for Brahmins, it is the duty of Brahmins to behave according 
to the Vedas.  If we have no right to see the book of religion, we are 
people devoid of religion. It is very clear. Is it not? So Oh God, inform 
us what is the religion coming from you. So that we all would get the 
experience accordingly."
"They had continued the practice of feeding us oil and vermilion and 
burring us in the foundations of the buildings and forts and cause our 
genocide. Those days, if a Mahar or a Mang walks past their door, they 
would play the game of ball in the 'Gultekadi' - PUNE, making his head the ball and sword would be the bat. Such was the ban on walking past the gates of king 
practicing untouchability. How was it possible to get permission to learn? 
If somebody learned to read, and if Bajirao (Peshava) comes to know it, he 
would say. 'These Mahar Mangs are reading, though untouchables. What should 
the Brahmins do, give them the Office work and take the barber's bag and 
look for the job of tonsuring the widows, for themselves?' So saying he 
used to punish them."
"If I narrate these atrocities in detail, I feel like crying. Therefore, 
the God has been kind to us that he sent the kind English Government to 
rule over us, and thereby we were relieved of these tyrannical cruelties."
Further she wrote:
"The practice of burying us in foundations of building and forts was 
stopped. Our population also increasing. If a Mahar or Mang used a decent 
cloth, they used to say this man has stolen it. Such cloths are to be used 
by Brahmins only. If Mahars Mangs use it they would be corrupting the 
religion; so saying they used to tie us and beat us. But now under the 
English rule, anybody can earn and can purchase clothes of liking. They 
used to behead the Mang or Mahar, if he committed a crime. That practice 
also is stopped. The cruel system of free forced unpaid labour is also 
stopped. In some places, practice of 'touch me not' ism is also stopped. 
Now we are free to walk in the markets of 'Gultekadi'- Pune."
[Dhanjay Keer: Mahatma Jotirao Phule, 47/48]

{Dr. K. Jamanadas}
https://www.mail-archive.com/zestcaste@yahoogroups.com/msg04569.html

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