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Seventy-five years ago (on March, 2, 1930 at 3.00 p.m.) about 15,000 Dalits marched towards the 212 years-old historic Kala Ram temple (known for its black idols of Lord Ram. Laxman and Sita) at Panchavati . Their mission was to enter the temple for darshan of their God.
The first batch of 125 men and 25 women broke up into four groups and gathered at the fours doors of the temple's courtyard, while thousand watched helplessly from a distance. However, the then priest of the temple Ramdasbuwa Pujari refused then entry on grounds that they were untouchables.
The doors of the temples were shut and the agitators decided to perform a satyagraha at the doors.
The stir led by Dr. B R Ambedkar and his close associate from Nashik Bhaurao alias Dadasaheb Gaikwad continued for five years during which Ambedkar decided to convert to some other religion.
After 75 years, Ramdasbuwa Pujari's grandson Mahant Sudhir Pujari says "it was a big mistake" which ultimately made Ambedkar to convert. Sudhir Pujari is the priest and trustee of the temple as well as Mahant of the Janasthan Peeth of the Nirvani Akhadad.
"I think it was a big social mistake" he told The Indian Express, "If I would have been in my grandfather's place I would have thought judiciously and permitted entry to all irrespective of caste."
Sudhir, who was made the Mahant by the Nirvani Akhada during the last Kumbh mela, is the much sought after priest for major functions not only in Nashik but from different parts of the country.
"If my grandfather would have permitted entry to Dalits," he says, "Ambedkar would have stayed in the Hindu fold and there would not have been a division of Hindus."
He said that subsequently, his grandfather and Gaikwad became friends and the former even donated Rs. 11,000 for the latter's election fund. "But the damage had been done."
Sudhir belongs to the 27th generation of priests conducting rituals at the temple and wants to undo what has been done, in his own way.
"You may consider this as a malam-patti (dressing of a wound) by a grandson on wounds inflicted by his grandfather," he says, "I have decided to adopt 25 Dalit students and 25 tribal students on behalf of Janasthan Peeth to somehow undo the mistake committed."
He says that as Peethadhishwas of the Janasthan Peeth he would take the responsibility of bringing up 50 children and educating them properly. Sudhir had taken special efforts on the occasion of the birth centenary of Gaikwad in 2002 to push a proposal to erect a plaque in front of the temple to acknowledge the historic Satyagraha.
The temple trust had even passed a resolution to install the plaque. However, the go-ahead for the installation of the plague had mired in red tape with the social welfare department of the state government that's wears by the name of Ambedkar and social justice.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic event, the Republican Party of India has organized a procession from B D Bhalkar High School to the temple, while BJP has organized a rally from Rajwada area (Dalit settlement) to the temple.
It may be recalled that the Kalaram temple-entry satyagraha proved to be turning in Ambedhar's life and Dalit politics.
During the styagraha, some agitators suggested that Dalits should convert to Islam and teach a lesson to Hindus. However, Ambedkar rejected the demand.
In 1935, Ambedkar announced at a meeting in Yeola (82 km from Nashik) that though he was born a Hindu, he would not be a Hindu.
Though the temple was thrown open
to Dalits by law later, he had made up his mind and converted to Buddhism
in 1956.
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