On the 148th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi it is an opportune moment to look at on Gandhi’s relentless services to the scavengers. From 1920 onwards the campaign against untouchability became a major national issue under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and an indispensable part of his constructive programme.
Gandhij’s theory of untouchability is essentially a philosophical foundation, which is based on the ‘equality axion’ (Gandhi, 1940, March 30). Scavenging, sweeping, leather working and washing of clothes etc. have been considered by the caste-Hindus as unclean and polluting professions (Sachchidananda). And in the other study, Andre Beteille (1966) details that the concept of pollution has weakened and the anti-untouchability movement had made a great headway under Gandhi’s leadership.
Between 1st April 1946 and 10th September 1947 Gandhi spent 216 days in the Bhangi Basti (Now Balmiki Basti) in Delhi. It was only where this place was made available to accommodate the surge of the refugees from across the border in the wake of the partition of India that Gandhi was taken to the Birla House where he lived till he breathed his last.
But the critical question is “Why Gandhiji stayed with scavengers at Kingsway, Delhi for quite a long periodIJ Writing in the Harijan of 31st March 1946, Gandhi explained this in the following manner: “If I lived apart from Harijans, what right had I to question the action of others who went further in their adherence to untouchabilityIJ But whether the other changed their mind or not was not for me to judge. If it was my duty to reside in Harijan quarters, I must perform it irrespective of the reaction of the step on the others. This is the thought which is possessing me and goading me to the adumbrated action”.
From this very place Gandhi continued to work for the Harijans’ betterment. People from all parts of the country started visiting and meeting with Gandhi at Kingsway. This would give them a firsthand experience of the misery and the agony of these poor people. It was hoped that they would educate public opinion and win popular support for all its progressive measure. This should result in an impetus to reforms like scavenging in their provinces and the forces standing in the way of such reforms would automatically disappear. One is important outcome of this campaign under Gandhi’s crusade against untouchability has been countrywide awareness of its evils and equally significant is the fact that the Harijans themselves have become assertive and conscious of their rights.
Broadly speaking, Gandhiji carried on Bhangi Mukti programme with the objective of rehabilitation of scavengers throughout India since 1932. Currently, the activities include running of 43 residential primary schools and hostels, 186 crèches centers especially for the children of sweepers and scavengers. A large number of Balwardies have been started by the Harijan Sevak sangh in various scavenger colonies all over the country. The safai Vidyalaya at Ahmedabad which was started by the sangh in 1964 implemented the Bhangi mukti programme with the co-operation of the Gujarat Government. Besides health dispensary, namely, Thakkar Bapa Health Centre is at work in its campus at Kingsway, Delhi for the benefit of the scavengers and other weaker sections of the societies living nearby. The sangh, with its own limited financial resources but with the generous financial aids of the Government of India and various State Governments have been conducting these welfare activities all over the country
Through his relentless service to the scavengers and to the lowliest of the lowly, Gandhiji will always be remembered as one who made his life a lesson for all ages to come. The recent cleanliness drive which is the prime agenda of the Modi government is indeed the outcome of the scavengers’ liberation movement as initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.
(The writer is formerly a Social Scientist and Senior Professor of the B-Management Institute, and JRD Tata Chair Professor of Tata Steel.)