India’s President Dr. Rajendra Prasad washed the feet of 200 Sanskrit Pandits with water, put sandal paste on their foreheads, garlanded them, gave them sweets and Rs.11/- each as “dakshana”. Cartoon from Filmindia magazine, I got this cartoon from National Film Archive of India, Pune in February, 2013. ~ Thanks, Syam Sundar.

During the Brahmin Peshwa’s rule, Brahmins used to get millions of rupees as “dakshana” ignoring the pain of untouchables and so-called lower castes and same was started again by the President of India after independence. Shameful but reality.

This is the reason why many Dalits believe that 15th August was just the transfer of power from British people to so-called upper castes in India. Dalits were suffering before independence and that suffering continued even after independence. There is no relief for Dalits in independent India. Dr Ambedkar was concerned about the same and had said that,

“If the kind of Freedom which the Congress wants was achieved there is no doubt that the Hindus would do to the Untouchables exactly what they have been doing in the past.”

We see Dr Ambedkar’s words coming true once again. Dalits are being killed almost every day for no reasons at all. Life for Dalits under Hindutva governments has become hell with no relief in sight. What is the use of such fake independence?

Dr. A. K. Biswas writes on this event of washing feet of Brahmins –

That the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad had washed feet of 200 Brahmans on the banks of the Ganges at Banaras is known to me. I did not come across it despite my efforts to trace it over last three decades. I am grateful for the cartoon of 1952. Let intellectual class search out the photos of the celebration of fellow Brahmans on Nehru becoming the first Prime Minister of India.

Today those who denounce caste are just desperate to shield the past that might remotely shame them for their ancestor’s role in revealing in caste superiority.

I’ll be indebted to any who can bring out photos of Nehru in Raja danda and the eulogy of the Benares Brahmans showed on him.

Read also – 

Babasaheb Ambedkar On Independence Of Untouchables And Congress’s Struggle For Power

What Dr Ambedkar Said On Independence/Freedom Day (15th August)

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on Republic Day (26th January)

26 facts you need to know about 26th January – Indian Republic Day

What Does Azadi (Independence) Mean to You?