Mukta Salve, a granddaughter of Lahuji Salve, a fourteen-year ‘Matanga’ (untouchable) girl studying for three years and studying in the third standard in the 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 chocolates.”

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 a 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 the Brahmins belong to our religion?

Mukta Salve 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 ‘gul tekdi’ 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, Mukta Salve wrote:

“The practice of burying us in foundations of building and forts was stopped. Our population also increased. 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, the practice of ‘touch me not’ ism is also stopped. Now we are free to walk in the markets of ‘gul tekdi’.” [Dhanjay Keer: Mahatma Jotirao Phule, 47/48]

In spite of early awakening seen in Mukta’s essay, and in spite of work of Annabhau Sathe, the Matang community kept away from Ambedkarite thoughts. Thanks to Gandhi! Now it seems, they are getting in a mood for conversion to Buddhism. Let us hope, the move materializes and all the hindrances in the way are removed.

Author – Dr. K. Jamanadas, 
October 17, 2006

Read also –

Grief of the Mangs and the Mahars – First Ever Writing By a Dalit Woman – Mukta Salve

Dalit History Month – Remembering Mukta Salve, First Dalit Woman Writer

Mukta Salve – First Voice of Dalit Feminism