March 2, 2020, marks the 90th anniversary of Kalaram temple entry struggle led by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Though untouchables were considered and are still considered as part of Hinduism (Brahminism) but denied the rights to enter temples controlled by Brahmins.

Probably, Hinduism is the only religion that prohibits most of its followers from entering its temples. Nowhere in the world one will find such examples that followers of the religion were denied entry to temples at such a large scale.

Before Babasaheb Ambedkar led Nasik Kalaram temple entry movement, there have been various other temple entry movements from Dalits’ side and had little success. In 1874, a failed attempt was made by untouchables in Madras state to enter Minakshi temple. In 1924, the temple entry movement was launched at Vaikom in Travancore state by Periyar. The attempt was Ambadevi temple entry satyagraha at Amaravati that started in the February 1928 but could not gather much support. Another attempt was at Parvati Temple in Pune was in October 1929 and continued till 1930 without much change of heart of so-called upper castes.

At the beginning of March 1930, Babasaheb Ambedkar launched Nasik Kalaram temple entry movement and many believe that he was not as involved in this movement as he was in Mahad struggle for water rights. He couldn’t participate in each phase of the struggle as he was busy with the preparation for the Round Table Conference as well during this period but his lieutenants (Bhaurao Gaikwad, Amritrao, P N Rajbhoj, among others) took care of everything very well. I speculate also that he didn’t want untouchables to enter such Brahminical temple and maybe he knew from the previous experiences of the temple entry attempts by untouchable, but then there could be various other reasons and this is just my speculation! Despite these, he organized and mobilized untouchables for their right to enter temples. Around 15,000 untouchables joined Dr Ambedkar on the launch of the temple entry struggle.

Untouchables participated in Kalaram temple entry in masses and continued till 1934. Various attacks were made by caste Hindus on untouchables during this movement and many untouchables were arrested as section 144 was frequently applied around the area. Dalit women’s participation in the movement is noteworthy.

Gandhi in his newspaper Young India mentioned about the Kalaram temple entry struggle and instead of asking so-called upper castes not to object untouchables’ entry to the temple, Gandhi urged untouchables to give up the temple entry movement! Such a casteist was Mahatma Gandhi! Babasaheb had lost all faith that so-called upper castes will ever change their heart and mind so Kalaram temple entry struggle was stopped in 1934.

Dr Ambedkar knew temple entry would not solve the problems of the untouchables but started the temple entry movement to mobilize untouchables for their rights. Dr Ambedkar wanted right to enter temples as everyone else had but given that 90 years have passed since Kalaram temple struggle, has anything changed?

Yes, Dalits are much more awakened for their rights and are ready to fight for their rights. So, in that sense, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s temple entry movement’s motives were/are achieved. But has Brahminical temple opened for Dalits? Hardly so. Still, Dalits are denied entry to temples, they are punished, paraded naked and fines are imposed if Dalits try to visit Brahminical temples.

Dalits do not want to visit such temples now and Brahmins are dragging Dalits to temples! Dalits have started to understand that money collected at Brahminical temples is used against us and the best thing that Dalits can do is stop donating at the Brahmin temples. Money collected there is used against Dalits-Muslims. If Dalit-Bahujans stop donating at Brahmin temples, their hateful campaigns against us would choke to death. 

President Kovind and his wife prayed at the Brahma temple stairs at Brahma temple in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

When President of India, who is Dalit, is denied entry to Brahminical temples, can there ever be a change of heart from so-called upper castes’ side? I highly doubt. What do you think? What has changed in the last 90 years? Let us know in the comments!

Author – Pardeep Attri

Read this article in Marathi – काळाराम मंदिर प्रवेश संघर्षाच्या ९० वर्षानंतर दलितांसाठी काय बदलले?