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Was Mahatma Gandhi a casteist? No!
Read this thread to know the reality!
(1/n)
Read this thread to know the reality!
(1/n)
Gandhiji first questioned untouchability at the age of 12 when his mother forbade him from touching Uka, a Dalit girl, who used to clean the toilets in the Gandhi household. He did not obey this command of his mother. He himself used to clean toilets later in his life.
(2/n)
(2/n)
Caste leaders told him to not go abroad for studies as it would violate caste laws. He didn't obey.
(3/n)
(3/n)
He allowed Dalits to live in his Ashrama in Kochrab, Ahmedabad despite strong opposition of the Vaishnavas. The Dalit family of Dudabhai lived there and Gandhiji called them the life of the Ashrama.
(4/n)
(4/n)
There was an attempt to kill him with a bomb during his 1934 Movement for the rights of the Dalits (Harijan Yatra). This incident took place on June 25, 1934 in Pune.
(5/n)
(5/n)
This did not deter him. He continued doing Harijan Yatras. Due to his Harijan Yatras, Dalits gained access to several temples, ponds, wells, schools, hotels, etc.
(6/n)
(6/n)
He wanted to go to the Puri Jagannath Temple with the Dalits as well as Christians and Muslims. Not only was he, along with them, denied entry, but his vehicle was also attacked on the way.
(7/n)
(7/n)
He was in support of inter-caste marriage and inter-dining. He performed the first inter-marriage in Hudali village of Belgaum taluk on July 19, 1937, violating British orders. The British had imposed Section 144 and 1,000 police officers were sent to stop Gandhiji.
(8/n)
(8/n)
He established the Harijan Sevak Sangh for the upliftment of the Dalits. He started hostel-cum-schools for Dalit children. The Harijan Sevak Sangh has done exemplary work.
(9/n)
(9/n)
He had adopted a Dalit girl Laxmi as his daughter.
(10/n)
(10/n)
In 1947, he advised upper-caste women to do penance for their sins by inviting a Dalit everyday to dine with them. He also made it clear that he would bless only intercaste marriages.
(11/n)
(11/n)
Gandhiji said Babasaheb Ambedkar had every right to be angry and hostile to him and Congress. He pointed out how much Babasaheb suffered despite his qualifications and honours.
"That he does not break our heads is an act of selfrestraint on his part." - Gandhiji
(12/n)
"That he does not break our heads is an act of selfrestraint on his part." - Gandhiji
(12/n)
Yes, Gandhi initially believed that the ancient varna system could be revived without any place for discrimination. His initial views on varna were very impractical but he never supported discrimination. He fought against untouchability throughout his life.
(13/n)
(13/n)
He discarded even this view later.
In 1947, he said:
"I am certainly in favour of inter-caste marriages. The question does not arise when all become casteless. When this happy event takes place, monopoly of occupations will go."
(14/n)
In 1947, he said:
"I am certainly in favour of inter-caste marriages. The question does not arise when all become casteless. When this happy event takes place, monopoly of occupations will go."
(14/n)
All the sources are listed in the above image. For the links (as many of these sources are links), please go to the bottom of my Quora post: https://www.quora.com/q/tbafrckumsdpkjez/Was-Mahatma-Gandhi-anti-Dalit-and-anti-Ambedkar
(15/n)
(15/n)
