India is divided into many parts on the basis of caste, class, religion etc. One of the section which was depressed, crushed by so called upper class is lower class people also known as Dalit. These people also known by different names like untouchables, harijan and Scheduled castes (SC). ‘Dalit’ means ‘crushed’, this term was first used by Jyotirao Phule. These people also called as ‘Untouchables’ and officially called ‘Scheduled Castes (SC)’, which was coined in 1935. (prologue,book). Dalit people were treated as marginal, not worthy, uncivilised. Dalit movement were held against these discrimination and untouchability. Different types of Dalit movements were held in India in different parts of India with common …show more content…
B R Ambedkar , Jyotirao Phule and many others leaders from various places organised these Dalit/ anti caste movement. In nineteenth century, Jyotirao Phule started the Dalit movement in Tamilnadu and Maharashtra. And B R Ambedkar followed Phule’s ideology to develop this movement into political entity which demands equal right politically, socially, economically. Ambedkar movement was revolutionary. In colonial period, main issue which was whole idea of movement was problem of untouchability. Untouchability was a cruel practices which was practiced in Hindu society. Dalit are considered as untouchables because they did all job considered as impure in the society. Dalit were not allowed in the upper caste house and take water from their wells. They didn’t even allow to enter into the Temple. There were depressed by upper class from centuries. Jyotirao Phule and B R ambedkar are pioneers in starting the Dalit movement against that suppression. Gandhi also contributed to Dalit movement but Ambedkar is very famous as Dalit leader. After First World War, B R Ambedkar made an entry into political life of India. This period was influenced by Marxis Socialism and so Ambedkar was also influenced by Marxism thoughts and …show more content…
Finally, this dual system doesn’t give clear picture of class and caste approach.” In one of his essay, Ambedkar mentioned that French revolution didn’t produce equality that why I welcomed Russian revolution because it produced equality. “Equality will be of no value without fraternity or liberty” In the end, he followed the Buddhism because it would everything he wanted. (Ambedkar and After: The Dalit Movement in India, p-295-98). Ghanshyam Shah (1980) classifies Dalit movements into reformative and alternative movements. Reformative movement wanted to reform current system. For example, solving problem of untouchability can consider as reformative movements. And alternative movements seeks for alternative method to solve current problem. For example, conversion and gaining education, economic and political status can consider as alternative methods. In both these movements, political method is only to achieve their objectives. These movements can further divided into their sub movements. Mostly movements were related to economics issues. Gail Omvedt and Patanker like scholars divided these movement into two categories caste based and class based. (Social movement in India, Dalit movements, Ghanshyan Shah, p119) In 15th century, Bhakti movement was started with