Growing up Untouchable in India: A Dalit Autobiography (Asian Voices) by Vasant Moon

Author:Vasant Moon [Moon, Vasant]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780585394060
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2002-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

POLITICS AND PIGEONS

In 1942 the freedom struggle reached its height with the Quit India movement. Picketing closed down colleges and schools; police patrols increased. The boys of our Maharpura left for school even though they could see many boys from other areas turning back from the road. The whole community knew Ambedkar’s policy of avoiding Congress campaigns. Everyone went fearlessly to his own task.

When I reached the school, around eight to ten boys were present in every class. “Those who don’t want to come should not leave their houses,” proclaimed Khedkar Master, and began to teach. Nobody paid any attention to the turmoil outside. The master sat teaching for forty-five minutes. There were only eight boys present, but he lectured as if the whole class were in front of him. The sons of the rich and of high officials were present. There were Mahar boys in some classes. They slipped in through some corner of the courtyard, trying to ignore the uproar.

Teams of student demonstrators gathered outside to close down the school. Nobody entered the compound, but they obstructed those who came from outside. Even so, classes continued inside. Finally, stones were thrown from outside. Windows broke and glass fell inside. We hid under benches. The police came. A scramble began, and we remained sitting inside the school for the whole day.

The power of the Quit India movement grew. Textile mills closed down, morning processions took place, and young volunteers organized marches, where participants sang such patriotic songs as “This is my India, an unbroken continent!” As the agitation grew, burning and looting began. Demonstrators took control of the road between Variety Chowk and Gandhi Bridge. The main shops on that road were those of Bohras and Khojas, that is, Muslim merchants. Because the Muslim community was separatist, the looters focused on them.

The agitators roamed on the roads in front of our community. In those days, no caste tension existed. The feeling was that each community should have its own movement. The whole of Maharpura was quiet. The turmoil in the city continued to increase. Mahal, Itwara, Gajakhet, Bhankheda, Budhvara, and all parts of eastern Nagpur were in tumult. The hymns of Tukodji Maharaj were part of the Congress campaign. His rattling mountain voice had the capacity to arouse people. His songs were composed in simple popular Marathi and unfaltering Hindustani. He would go himself with his companions and wander through the villages to hold campaigns. Thousands of people crowded to hear his songs and hymns.

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