‘Dalit Participation Was Limited in the Civil Disobedience Movement’. Examine the Statement.

The untouchables who called themselves Dalits or oppressed were not taking part in any such movements due to the ignorance of the Congress and the fear of offending the Sanatanis. But Gandhiji was of the view that Swaraj would not come for hundred years if the problem of untouchability is not removed from the country. Gandhiji called them ‘harijan’- which means the children of God. Gandhiji fought for their temple entry rights and other rights such as access to public wells, schools and other public places. Gandhiji himself cleaned the toilets in order to dignify the work of the sweepers and also urged the upper caste
people to change their heart and thinking about these untouchables.

The Dalit leaders demanded reserved seats in the educational institutions and separate electorates so that would be getting seats in the legislative councils
and thus become politically empowered. “The Dalits believed that these are the only ways through which they will be treated equally in the society.

The Dalits organisations were quite strong in Maharashtra and Nagpur and therefore in these regions only they participated in the Civil Disobedience movement.

In the Second Round Table Conference Dr. B.R.Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for the Dalits. Against this Gandhiji began a fast unto death because he believed that separate electorates for the Dalits would slow down the process of national integration.

Later on Ambedkar accepted Gandhian view and in the Poona Pact the depressed class people were given the reserved seats in the provincial and the central legislative council election but to be voted in by the general electorate.