Short Note on Mahad Water Tank Satyagraha

Of the attempts made to indicate the right to take water from the public watering places, it is enough to mention the case of Chavdar Tank. This tank is situated in the town of Mahad in the Kolaba district of Bombay presidency. This tank is a vast expense of water mainly fed by rains and natural springs. All its sides are embanked around the tank there are small strips of land on all sides belonging to private individuals. This tank is an old one and no one knows when it was built or by whom. But in 1869 when a municipality was established by the Government, it was handed over to the municipality and since has been treated as a public tank. The untouchables were not allowed to take water from this tank.

Dr. Ambedkar’s March to the ‘Chavdar Tank’ in Mahad, dirt Kolaba in 1927, was really an historic event. With the resolution moved by Rao Bahadur S. K. Bole and passed by the Bombay legislative Council in 1926, the tank was thrown open to all untouchables who could not exercise their rights due to the hostility of the caste Hindus. Hence, it was decided to convene a conference of the depressed classes at Mahad and March was taken to the ‘Chavdar Tank’ on 20th March 1927, under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar. It was historic in the sense that for the First time in the history of India the untouchables demonstrated to assert their rights not only to fetch water but also symbolize the event with equal right to fetch drinking water, a gift of nature. However it was disliked by orthodox Hindus and they opposed this satyagraha. However, Dr. Ambedkar established untouchables right over water in 1927.