Lucknow- The significance of Manusmriti Dahan Diwas transcends a mere commemoration; it embodies a powerful symbol of resistance and illumination in the fight against caste-based discrimination. This year, on December 25, in a unique tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar, people in over 500 villages across India marked the solemn occasion by lighting candles.
The burning of Manusmriti in 1927 by Baba Saheb Ambedkar was a daring act, as Ambedkar was not simply burning a book but a code of laws that had subjected millions of people to live a sub-human life of degradation and indignity.
Ambedkar considered the Manusmriti to be a symbol of caste-based discrimination and social inequality in Hindu society. He argued that the Manusmriti upheld the hierarchical caste system and prescribed unequal treatment of different social groups. Ambedkar believed that the text provided a religious and legal basis for the subjugation of certain communities, particularly the Dalits, and reinforced their social and economic marginalization. He saw the Manusmriti as incompatible with the principles of equality, justice, and human rights that he sought to establish in the new Indian Constitution. Therefore, the burning of Manusmriti was a symbolic act of protesting against inhuman practices sanctified by law.
Many Dalit organizations mark the anniversary of this event by burning copies of the text. This year, members of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Revolutionary) burnt copies of the text at Jagat Circle in the Kalaburgi district of Karnataka. Meanwhile, students at Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University in Lucknow burnt copies of the text on campus.
However, several organizations, such as Dalit Foundation and Navsarjan Trust, marked the anniversary of the event in a unique way by lighting candles in front of photos of Dr. Ambedkar and other Bahujan icons. The program was observed in more than 500 villages across the country and named "Samanta Hi Sanaatan Satya Hai" (Equality is the perennial truth).
The Mooknayak spoke to Suman, a volunteer of Dalit Foundation from Lodhaan village in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. She said, "We observed Manusmriti Dahan Diwas" as "Samanta Hi Sanaatan Satya Hai" in around 225 villages of Varanasi. She explained that nine volunteers in the city had villages distributed amongst them, and she oversaw the program in 45 villages. Before observing this event, we organized a door-to-door campaign to convince people. We explained to people the significance of the event.
She said that most people burn Manusmriti because Babasaheb also burned it. We tell them why Babasaheb did so - because the book was written against women and Dalits, and when he burned the book, he illuminated the lives of marginalized groups. So why should we not light diyas and illuminate the path shown by him rather than burning the book every year? We carried the message to the villages.
She says that many people warned that Varanasi, being a Sanskritized area, could face challenges, but when we gave the slogan "Samanta Hi Sanaatan Hai," we faced no problem. When people asked about the slogan, we told them about the event of December 25th. People also gave a good response to the initiative, and it was observed on a large scale all over the district. On every anniversary, we would light diyas only.
The Mooknayak spoke to Martin Mcwan of the Navsarjan Trust who said that the idea behind the campaign is to convey the real message of Baba Saheb Ambedkar behind the burning of Manusmriti. It is not like Ravan, which you keep alive for thousands of years by burning it every year. Dr. Ambedkar wanted to distinguish Dharma from Adharma. The right-wingers have popularized the term "Sanatan," i.e., that which has no beginning and end, and for them, Dharma is Sanatan, so that way untouchability has no end because it is part of that "Dharma." But we want to convey that nature does not distinguish between pure and impure; it is some people with vested interests. And that is why we have started the campaign - "Samanta Hi Sanatan Satya Hai" (Equality is the perennial truth).
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