Question

describe the views of mahatma gandhi on untouchability?

Answer 1

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Reading Gandhi

Gandhian Nationalism



2 Gandhian Thought and Communal Unity

2.1 Gandhi on Untouchability

LESSON - 3

Gandhi on Untouchability

 

                                                                                                            — Amaresh Ganguli

 

Objectives

 

After reading this article you will be familiar with:

Gandhiji’s thoughts on the evil of untouchabilityThe urgency for elimination of this social evil in the Gandhian plan for national reconstruction and forging national unityThe Gandhian strategy for dealing with the problem 

 

Introduction

 

Of all the social evils that beset India of his times perhaps none moved Gandhi quite as much as untouchability. He saw it as one of the principal obstructions in reforming and uniting Hindus and by extension the whole of the Indian nation. He realised the whole moral basis for asking for freedom from the colonial masters would be rendered void and hollow if Indians continued to condone and acquiesce in the practice of untouchability. Hence Gandhi focussed on removal of untouchability with an energy and zeal that was unprecedented in the history of Indian social and political movements.

 

Discussion

 

Before understanding the Gandhian approach to untouchability and how he proposed to deal with it is necessary to understand Gandhi’s understanding and estimation of the Hindu caste system or varnashram. It is instructive perhaps to begin by studying some of his utterances on the issue remembering the fact of course that he was a declared follower of the Hindu Sanatan Dharma. As such he would have perhaps approached the caste division idea with a positive frame of mind at least at the beginning to try and understand its benefits. It is also of course true that like all human beings Gandhi evolved in his thoughts over the period of his life.

 

Writing in 1920 he somewhat defensively wrote:

‘Man, being a social being, has to devise some method of social organisation. We in India have evolved caste; they inEurope have organised class. Neither has the solidarity and naturalness of a family, which, perhaps, is a God-ordained institution. If caste has produced certain evils, class has not been productive of anything less.’ (Source: Young India, December 29, 1920)

But then he was also quick to argue: ‘The beauty of the caste system is that it does not base itself upon distinctions of wealth possessions……..Caste is but an extension of the principle of the family. Both are governed by blood and heredity’.    (Source: Young India, December 29, 1920) Also:

‘The spirit behind caste is not one of arrogant superiority; it is the classification of different systems of self-culture. It is the best possible adjustment of social stability and progress.’

‘Caste does not connote superiority or inferiority. It simply recognises different outlooks and corresponding modes of life. But it is no use denying the fact that a sort of hierarchy has been evolved in the caste system.’   (Source: Young India, December 29, 1920)

 

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

1. Mahatma Gandhi declared that Swaraj would not come for a hundred years if untouchability was not eliminated

2. He called the untouchables Harijan for Children of God organised Satyagraha to secure them entry into temples and access to public well stanks roads and school.

3. He himself clean toilets to dignify the work of Bhangi (the sweepers)

and he persuaded upper caste to change their heart and give up the Sin of untouchability