Question

Why did the untouchable not moved by the abstract concept of swaraj

Answer 1

The nation's untouchable,who formed around the 1930s had began to call themselves dalits or oppressed. For long the Congress leaders had ignored the dalits,for fear of offending the SANATANIS, the conservative high-caste Hindus.

Gandhiji praised the dalits by calling them 'Harijans' or the children of God. He dignified their work, persuaded the upper caste to give up the 'sin of untouchablity'.

But many dalits leaders we're Keen on a different political solution to the problem of the community.

They began organising themselves, demanding reserved seats in educational institutes. Political empowerment, they believe, would resolve the problems of their social disabilities. Not swaraj..