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Shobha Dhone, a workplace labourer from Marathwada’s Latur, travelled implicit 450 km to scope Mahad connected Friday (March 20, 2026). On the steps of Chavdar Tale, she broke into a opus successful Marathi to callback however Dalits were erstwhile denied h2o from the nationalist tank. “Cattle were allowed to portion h2o from the waterbody, but not the Dalits. He (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar) opened the doors to Chavdar Tale (lake) for us,” the opus successful Marathi meant.
Septuagenarian Taibai Dhonde from Nanded chopped her off, saying, “Our radical were suffering without water. He fought for the full society, not for immoderate peculiar community.”
Ninety-nine years ago, connected March 20, 1927, Ambedkar led thousands to portion h2o from the nationalist tank, asserting the close of the past “untouchable” communities to usage nationalist facilities. This question occurred 3 years earlier the Salt Satyagraha oregon Dandi march.
Before salt, determination was water: wherefore Mahad Satyagraha deserves its centenary
On Friday (March 20, 2026), the opening of the centenary twelvemonth of the historical Mahad Satyagraha, the tiny municipality successful coastal Maharashtra’s Raigad resembled a pilgrimage site. Dressed successful white, scores of families walked successful arsenic impermanent roadside stalls sold statues of Gautam Buddha, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, jewellery, books and memorabilia.
On the occasion, the Maharashtra Government launched the ‘Chavdar Tale h2o purification and premises beautification project’, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis performing the bhoomipoojan.
Speaking astir the movement, CPI(M) General Secretary M. A. Baby said that it was important to instrumentality the bequest of societal translation to the masses passim the year.
“Chavdar Tale is simply a conflict to recognise that Dalits are quality beings. At a clip erstwhile animals were allowed to portion from the tank, but not Dalits, it was a large injustice,” said CPI (M) polit bureau subordinate Mariam Dhawale. The CPI (M), on with Jaati Ant Sangharsha Samiti, All India Kisan Sabha, CITU and AIDWA, held a two-day Human Rights Convention and protestation march successful Mahad connected March 19-20.
The Congress besides organised a programme successful Mahad connected the occasion. While speaking astatine the event, Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, drew parallels betwixt Mahad Satyagraha and Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha, highlighting their deeper significance. Maharashtra Congress president Harshawardhan Sapkal termed Chavdal Tale h2o arsenic ‘nectar of equality’.
Speaking astir the movement, CPI(M) said it was important to instrumentality the bequest of societal translation to the masses passim the year | Photo Credit: Mayur Bargaje
Centenary of Manusmruti burning
December 25 volition people the centenary of the burning of the Manusmriti by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar successful Mahad. CPI(M), on with All India Kisan Sabha and different organisations, plans to clasp a larger gathering successful Mahad successful December. “It volition reaffirm the continued relevance of anti-caste and anti-capitalist struggles rooted successful the historical bequest of Mahad,” a enactment person said. “This authorities wants to fortify Manusmruti, which volition indirectly fortify the caste system. We privation to support the Constitution of the country,” Ms. Mariam said.
Another CPI(M) polit bureau member, Ashok Dhawale, said, “The atrocities and injustices based connected caste person not yet disappeared from India.”
R. B. More remembered
Leaders besides visited the residence of R. B. More, a cardinal organiser of the Mahad Satyagraha. His grandson, Subodh More, said the 1927 question was the infinitesimal erstwhile enactment emerged from wrong the Dalit community.
