Struggle · 25 to 27 Dec 1927

Mahad Satyagraha Conference and the burning of the Manusmriti

Mahad, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra)

On 25 December 1927, they burned the Manusmriti.

That August the Mahad Municipality had taken back its decision to open the Chawdar Tank. A committee led by Dr B. R. Ambedkar called a satyagraha at the tank to win back the right claimed in March. A court barred the leaders from going to the tank. At the conference on 25 December, passages of the Manusmriti were read out and condemned, and the book was burned. Some 3,884 delegates signed up to offer satyagraha.

Ten years later, the Bombay High Court dismissed the caste Hindus' appeal.

See it on the map and the timeline

What the sources record

The municipality revoked its resolution on 4 August 1927 (Vol. 17, quoting Keer). (1)
The committee announced 25 and 26 December 1927 for the satyagraha. (1)
The Civil Court at Mahad issued a temporary injunction on 14 December 1927. (1)
Ambedkar gave his presidential address on 25 December 1927 (The Indian National Herald, reprinted in Vol. 17). (1)
Passages of the Manusmriti were read out before the resolution. (1)
The Manusmriti was then burned (The Indian National Herald, 31 December 1927, in Vol. 17). (1)
Round Table India gives the hour and who burned it. (2)
3,884 delegates registered to offer satyagraha. (1)
Ambedkar moved to postpone the struggle on 27 December. (1)
The Bombay High Court rejected the caste Hindus' appeal on 17 March 1937. (1)

Linked records

Continuation: Mahad Satyagraha at the Chawdar Tank (1)

People in this record

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, president of the Satyagraha Committee and of the conference
G. N. Sahastrabuddhe, read the Manusmriti passages; named by Round Table India as burning it
D. V. Pradhan, supported the burning
Shivtarkar, defendant in the tank suit
Krishnaji S. Kadam, defendant in the tank suit
Ganya Malu Chambhar, defendant in the tank suit

Sources

Primary. Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (reprint); first edition Education Department, Government of Maharashtra. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, Vol. 17, Part I: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and His Egalitarian Revolution, Struggle for Human Rights. first edition 4 October 2003; reprint January 2014.
Shadow. Round Table India (page tags name Dr. K. Jamanadas). Manusmruti Dahan Din. 25 Dec 2011. Not linked for now: the site has been tampered with.

On the map at the centre of Maharashtra.