There were laws made to give the untouchables their basic rights. But many such laws were made ineffective by terror tactics of upper castes.
One such glaring case was that of Chavdar pond of Mahad. The municipal committee and state assembly had passed resolutions that Chavdar pond was a public water source where everyone including untouchables could draw water from.
But upper castes never allowed any lower caste to come even near that pond.
Dr. Ambedkar decided to assert the legal right of the untouchables to draw water. A Brahmin named Sahasrabudhe openly supported him and declared that untouchables should be allowed to draw water from public water sources and to enter the temples. Upper castes fiercely opposed and condemned him.
On 19th March 1927 a meeting of lower castes was held at Mahad by Dr. Ambedkar and his supporters. Thousands of untouchables converged on the venue. Dr. Ambedkar called upon the lower caste members of the society to come together to fight for their basic rights. He said that on their own upper castes will never yield them any rights or concessions. So, battle for rights would start by drawing water from the Chavdar pond.
Although upper castes were itching to create some trouble yet in face of the huge number of untouchables they were lying low. Dr. Ambedkar led a group of 5000 people to the pond and he first drew water in the cup of his hands and drank it as a symbolic gesture as others raised slogans and hailed him. Then others drank water.
Meanwhile, some upper caste goons attacked the tent where a group was taking meals. When informed Dr. Ambedkar rushed back to the tent. He appealed to his followers not to retaliate but hold ground. They obeyed.
Just then police arrived and the miscreants were apprehended. The downtrodden had begun to claim their rights.
Simon commission
In February, 1928 Simon Commission came to India to review administrative reforms and to recommend ways to give more powers to the natives. The Congress party decided to boycott the Commission because it consisted of all Englishmen who were not expected to do any justice to the native aspirations.The commission was greeted with black flags and the slogans of ‘Simon Go Back’.
But untouchables and some other groups cooperated with the Commission and submitted their demands and memorandums. Dr. Ambedkar also met the commission as the representative of ‘Untouchables Welfare Society’ and presented his list of demands in May, 1928.
His demands included reforms in education system, 22 reserved seats in the State Council, representation of untouchables in ministries, reservations in army, police and other government departments. He later added 60 page annexture to his memorandum.
Other national leaders criticized Dr. Ambedkar for co-operating with Simon Commission. Without caring for the criticism he signed the Simon Report. Later, his memorandum was praised by his critics for its patriotic content.
