The Marathwada Namantar (Name change) movement was a
milestone for the Dalit movement in India. It gave new direction and new
leaders to the Ambedkarite movement. In this essay we are going to see in
detail the various stages of Namantar movement.
Aurangabad
Univeristy: Its foundation and journey
Before the formation of Maharashtra state Aurangabad under
the rule of Nizams of Hyderabad. Aurangabad was backward in educational sphere
as compare to Pune and Mumbai.
In 1949 Babasaheb laid the foundation of Milind College in Aurangabad.
During his multiple visit to Aurangabad he felt the need for separate
university for the Aurangabad.
Ambedkar presented this demand for separate university in
front of committee for “Linguistic State”. But it did not received any
immediate action from the Government. Later after so much agitation by the
peoples of Marathwada the university came into existence. Hence Marathwada
University was founded on 23rd
August 1958 by the then Prime Minister of Indian Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Birth
of Namantar movement.
After the foundation of University there was a demand from
various Ambedkarite groups that Babasaheb’s name should be given to Aurangabad
University.
On 26th June 1974 Marathwada Republican student
association wrote letter to CM demanding Babasaheb’s name to at least one of
the university in Marathwada. This was the first official demand which was made
for the Name-change. During those day Dalit Panther was also very active in the
social and political life of Maharashtra. They were the real fighters of “Namantar” movement.
The Dalit Panther was dissolved in 1977 . It is said that CM
Shankarrao Chavan persuade Raja Dhale to take this decision in return for
Gangadhar Gade’s release from jail. But Dhale’s this decision was not welcomed
by young panthers in Maharashtra.
A new movement with the name of “Bhartiya Dalit Panther” was formed under the leadership of Arun
Kamble with Gangadhar Gade as its secretary. This movement was later joined by
Ramdas Athawle, Dayanand Mhaske, Pritamkumar Shegaonkar etc.
The members of this newly formed “Panther” organized a
full-fledge movement to rename the Aurangabad University. The Congress
Government in Maharashtra didn’t listen to any of the demands from the people
of Marathwada.
Student’s
protests
On 17th
July 1977 students organizations of Aurangabad organized a meeting on the
ground of Saraswati Bhuvan to decided the plan of action. Various parties and
organization took part in this meeting like Dalit Yuva Agadhi, Yuva Republican,
ABVP, Yuva Congress, Dalit Panther, etc.
These students organization presented a list of demands in
front of the Government. This was the
first time that various students organizations of different political
ideologies came together .
Opposition
for “Namantar”
This movement of “Namantar” was seen by caste and
religious angle by some people.A section
of students in Aurangabad organized a rally on 21th July to oppose the demand
for “Namantar”.
Hence the “Namantar” movement had to fight against not only
the Government but also to the Anti-Dalit, Anti-Ambedkar forces in Marathwada.
On 27th July 1977 the famous socialist leader S.M.Joshi extended his
support to the “Namantar” movement and Dalit Panther. It is said that the
“Namantar” movement was litmus test for the so called progressive leaders in Maharashtra.
It exposed their progressive ideology as many of them were quite on this issue.
Marches,
Strikes and Dalit Panther
A delegation of leaders of Dalit Panther and “namantar”
movement met CM Vasantdada Patil on 8th September 1977 and presented
their joined demand to change the of Name of the University.Vasantdada showed a
positive response to demands.
Due to this the “Anti-Namantar” organizations get agitated
and organized many protests and marches in many parts of Marathwada.
On 31 October the then Foreign Affairs Minister Shree Atal
Bihari Vajpayee was on the tour of Maharashtra. When he was in Ambejogai Panther
leaders opposed him with Black Flags. Later in his speech Vajpayee said that it
would be very grateful if Babasaheb’s name is given to Aurangabad University.
Hence Dalit leaders in Maharashtra thought that it is the State Government
which is delaying the process for “Namantar”.
Once CM Vasantdada Patil on his visit to the Beed District.
In his speech he said that our cabinet has decided to not to give name of any
person to educational or social institutions. This statement by CM gave rise to
a wave of anger among the supporter of “Namantar”. Dalit Panther organized a
“Chappal March” on 2nd October 1977 to oppose this statement by CM.
A March of around 4 lakh panther was organized in front of
the Parliament to let the Central Government know about the “Namantar” movement.
This march was led by leaders like Ramdas Athawle, Gangadhar Gade, Professor
Arun Kamble. In Mumbai Raja Dhale had organized a march in front of
Vidhansabha. Finally after so much pressure from various social and political
organized Government agreed to rethink on the Cabinet decision. But this was
mere a hallow promise as the Vidhansabha Election was due on 3 months.
After coming to power the congress Government in State under
the leadership of Vasantdada Patil ignore the demand for “Namantar” and this
again gave rise to resentment among Dalit-Ambedkarite students.
“Namantar”
Resolution
The Congress Government in Maharashtra collapsed in very few
days as Sharad Pawar went out of the Government along with 40 other MLAs. He
made a coalition with Janta Party and formed a “Progressive Democratic Front” Government
in the state.
Sharad Pawar wanted to show his progressive attitude towards
the social issues in the state. Hence he formally presented the Namantar
Resolution in Vidhansabha on 27th July 1978 and got it passed with
majority. This resolution was also got passed in Vidhanparishad.
Aftermath of 27th July was not as intended by
Sharad Pawar. There were widespread protest and riots in different parts of
Aurangabad. There were incidences of violence on Dalit settlements.
Pochiram,
Janardan: Martyrs of Namantar movement
Pochiram Kamble was the first Martyr of Namantar movement.
He was from Tembhurni village of Nanded District. On the night of 4th
August 1978 a group of rioters went on to set fire Pochiram’s house. Pochiram
was hidden in his friends house. But he was caught by a mob of rioters who then
beat him with axes and sticks. He was burned alive. Pochiram Kamble was a true
Ambedkarite who became an inspiration
for the Dalit movement.
Second Martyr of this movement was Janardan Mevade. He was
from Sugao village of Nanded District. A group of rioters attacked the dalit
settlements in Sugao village and started setting fire on Dalit’s houses.
Janardan was fighting with them along with his 500 comrades. But unfortunately Janardan was caught by the mob who then
mercilessly killed him.
This was the period of widespread violence and riots. There
were attacks on Dalit settlements in different villages of Maharashtra.
After all these incidence of violence Government took an
U-turn and said that the resolution would be implemented only after all the
sections of society are taken into confidence.
Era of
Long March
Professor Jogendra Kawade is known as pioneer of Long March
in India. His was a professor in Dr. Ambedkar College Nagpur. His speeches were
popular among colleges as they were full of violent and provocative language.
Kawade sir’s speeches were able to re-energised the
“Namantar Movement” which was loosing its hold over the college students. Kawade
sir was considered as a hero of “Namatar” movement.
Kawade sir was not in Panther instead he had his own
organization. Kawade sir had organized a
long march of nearly 470 Km from Nagpur to Aurangabad which was started on 19th
November 1979. Government started making hurdles in long march by blocking
roads and arresting the leaders.
Prof Kawade was also got arrested but some of the leader got
managed to continue the long march. In Nagpur 11 boys have been killed in
police firing and hence unfortunately the long March had to stop.
Post
Long March era
State had got a new CM with A.R.Antulay and there was a
stagnation in the movement for some amount of time. But during 1980-1990
Panther kept alive the movement with
organizing small marches. Jogendra Kawade was also active in Aurangabad. He was
the one who made the movement more popular among college students.
Sharad
Pawar, Thackeray and “Marathwada”
In Feb. 1993 Sharad Pawar became CM of Maharashtra replacing
Sudhakarao Naik who had failed to control the communal riots in Maharashtra. Demand
of “Namantar” was again gained momentum
as Sharad Pawar had shown positive attitude to this demand in the past.
Sharad Pawar tried to make environment in Marathwada
suitable before taking any big decision. Shivsena was against the change of
name.
Balasaheb Thackeray said that people of Marathwada are
emotionally attached to the “Marathwada” word and hence that should not be
dropped.
Finally on 14 January 1994 name of university was changed to
“Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University”. The movement for “Namantar “ is
considered as a turning point in the Dalit-Ambedkarite movement in Maharashtra.
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