Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha

Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha, also referred to as the Depressed Classes Institute ^[1] was an organisation formed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on 20 July 1924 in Bombay, driven by the goal of improving the educational standards for Untouchables ^[2] and address their socio-political challenges. ^[3] The founding principles of the Sabha were expressed in their motto; "educate, organize and agitate". ^{[4] [5]}

Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha

Abbreviation	BHS
Formation	20 July 1924
Founder	B. R. Ambedkar
Founded at	Bombay, British India
Type	Social reform organization
Legal status	Dissolved [6] (14 June 1928)
Purpose	Upliftment of Dalits, social and educational reforms
Headquarters	Damodar Hall, Bombay [7]
Chairman	B. R. Ambedkar
Key people	Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad (president) B. G. Kher (solicitor) [8]

History

In March 1924, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar initiated efforts to launch a social movement aimed at the upliftment of the Untouchables. On 9 March 1924, a meeting was convened at Damodar Hall in Bombay to discuss the need for establishing a central organization that would address the issues faced by the Untouchables and present their grievances to the government. After extensive discussions, it was resolved to form such an institution, which was subsequently founded on July 20, 1924, under the name Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha. The Sabha was officially registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.

The objectives of the Sabha were as follows: ^[7]

• To promote the spread of education among the Depressed Classes by opening hostels and other necessary means.
• To encourage the dissemination of culture within Depressed Class study circles.
• To improve the economic conditions of the Depressed Classes by establishing industrial and agricultural schools.

Members

• Sri Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad - The President of the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha
• Meyer Nissim - Vice-President
• J.P. - Vice-President
• Rustomji Jinwala - Vice-President
• G.K. Nariman - Solicitor
• Dr. R.P. Paranjpye - Solicitor
• Dr. V.P. Chavan - Solicitor
• B. G. Kher - Solicitor
• Dr.B.R.Ambedkar - The Chairman of the managing committee
• S.N. Shivtarkar - Secretary
• N.T.Jadhav - Treasure

Works

The Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha was established to address the educational needs of the Depressed Classes. On January 4, 1925, the Sabha initiated a hostel in Sholapur to provide accommodation for high school students from these communities. ^[9]

See also

• Hitkarini Sabha

References

Sources

1. Jaffrelot 2005, p. 45, Ambedkar founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (Association for the Improvement of the Condition of the Victims of Social Ostracism), also known as the 'Depressed Classes Institute'. Among its objectives was the legal abolition of the baluta system; it also sought to help Mahars assert their rights as vatandars..
2. Jaffrelot 2005, p. 45, Ambedkar shared his concerns about the lack of education among his caste brethren, and hence, the Constitution of the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha explicitly subordinated social reform to education..
3. Rao, Anupama (13 October 2009). The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India. University of California Press. p. 80. ISBN   978-0-520-94337-7. Also known as the Depressed Classes Institute, the BHS was formed on July 20, 1924, to promote education and social reform among Mahar Dalits. In Bombay, it established a free reading room, a Students' Conference, and a Mahar Hockey Club.
4. Kshirasagara 1994, p. 82.
5. Geetha, V. (3 December 2021). Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and the Question of Socialism in India. Springer Nature. p. 37. ISBN   978-3-030-80375-9.
6. Keer 1990, p. 124, closing down the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha on June 14, 1928, he established the Depressed Classes Education Society to organize school education for his community..
7. Keer 1990, p. 55.
8. Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha
9. Keer 1990, p. 62.

Bibliography

• Kshirasagara, Ramchandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN   9788185880433.
• Keer, Dhananjay (1990). Dr. Ambedkar: Life and Mission. Popular Prakashan. ISBN   978-81-7154-237-6. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020.
• Jaffrelot, Christophe (2005). Dr. Ambedkar and Untouchability: Fighting the Indian Caste System. CERI Series in Comparative Politics and International Studies. Columbia University Press. ISBN   978-0231136020.
• Geetha, V. (3 December 2021). Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and the Question of Socialism in India. Springer Nature. ISBN   9783030803759.