21°10′16″N79°05′48″E / 21.1711°N 79.0966°E | |
Location | Indora Bridge 10, Kamptee Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India |
---|---|
Designer | Uday Gajbhiye |
Type | Martyrdom memorial |
Completion date | 2013 |
Dedicated to | Martyrs of the Namantar Andolan |
The Namantar Shahid Smarak (English: Name Change Martyrdom Memorial) is a large memorial sculpture dedicated to those who died in the Namantar Andolan. [1] In 2013, 19 years after the movement's success, the city government of Nagpur erected the monument in memory of the valour and the sacrifice of the Dalit martyrs. [1] The memorial was built by contractor Sunil Sharma on 2,225 m2 of land at a cost of ₹1.58 crore (approximately US$259,000). [1]
The Dalits of India were on the bottom of the Indian caste system for millennia. In Hinduism, there are four varnas (classes) and in that system, the Dalits are below the lowest of them. [2] Dalits were considered polluted and this pollution was considered contagious. [3] They worked in jobs which were considered ritually impure, they were not allowed to enter Hindu temples, they had to draw their water from separate wells and they had to live outside of villages. [2] Untouchability was outlawed in 1950, [4] but despite the laws, discrimination continues today. [5] [6]
In the early 20th century, one of the first Dalits to earn a college education was B. R. Ambedkar. [4] Fighting discrimination, he attended Elphinstone College in Bombay, [7] earned a master's degree from Columbia University in the United States and then earned a doctoral degree from the London School of Economics. [8] The British Raj made education more available to Untouchables but discrimination continued. Ambedkar established hostels, schools and colleges which were open to Dalits. [9] As part of the movement surrounding the independence of India from Britain, major social changes took place and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was appointed to lead the committee to draft a new constitution for India. He proposed, and the new country passed into law, a wide range of civil liberties, including the legal abolition of untouchability. [10] [11]
Many Indian universities were renamed after people like Ambedkar and those changes were welcomed with few arguments. [12] The Dalit community in the state of Maharashtra proposed to rename Marathwada University in honour of Ambedkar. [1] [13] [14] The chief minister, the legislature, and university leaders approved the change, [15] but a storm of opposition arose among Hindus.[ vague ] On 27 July 1978 riots began and the name change was stopped. [12] [15] The riots affected 25,000 Dalits [16] and at least 27 were killed, [1] five by the police. [17] The Namantar Andolan (Name Change Movement) continued for 16 years before the university was renamed Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. [12]
Many organisations and political parties proposed the idea for a memorial late in the 1990s and worked for 12 years to see a memorial realized. In 2010, the government of Nagpur announced the decision to build the memorial. [18] An initial proposed design unveiled in April 2011 was not considered acceptable because it did not represent the history of the Namantar Andolan. Many suggestions were given for the memorial's design. [19] The final design was completed by sculptor Uday Gajbhiye. [1]
Because many Dalits had converted to Buddhism with B.R. Ambedkar, the choice of Buddha Jayanti (Buddha's Birthday) to inaugurate the monument was auspicious. Jogendra Kawade, the leader of the Namantar Long March, was present that day and he said:
A nation stands after sacrifice and laying lives for a nation's cause. The fight for naming Marathwada University after Dr Ambedkar was not a single person's fight but was a movement launched with massive support of people which bore the fruits after 16 years of continuous struggle. The Indora Bridge 10 which inspired thousands of Bhim Sainiks to launch the long march which witnessed bloody sacrifice by the Bhim Sainiks, now, stands as Shahid Smarak in a glorious and magnificent way fittingly saluting the sacrifice of Bhim Sainiks, ... This Memorial would continue to inspire the present and future generations as well. [1]
.
The memorial is located at Indora Bridge 10 on Kamptee Road, Nagpur. [1] The location was selected because it is the site where Avinash Dongre, a child protesting in support of the Namantar Andolan, was shot in the head by police on 4 August 1978. [20] [21] Four others - Dilip Ramteke, Abdul Sattar, Roshan Borkar and Ratan Mendhe - also lost their lives nearby. [20] The memorial has a total of 27 sculptures of Bhim Sainiks (Soldiers of Bhim) [1] who died during the event, who are shown in the act of their struggle. [22] [ vague ] There are also 27 plaques with the name of each person, [18] and the memorial also has a monolith to pay homage to the martyrs.
Nearby, there is a mini-theater for plays and discussions and a library with materials related to the history of the Namantar Andolan. [22]
The martyrs of Namantar Andolan: [23]
Shiv Sena is a right-wing Marathi regionalist and Hindu ultranationalist political party in India founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray. Shiv Sena's election symbol is the Bow and Arrow. It uses the saffron colour in its flag and a image of a roaring tiger.
Nagpur is the third-largest city and the winter capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Known as the "Orange City", Nagpur is the 13th largest city in India by population and according to an Oxford's Economics report, Nagpur is projected to be the fifth fastest growing city in the world from 2019 to 2035 with an average growth of 8.41%. It has been proposed as one of the Smart Cities in Maharashtra and is one of the top ten cities in India in Smart City Project execution.
Kumari Mayawati is an Indian politician who served four separate terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She is the national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which focuses on a platform of social change for Bahujans, more commonly known as Other Backward Castes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as well as religious minorities. She was chief minister briefly in 1995 and again in 1997, then from 2002 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2012.
The Neo Buddhist movement is a religious as well as a socio-political movement among Dalits in India which was started by B. R. Ambedkar. It radically re-interpreted Buddhism and created a new school of Buddhism called Navayana. The movement has sought to be a socially and politically engaged form of Buddhism.
Dalit, also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming a fifth varna, also known by the name of Panchama. Dalits predominantly follow Hinduism, with significant populations of the adherents of Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam. Scheduled Castes is the official term for Dalits as per the constitutions of India and Pakistan.
Mahar, meaning "original inhabitants of Maharashtra", is an Indian caste found largely in the state of Maharashtra and neighbouring areas. Most of the Mahar community followed B. R. Ambedkar in converting to Buddhism in the middle of the 20th century. As of 2017 the Mahar caste was designated as a Scheduled Caste in 16 Indian states.
Deekshabhoomi is a sacred monument of Navayana Buddhism located at Nagpur city in Maharashtra state of India, where Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, embraced Buddhism with approximately 600,000 of his followers mainly scheduled caste peoples on Ashoka Vijaya Dashami on 14 October 1956. Ambedkar revived Buddhism in India. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism is deeply significant for millions of people in India. According to the 2011 India census, more than 87% of the total Buddhist population in India are Ambedkarite Buddhists.
Ravidassia or the Ravidas Panth is a religion of Sikhism based on the teachings of Guru Ravidass and Guru Nanak who is revered as a satguru.
Buddhism is an ancient Indian religion, which arose in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha, and is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha who was deemed a "Buddha", although Buddhist doctrine holds that there were other Buddhas before him. Buddhism spread outside of Magadha starting in the Buddha's lifetime.
Narendra Achyut Dabholkar was an Indian physician, social activist, rationalist and author from Maharashtra, India. In 1989 he founded and became president of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti. Triggered by his assassination on 20 August 2013, the pending Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance was promulgated in the state of Maharashtra, four days later. In 2014, he was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for social work.
Bhadant Nagarjun Arya Surai Sasai, popularly known as Sasai, is a Japanese-born Indian Buddhist monk who later chose India as his home. He is the president of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial committee Deekshabhoomi.
Namantar Andolan was a Dalit and Navayana Buddhist movement to change the name of Marathwada University, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar University. It achieved a measure of success in 1994, when the compromise name of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University was accepted. The movement was notable for the violence against Dalits and Navayana Buddhists.
Chinawal is a village in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra state, India. It is situated at the foothills of the Satpura range in a generally hot and dry climate. The densely populated village is surrounded by the flat land and nutrient-rich black soil.
Anandraj Yashwant Ambedkar is an Indian social activist, engineer and politician from Maharashtra. He is head of the Republican Sena. He is the grandson of B. R. Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution. His supporters occupied the Indu Mill land at Dadar in 2011 to highlight the long-pending demand for the Statue of Equality memorial of B. R. Ambedkar. Anandraj Ambedkar also works in the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, headed by his elder brother Prakash Ambedkar.
Dalit feminism is a feminist perspective that includes questioning caste and gender roles among the Dalit population and within feminism and the larger women's movement. Dalit women primarily live in South Asia, mainly in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Dalit women face different challenges than women in oppressor castes in these countries. They are more likely to be poor, uneducated and socially marginalized. Dalit feminists advocate and have advocated for equal rights for Dalit women based on gender, caste and other issues. They have addressed conferences, created organizations and helped elect other Dalit women into political office.
Shankar Mahale was an Indian revolutionary from Maharashtra who opposed the British Raj. He was arrested along with four other people in the case of the death of a policeman and was later sentenced to death, making him one of the youngest martyrs of the Indian Independence Movement. He was educated up to the fourth standard when he quit school. He joined Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India Movement in 1942 and held a job as a mill worker in Nagpur while participating in the movement. Mahale was 18 years and 1 day old at the time of his hanging.
नागपूर - नामांतर चळवळीतील 27 हुतात्म्यांची नावे याठिकाणी ब्लॅक ग्रेनाइटवर कोरण्यात येणार आहेत.....मराठवाडा विद्यापीठाच्या नामांतर चळवळीत प्राणाची आहुती देणाऱ्या हुतात्म्यांच्या स्मृती सदैव तेवत ठेवण्याच्या उद्देशाने महापालिकेच्या वतीने संत्रानगरीत "नामांतर शहीदस्मारक' उभारण्यात येणार आहे, अशी माहिती स्थायी समिती अध्यक्ष संदीप जोशी यांनी आज पत्रपरिषदेत दिली……1977 ते 1994 या कालावधीत मराठवाडा विद्यापीठाच्या नामांतरासाठी महाराष्ट्रात अनेक आंदोलने, मोर्चे काढण्यात आलेत….10 ते 12 वर्षांपासून नामांतर शहीद स्मारकाची विविध पातळ्यांवर मागणी सुरू होती. विविध संघटना व पक्षांनी ही मागणी लावून धरली होती. अखेर यावर्षी त्याला हिरवी झेंडी मिळाली." English translation: "Nagpur - 27 names of the martyrs of Namantar Movement will be carved on Black Granite at this place. ... To keep the memory of the martyrs sacrifice of Namanatar Andolan Marathwada University, Municipal Corporation of Orange city (Nagpur) is erecting "Namantar Shahid Smarak" (Namantar Martyrdom Memorial), this information was given by Samiti President Sandeep Joshi in the press conference today. ... In 1977 to 1994, for renaming Marathwada University many movements, protest marches were laid. ... Since 10 to 12 years 'Namantar Shahid Smarak' was demanded at various levels. Many organizations and political parties raised this demand. Finally this year it (the demand) was green signalled.
नामांतर आंदोलनातील शहीद स्मारकाची प्रतिकृती तयार झाली. परंतु, या प्रतिकृतीकडे बघितल्यास नामांतर चळवळीचा कोणताही इतिहास या स्मारकातून पुढे येत नाही. औरंगाबादेतील डॉ. आंबेडकर मराठवाडा विद्यापीठाचे प्रवेशद्वार शहीद स्मारकाच्या प्रतिकृतीमध्ये अंकित केल्यास नामांतर आंदोलनाचा इतिहास जिवंत होईल. यातून चळवळीला प्रेरणा मिळेल, असा आशावाद यावेळी रिपब्लिकन मुव्हमेंटचे नरेश वहाणे यांनी व्यक्त केला. तर, दिलीप पाटील यांनी महापालिकेने आंबेडकरी चळवळीचा सन्मान करीत नामांतर आंदोलनाच्या लढ्याचा इतिहास स्मारकावर अंकित करावा, अशी मागणी केली. निळू भगत यांनी नामांतर आंदोलनातील इतिहासाचा लढा स्वतःच्या चित्रकृतीतून सादर केला." English translation: "The Namantar Andolan Shahid Smarak replica is complete. But, this replica of the memorial does not tell any history of the Namantar Andolan. Aurangabad's Dr Ambedkar Marathwada University's entrance gate replica if infused in the replica can make the history alive. This may inspire the movement; the optimism was expressed by Republican movements Naresh Vahane. Dilip Patil, while expressing his respect for the Dalit movement he demanded to carve history of the Namantar Andolan on memorial. Nilu Bhagat presented the sketch of Namanta Andolan.
4 ऑगस्ट 1978 रोजी पेटलेल्या आंदोलनात इंदोऱ्यासहित उपराजधीतील सर्वच वस्त्यांमध्ये आंबेडकरी निखाऱ्यांनीही पेट घेतला. याच दिवशी पुकारलेल्या नामांतराच्या एल्गारात "दहा नंबर' पुलाजवळ "डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर की जय' ही घोषणा देणारा चिमकुला अविनाश डोंगरे रस्त्यावर आला आणि त्याच्या दिशेने आलेल्या एका गोळीने त्याचे डोके छेदताच तो जमिनीवर कोसळला. अविनाशने अखेरचा श्वास घेतला. अविनाश डोंगरे याच्यासहित उपराजधानीतील दिलीप रामटेके, अब्दुल सत्तार, रोशन बोरकर, रतन मेंढे अशा पाच आंबेडकरी कार्यकर्त्यांनी दीक्षाभूमीची माती कपाळाला लावून नामांतर आंदोलनात जिवाची आहुती दिली." English translation: "On August 4, 1978 the Andolan was burning at Indora and along with Indora all the Dalit habitations in sub-capital (Nagpur) were burning in the same fire. On the same day the Namantar voice was raised near "10 number Bridge" 'Victory of Ambedkar'(a slogan) was cried out by a child Avinash Dongre came onto the road and one bullet came in his direction, was struck in the head by a bullet; he fell to the ground. That was Avinash's last breath. Along with Avinash Dongre, in the sub-capital (several other) Ambedkar workers, Dilip Ramteke, Abdul Sattar, Roshan Borkar, Ratan Mendhe (these five) sacrificed their lives on the soil of Deekhabhoomi during Namnatar Andolan.
नामांतर झालेच पाहिजे...' ही "डरकाळी' फोडत धावत आलेला कोवळा भीमसैनिक अविनाश डोंगरे दहा नंबर पुलाजवळ पोलिसांच्या गोळीने "शहीद' होतो... तो दिवस 4 ऑगस्ट 1978." English translation: "Change the name ... uttering in a loud deep voice and running, child Bhimsainik Avinash Dongre near 10 number bridge (Indora Bridge) was martyred by police bullet. ... on August 4, 1978. [translator's note: Bhimsainik is an affectionate title used for Ambedkar followers and means Soldiers of Bhim (Ambedkar)]
डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर मराठवाठा विद्यापीठ नामांतर आंदोलनात अनेक भीम सैनिक शहीद झाले. या आंदोलनातील शहीदाचे स्मारक तयार करणारी नागपूर महापालिका राज्यात पहिली आहे. येथे पोलिस व भीमसैनिक यांच्यातील संघर्षाची प्रतिकृती तयार करण्यात आली आहे. श्रद्धांजलीसाठी स्तंभ तयार करण्यात आला असून रोषणाईने सायंकाळी परिसर न्हाऊन निघत असल्याने अधिकच आकर्षक दिसत असल्याचे उपमहापौर संदीप जाधव यांनी सांगितले. येथे एक लहान थिएटर, लघुनाट्य तसेच चर्चासत्रासाठी खुले व्यासपीठ तयार करण्यात आले आहे. येथे असलेल्या वाचनालयात आंदोलनाचा संपूर्ण इतिहास नागरिकांसाठी उपलब्ध करून देण्यात आल्याचे जाधव यांनी सांगितले." English translation: "In Namantar Andolan of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University many Bhimsainiks became martyrs. Nagpur Municipal Corporation is the first municipal corporation to construct the Andolan martyr monument in the state. Here the struggle between Bhimsainiks and police has been created. The column has been created to pay homage. The lighting decorations created makes the premises attractive in the evening said Deputy Mayor Sandeep Jadhav. The movement history has been made available at the library for citizens near monument said Jadhav.
नामातंर लढ्यातील शहीद: उत्तर नागपुरात दहा नंबरी पुलाजवळ "नामांतर झालेच पाहिज', अशी घोषणा देत चिमुकला अविनाश डोंगरे रस्त्यावर येताच त्याच्या डोक्यात बंदुकीची गोळी शिरली आणि तो जमिनीवर कोसळला; ही आठवण आजही ताजी आहे. तसेच राज्यभरातील दिलीप रामटेके, रोशन बोरकर, ज्ञानेश्वर साखरे, डोमाजी कुत्तरमारे, चंदर कांबळे, पोचिराम कांबळे, जनार्दन मवाळे, शब्बीर अली काजल हुसैन, गौतम वाघमारे, रतन मेंढे, सुहासिनी बनसोड, नारायण गायकवाड, अब्दुल सत्तार, दिवाकर थोरात, जनार्दन मस्के, भालचंद्र बोरकर, शीला वाघमारे, प्रतिभा तायडे, गोविंद भुरेवार, मनोज वाघमारे, कैलास पंडित, रतन परदेशी नामांतरासाठी शहीद झाले असल्याची माहिती समता सैनिक दलाचे केंद्रीय संघटक ऍड. विमलसूर्य चिमणकर यांनी दिली." English translation: - "Martyrs of Namantar struggle: In northern Nagpur near 10 Number bridge "Change the name" slogan was given by child Avinash Dongre, he came on the road, bullet entered in his head and he fell on the ground; the memory is still alive. Similarly, Dilip Ramteke, Roshan Borkar, Dyneshwar Sakahre, Domaji Kuttarmare, Chandar Kamble, Pochiram Kamble, Janadan Mawale, Shabbir Kajal Husain, Ratan Mendhe, Suhasini Bansod, Narayan Gaikwad, Abdual Sattar, Diwakar Thorat, Janardan Mhaske, Bhalchandra Borkar, Shila Waghmare, Pratibha Tayde, Govind Bhurewar, Manoj Waghmare, Kailas Pandit, Ratan Pardeshi from the (Maharashtra) state became martyr for Namantar, this information was given by Samata Sainik Dal's central constitutor, advocate Vimalsurya Chimankar.