We Also Made History: Women in the Ambedkarite Movement

by Urmila Pawar, Meenakshi Moon, Wandana Sonalkar (Translator)

Originally published in Marathi in 1989, this contemporary classic details the history of women’s participation in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Dalit movement for the first time. Focusing on the involvement of women in various Dalit struggles since the early twentieth century, the book goes on to consider the social conditions of Dalit women’s lives, daily religious practices and marital rules, the practice of ritual prostitution, and women’s issues. Drawing on diverse sources including periodicals, records of meetings, and personal correspondence, the latter half of the book is composed of interviews with Dalit women activists from the 1930s. These first-hand accounts from more than forty Dalit women make the book an invaluable resource for students of caste, gender, and politics in India. A rich store of material for historians of the Dalit movement and gender studies in India, We Also Made History remains a fundamental text of the modern women’s movement.

Genres: History, India, Feminism, Nonfiction, Womens, Academic, Politics

366 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Chinar Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I am so thankful that this book has been translated in English. There are stories in it that has inspired me, left me speechless, stories that I think more people should know of. Originally, this book was written in Marathi in 1989, and I can really only wonder what has been lost in translation. The kind of collection that the authors of the book have undertaken must be commended - they draw from all kinds of sources to give us the narrative of the contribution and involvement of women in the Ambedkarite movement. Majorly, there are two sections in the book. The first part has chapters that take us through the historical & social context of caste in Maharashtra in particular (but not solely), after which it discusses the various concerns like education, marriage, equality, organization, religion. The narrative particulary brings together the awakening of political consciousness amidst also the independence movement - which was largely a transfer of power - a power that the Ambedkarite movement dismantles. It covers many important parts of the movement like satyagrahas for water & the landless, action for temple entry, publications, and even some of the legislations in the newly forming Indian government. Towards the end of the section, the politics of the conversion to Buddhism, and the role of women in this is described in detail. A quote from the tenth chapter:

On this occasion Babasaheb made a speech praising all the women present and encouraging them.4 He said, “I am aware that if the women become conscious they can bring about very great progress in untouchable society. I believe that there should be an organised association of women. They have a great duty in removing the vices of society; I can say this from my experience. When I took up activity for untouchable society, I resolved that the women must be led forward as well as the men. That is why women’s conferences are held alongside our conferences. I measure the progress made by untouchable society by seeing how much progress our women have made. Seeing the presence of women in huge numbers at this conference, I am certain and also I am happy that we have made progress... “Learn to live in cleanliness, stay away from all bad habits and vices. Give education to your children; create a sense of ambition in them. Instil in their minds the feeling that they will become great. Do not press them to marry until they have attained the capacity to bear the responsibility that comes with marriage. Those who marry should remember that it is wrong to produce many children. Even if no facilities are available to you, mothers and fathers have a responsibility to keep their children in a good condition. Every girl who marries must be ready to stand by her husband’s party. Not as his slave but in a relation of equality, as his friend.

The second section has been divided into chapters where each chapter is either a biography of a woman who worked for the Ambedkarite movement, or testimonies from themselves. Each of these biographies are inspiring and important, particularly those which are their own narratives where they describe their personal stake in the movement. Reading this section was quite freeing - let me explain. The history that I have read or have been made to read, and call this my ignorance, especially regarding women, that women during this time (early 20th century) had particular kinds of lives marked with marriage, domesticity, and even the idea of women's rights was much different than now. But mainstream narratives of history has ignored the realities of many many radical women such as those mentioned in this book - those who challenged the status quo in a way that many women TODAY will not do. The obsession with the status quo, with certain markers of caste patriarchy, also by the privileged women of this caste and class peek out everywhere - with small challenges. Why would they want a radical overhaul of a system that benefits that, a system that protects them even if it denies them dignity? But reading this section made me realise that there are many lessons to be learnt, that there have always been radical women dedicated their lives to the cause of social equity, to challenging the status quo in a way that can make life better for everyone. This section made me feel like anything is possible, that idealism is not naivete. This is a time when I have needed it a lot.

[Nilesh Kokare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading this book which is literally and literary ONE IN A MILLION. This book is a work of sweat, blood and tears of two Dalit women writers: Urmila Pawar and Meenakshi moon; And this book carries in it inspiring works of sweat, blood and tears of many Dalit Ambedkarite women (all literates and illiterates) and their movements and agitations under Babasaheb's leadership against every kind of injustice from heinous and brutal casteism to misogyny imposed by Brahmins and Brahmanism over Dalits, Shudras and women. And these women fought for their liberty and equality when 'feminism' wasn't even a word in India. Dalit women under Babasaheb's leadership were strong, fierce and inspiring and fought remarkably but they were never given any consideration by the savarna feminists in their feminist discourses. And that's why the title of the book is "We ALSO made history". And, well, 'history' they did make. These Dalit women, agitating against their own personal life's struggles, under Babasaheb's leadership, stood shoulder to shoulder with Dalit men, gave roaring speeches, launched protests, faced severe brutalities at the hands of state machinery, went into the jails along with their small babies—only getting more inspired to retaliate with more force. It was Babasaheb, their inspiration, who time and again urged them to educate themselves and their children—and to fight! And it's these Dalit women who in the true sense took Babasaheb's golden words "Educate, Organise, Agitate!" straight to their hearts! Amidst the numerous hindrances in their way, they educated themselves, they organised Dalit women all across the country by creating their women organisations, and they together agitated against every instance of injustice! Under Babasaheb leadership, these Dalit women held such progressive and inspiring views! This book is divided into two parts: the first part is about many Ambedkarite movements and struggles that the Dalit women carried out under Babasaheb's leadership. And the second part of the book contains interviews with 43 such Dalit Ambedkarite women who had taken part in those movements and fought and continued fighting even after Babasaheb's death with all their might. Also, really lots of kudos and respect to the writers of this book along with the Ambedkarite Dalit women mentioned in the book. This book (originally in Marathi) was written in 1989, and you can imagine what kind of struggles and obstacles these two writers must have gone through to find these forgotten women, many staying in slums and bastis from Maharastra to Delhi, and doing researches in old Ambedkarite newspapers like Janta, Bahishkrit Bharat etc—amidst taking care of their own personal life struggles. There aren't enough words in this universe to describe how much significant this book is and how much inspiring these Ambedkarite Dalit women were and will always continue to be for everyone. Also, kudos to the translator Wandana Sonalkar who has beautifully translated it. It's rightly said, this book is a sheer treasure! READ! #JaiBhim

[Sanchita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic piece of work in the fields of history and social movements. An exemplary example of a people's history, this exposition is a gold mine of information on Dalit movements, contentious politics and personal histories.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and strong book. Dr Ambedkar’s statement on how education and equality was a must for Dalit women reflects even in the writing and translation style of the writers and the translator here too— educated women must empathise with the uneducated women instead of being ashamed of them, and must work together to empower each other at the face of caste based atrocities.

Some of the historical records in the book should be used in lectures in school classrooms today but... we can all see clearly why the UCs are so hesitant on welcoming the marginalised perspective after alienating them for so long.

A must read if you wish to call yourself an intersectional feminist in India.