Dr. G.A. Biradar's book is a timely and most important intervention into debates about the history of the social reform of caste, and of untouchability. The book focuses on the little known episode of untouchability reform during the anticolonial period in the Karnataka region, an area with a long history of anti-caste protest dating back to Basavanna. Dr. Biradar deftly draws on previously unknown archival materials to shed new light on the development of the anti-untouchability movement in Karnataka, and reveals Gandhi's signal role in the development of the movement in this region. The book thus brings an understudied region within the purview of Gandhian politics, caste history, and the history of anticolonialism more broadly.
15-8-2011 Arvind Rajagopal
Professor, and
Affiliate Faculty
Department of Sociology;
Department of Social and Cultural Analysis
New York University
Dear Dr. G.A. Biradar,
Mahatma Gandhi’s Campaign against Untouchability in Karnataka, which I read with great interest. This is one of the most comprehensive accounts I have read of an important, but understudied, phase of Gandhi’s career. You have done future scholars a service by putting together this record in an engaging and persuasive narrative. I feel I have learned a great deal from the book. The book is clearly a labour of love; and I congratulate you on its successful completion. I look forward to reading more of your work.
23-8-2011 Mrinalini Sinha
Alice Freeman Palmer
Professor of History
University of Michigan.
This book is simple, lucid well-knitted when I read this book it took me to history of older era. Author Dr. G.A. Biradar had made remarkable job to touch the struggle of history to horizon. It is most authenticated script as it is based on documentary evidence. The entire fabric of book is being dealt pursuance to upliftment of Harijan, empowerment of women and weaker section. It would have most useful book to students, children, academicians, working institutions and research scholars all over the world forever. It gives us immaculate focus on how Mahatma Gandhi’s Campaign against Untouchability in Karnataka being led to non-violence freedom struggle.
The author has made highest attempt to attain objective goal by defining social evils-psychology of different people, section, religious orthodox, drafting the law, enactment, implementation, over ever trodden path of Indian Soil. The words of Mr. Enrique Jardiel Poncela “When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing” are being enshrined in the art of Dr. G.A. Biradar. I hope evermore depict of Dr. G.A. Biradar may light the life of weaker section and be awarded with international honour.
NewDelhi Naik H.K
06-09-2011 Advocate
Supreme Court of India
Book Review
An Exemplary work Encompassing the untouched Aspects of Indian Freedom Movement
Dr. G.A. Biradar’s book on ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s Campaign against untouchability in Karnataka’ elaborately documents the considerable efforts put in by Gandhiji, to visit various parts of Karnataka, propagating the need for eradicating the inhuman practice of untouchability, by uplifting the living conditions of the Harijans, by facilitating financial assistance for them. The main objective of his campaign was not only to bring the Harijans to the main stream, but also to collect resources for the intended project. Biradar’s book also gives fresh insights into several other untouched aspects of the Indian Freedom Movement.
At the very outset, the author enthusiastically acclaims Karnataka as the abode of a great number of religious reformers, who had already tried to alleviate the sufferings of the untouchability. It is the land where the Vachanakaras like Basavanna had brought about a social revolution through their movements unparalleled in human history. Biradar’s book renders the vivid details about Gandhiji’s visits to various parts of Karnataka and the royal manner in which he was received everywhere. The people were so moved by the words of Mahatma that men as well as women voluntarily came up with their liberal contributions in the form of cash, things or gold ornaments. Several pages of the book are devoted to the depiction of people’s interaction with Gandhiji in important places of Karnataka like Bijapur, Kolar, Bellary, Bengaluru, Tumkur, Mysore, Mangalore, Coorg Province, Madras Presidency and Bombay Presidency.
Gandhiji’s campaign in Karnataka was followed by the political leaders of India - irrespective of casts and creed - attempting to reform the Hindu society through legislative measures in the subsequent days. But they did not have an immediate effect. The untouchability Abolition Bill was introduced in 1933 in the Madras Legislative Assembly for adoption. But the bill was lapsed. The opinions were collected and recorded that the disabilities of the depressed classes should be removed root and branch - in a peaceful manner by social reform carried on in an intensive manner, and not by legislation.
The book, towards the end gives a picture of the balanced views of people from different sections of the society, and the eminent leaders of various communities and bureaucrats. Most of the educated Hindus were in favour of the Bill to provide for the removal of social disabilities.
Thus the book provides a comprehensive picture of the attempts that were made by Mahatma Gandhi together with the leaders of Karnataka to eradicate the evil practice of untouchability prevalent in the Hindu society. Though there were some stray protests and deliberate withdrawal of the Harijans, it was a great success. This historic movement is something to be recorded and documented for the future generation, and for this reason, Dr. G.A. Biradar’s book should undoubtedly be appreciated. His simple and unassuming style of presentation and lucidity of expression gives an experience of a smooth and pleasant reading to any kind of reader.
Sthithigathi Quarterly, Prof. Parvathi G. Aithal
October-December, 2011
It gives me pleasure to write a brief forward to Dr. G.A. Biradar’s monograph on ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s Campaign against Untouchability in Karnataka’. The subject remains of great contemporary significance; and our historiography continues urgently to require work such as these, which are based on first-hand research in the archives.
Sixty years after Gandhi’s untimely death, his legacy to the new nation he so profoundly shaped remains complex, controversial and, above all, elusive. His pioneering campaign for the rights of so-called ‘Untouchables’ was fiercely criticised by B.R. Ambedkar and his followers for keeping dalits within the Hindu fold, which, in their opinion, was the root cause of their disabilities. Dr. Biradar’s book takes a fresh look at this important, and still enormously relevant, debate, by exploring Gandhi’s campaigns in the Karnataka. Not only does this book bring fresh material to light, it also forwards a striking conclusion: that Gandhi’s campaigns against untouchability took firmest root and flourished where his initiatives built on pre-existing and powerful traditions of social and religious reform, as was the case in Karnataka.
It is a matter of particular gratification that the archival heritage of our country is in the hands of scholars such as Dr. Biradar, who is not only a skilled archivist but a considerable scholar with a feel for the enormous value of the records held at the National Archives of India.
11-01-2012 Dr. Joya Chatterji
Reader in Modern South Asian History,
University of Cambridge;
and Fellow of Trinity College.
Dr. G.A. Biradar’s book on Gandhi’s tour of Karnataka is a valuable addition to our knowledge of the late 1920s/early 1930s period in particular. By bringing together a range of official materials on the Congress activities in Mysore/Karnataka at this time, alongside personal assessments by Congress sympathizers, he portrays a region that was at a remove from mainstream nationalism. Yet, at the same time, Mysore/Karnataka had a long legacy of anti-caste, anti-untouchability movements that was both receptive to, and simultaneously diffused, the Gandhian call for the abolition of untouchability.
Dr. Biradar also highlights the contribution of Lingayats to the national movement, particularly in Bombay Karnataka. He has provided other scholars working on Mysore/Karnataka with a very important set of documental materials to carry forward questions relating to the history of caste, nationalism, and societal reform in a relatively under-researched region.
09-02-2012 Janaki Nair
Professor,
Centre for Historical Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi-110016Courtesy: Dr.Joya Chatterji, H.K.Naik, Prof. Arvind Rajagopal,
Prof. Janaki Nair,Prof. Mrinalini Sinha, Prof. Parvathi G.Aithal/Sthithigathi
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