SSC
In 1930, Dr B. R. Ambedkar led a satyagraha for the right of Dalits to enter the Kalaram temple at:
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Answer: Option D — Nashik
Detailed Solution
In March 1930, Dr B. R. Ambedkar led a satyagraha for the right of Dalits (then called "untouchables") to enter the Kalaram temple at Nashik, Maharashtra.
About the Kalaram temple:
- It is an old temple of Lord Rama, located in the Panchavati area of Nashik.
- It was built in 1792 by the Peshwa's sardar Gopikabai Peth (Sardar Rangarao Odhekar).
- The name "Kalaram" comes from the black stone idol of Rama.
The satyagraha:
- On 2 March 1930, Ambedkar, along with the Dalit leader Dadasaheb Gaikwad and thousands of followers, began the satyagraha to enter the temple.
- The temple authorities and caste Hindus closed the gates and did not allow them to enter.
- The satyagrahis remained outside the temple for weeks, peacefully demanding entry.
- At the time of the Ram Navami procession, the caste Hindus attacked the satyagrahis with stones, and there was violence.
- The satyagraha continued for about five years (1930-1935), but the Dalits were not allowed to enter the temple.
Ambedkar's conclusion:
- The failure of the Kalaram satyagraha and other temple-entry movements convinced Ambedkar that the caste Hindus would not give up untouchability.
- In 1935, at Yeola, he declared, "I was born a Hindu, but I will not die a Hindu."
- In 1956, he converted to Buddhism, along with lakhs of his followers.
Other temple-entry movements:
- The Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) and the Guruvayur Satyagraha (1931-32) in Kerala.
- The Temple Entry Proclamation of Travancore (1936) opened the temples of the state to all Hindus.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Mahad, Pune and Pandharpur were not the site of this satyagraha.
Quick tip
Remember: Kalaram temple satyagraha = Nashik, 2 March 1930 (Ambedkar and Dadasaheb Gaikwad; continued until 1935); Yeola declaration (1935).
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Socio-Religious Reform Movements — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Socio-Religious Reform Movements, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
In the 19th century, reformers worked to remove social evils and revive Indian society. This topic covers organisations such as the Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Theosophical Society, Satyashodhak Samaj and the Aligarh Movement, along with their founders and the social reforms they achieved. Questions usually ask who founded an organisation and when, or which reformer is linked to a reform. For example, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj and campaigned against sati, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar championed widow remarriage, and Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj. A table of organisation, founder, year and place covers most questions. Practise the socio-religious reform movements questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.