Nashik: Events mark 90 years of Kalaram temple satyagraha

NASHIK: The Kalaram Mandir Satyagruhi Abhivadan Samiti organised a socio-cultural event at Gauri Patangan near the Godavari river on Monday to mark 90 years of the peaceful satyagraha movement that Dr B R Ambedkar had launched in Nashik for the entry of Dalits into the Kalaram temple.
A large section of the residents took part in the event. Union minister Ramdas Athawale paid floral tributes to Dr Ambedkar and others at Kranti Stupa, the site near the temple where the peaceful satyagraha was held.
Avinash Aher, a member of the Samiti, said they gather at the site every year to pay respects to Dr Ambedkar and to those who had participated in the peaceful satyagraha for more than five years. “Some of the participants of that stir had lost their lives,” Aher said.
According to the Samiti members, nearly 350 people continued the peaceful protest for more than five years. “Since Dr Ambedkar had to participate in the round-table conference, the responsibility of continuing the satyagraha fell on Dadasaheb Gaikwad. He took the lead and led the agitation,” added Aher.
During the programme, the Samiti members said that the satyagraha had a positive impact on their community. There were few presentations of songs followed by veneration of the present generation of the agitators.
A similar programme was also organised at Golf Club ground in the city. Athawale also attended the event.
“We had taken prior permission from the civic body and the police for the programme. We have also made water arrangements and rice preparations for the people coming to participate in the gathering from rural areas,” said Aher.
The iconic Kalaram temple houses idols of Ram, Sita and Laxman made of black marble.