Jatav Mahasabha

Akhil Bharatiya Jatav Mahasabha was founded in 1917 under the leadership of Rao Sahib Manik Chand Jatav and Swami Achootanand. It was formed to promote the interests of Chamars for seeking social upliftment into Kshatriya varna.

Akhil Bharatiya Jatav Mahasabha
AbbreviationABJM
Formation19 October 1917 (1917-10-19)
FounderManik Chand Jatav-vir
TypeJatav and Chamar Community Organization
HeadquartersAgra, Uttar Pradesh
Region
India
Key people
Khemchand Bohare (President)
AffiliationsChamar, Ravidassia

Foundation

Manik Chand Jatav, Yadavendu Harishchandra and others came in contact with each other in 1910s. They worked for the upliftment of Chamars & freeing caste from this disgraceful name. They campaigned for the adopting 'Jatav' surname replacing with names who denotes lower hierarchy.[1]

The name 'Jatav' came from Pandit Sunderlal Sagar's book 'Jatav Jivan' and Ramnarayan Yadavendu's 'Yaduvansh Ka Itihas' who were based on their similar heritage and clans of Yadavs and Jats of Braj region. They demanded the status of Yaduvanshi Kshatriyas and economic prosperity made many Chamars equal to these middle castes.[2][3] British govt. established cantonments in Agra, Delhi, Meerut, Kanpur and other prominent cities which gave Chamars opportunity to prove themselves they got tenders for making leather products for British Indian Army, and many Jatavs got included into army also. This change created an impact on local Chamars and they starter organising under one umbrella.[4]

In 1931 census, they played an aggressive role for their demand as inclusion of Chamars into Kshatriya fold and renaming them as 'Jatav' from Chamar. They succeeded and Chamars were called 'Jatav' in new census of India.[5]

Activities

Jatavs encouraged to leave non-veg and lifestyle as upper castes and even few of them adopted 'sacred thread' who were earlier under the influence of Arya Samaj.[6]

They established many schools, promoted sanskrit, investment in business and women empowerment.

Key people
  • Khemchand Bohare[7]
  • Swami Prabhutanand Vyas[8]
  • Pandit Sundarlal Sagar[9]
  • R.P. Deshmukh[10]
  • Gopichandra Pipal[11]

References
  1. Pai, Sudha (30 August 2002). Dalit Assertion and the Unfinished Democratic Revolution: The Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-1991-3.
  2. Singer, Milton B.; Cohn, Bernard S. (1970). Structure and Change in Indian Society. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-0-202-36933-4.
  3. Jaffrelot, Christophe (2003). India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India. Hurst. ISBN 978-1-85065-670-8.
  4. Rawat, Ramnarayan S. (2011). Reconsidering untouchability : Chamars and Dalit history in North India. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-35558-4. OCLC 526083948.
  5. Rawat, Ramnarayan S. (2011). Reconsidering Untouchability: Chamars and Dalit History in North India. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-22262-6.
  6. Rawat, Ramnarayan S. (2011). Reconsidering Untouchability: Chamars and Dalit History in North India. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-22262-6.
  7. Paswan, Sanjay; Jaideva, Pramanshi (2002). Encyclopaedia of Dalits in India: Leaders. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-033-2.
  8. Kshīrasāgara, Rāmacandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-85880-43-3.
  9. Ahuja, Amit (26 July 2019). Mobilizing the Marginalized: Ethnic Parties Without Ethnic Movements. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-091642-8.
  10. "Members Bioprofile". loksabhaph.nic.in. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  11. Kshīrasāgara, Rāmacandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-85880-43-3.
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