Waiting for a Visa
Author | B. R. Ambedkar |
---|---|
Country | India |
Language | English |
Publication date | March 19, 1990 |
Waiting for a Visa is an autobiographical document written by B. R. Ambedkar during the period of 1935–36.[1] The manuscript was published as a booklet, posthumously, on March 19, 1990, by the People's Education Society. The composition comprises a collection of anecdotes from Ambedkar himself and other individuals, intended to exemplify the practice of untouchability in Indian society.[1][2][3][4]
Contents
The book consists of a brief introductory passage followed by six sections relating Ambedkar's experiences with untouchability, starting from his childhood. Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 consist of Ambedkar's own experiences, while Sections 5 and 6 mainly consist of first-hand accounts of other people's experiences with untouchability, presented by Ambedkar.
Introduction
In a single-paragraph introduction, Ambedkar introduces the theme of the book, primarily aimed at foreigners and those who may not be familiar with the concept of untouchability.
Section 1: A childhood journey to Goregaon becomes a nightmare
The first section describes a trip undertaken in 1901 by nine-year-old Ambedkar and his siblings from their residence in Satara to Goregaon to meet their father, and the discriminatory behavior they encounter along the way, making their journey appear impossible and dangerous. Additionally, Ambedkar recalls the discrimination he faced in school, such as being required to sit on a separate piece of gunny cloth—which he was required to bring home with him—and requiring the presence of a school peon in order to drink water; both of these measures were taken by the school to ensure the ground and water weren't "polluted", respectively, by an untouchable. He describes the water situation with the phrase, "no peon, no water".[1]
Section 2: Back from the west, and unable to find lodging in Baroda
This section primarily describes the deep divides that existed in
Dismayed, Ambedkar left and attempted to find temporary shelter elsewhere until his application to the Minister for a bungalow was answered. His only two friends in the area were a Hindu and an Indian Christian, but both indirectly rejected Ambedkar's requests due to his lower caste: the former stated to Ambedkar that “If you come to my home my servants will go”, and the latter insinuated that his Brahmin wife would not consent to harbouring an untouchable in her house. Ambedkar, seeing no other option, left Baroda and returned to
Section 3: Pride, awkwardness and a dangerous accident in Chalisgaon
In this section, Ambedkar recounts an accident that occurred to him in the village of Chalisgaon (Maharashtra) in 1929. He had been appointed as a member to a committee instituted by the Bombay government to investigate allegations of oppression and grievances of untouchables. After carrying out investigations in the district of Khandesh, en route to Bombay, he disembarked at Chalisgaon to investigate a case of social boycott by Hindus against untouchables of that village. The untouchables of the village requested him to spend the night with them, but as the "tonga walas" (one-horse carriage drivers) considered it below their dignity to cart an untouchable, the villagers were forced to hire a carriage and drive it themselves, which they proceeded to do; however, the untouchable driving the carriage was inexperienced, and consequently caused an accident: as the carriage was crossing the river on a culvert, a wheel became stuck between the stones, causing the horse and carriage to fall into the river; Ambedkar was thrown off the carriage onto the pavement, sustaining multiple injuries, such as a leg fracture.
Ambedkar, recounting this episode, states that the pride and dignity of the village untouchables (due to their unwillingness to bring their guest on foot) led them take unnecessary risks regarding the safety of the passenger. Ambedkar also reflects on the fact that even menial Tonga walas inherently felt that a highly educated barrister at law was below them due to his status as an untouchable.[5]
Section 4: Polluting the water in the fort of Daulatabad
This section relates to an incident that serves to illustrate Indian Muslims invariably retaining the same prejudice against untouchables as Hindus.
In 1934, Ambedkar and a group of his friends had gone to visit
Ambedkar reflects on this episode at the end of the chapter, stating, ''I gave one instance to show that a person who is an untouchable to a Hindu is also an untouchable to a Parsi. This will show that a person who is an untouchable to a Hindu is also an untouchable to a Mohammedan.''
Section 5: A doctor refuses to give proper care and a woman dies.
In this section Ambedkar presents a letter published in
Ambedkar concludes the chapter, stating, "He [the doctor] felt no qualms of conscience in setting aside the code of conduct which is binding on his profession. The Hindu would prefer to be inhuman rather than touch an Untouchable."
Section 6: A young clerk is abused and threatened until he gives up his job
In this section, Ambedkar presents the narrated experience of a young man in
, in what is now Gujarat. However, due to the man's status as an untouchable, he was refused accommodation at the office. The untouchables of the village also did not accommodate or help him, as they feared the resentful upper-caste Hindus who felt that the man had taken a job that was beyond his natural rights.At the government office, his colleagues discriminated against him in numerous ways, treated him poorly, and did not allow him to drink water. Ultimately, the situation exacerbated, and an incident prompted a mob of locals to threaten to kill him. The man, distraught, immediately vacated his job position.
First publication and later editions
In 1990, the People's Education Society published this work as a booklet. It was subsequently published by the Education Department, Government of Maharashtra in 1993, in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, Vol. 12, Part I.
See also
- B. R. Ambedkar bibliography
References
- ^ a b c Ambedkar, B.R. (1936). "Waiting for a Visa". columbia.edu. Columbia University. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ Moon, Vasant (1993). Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, Vol. 12. Mumbai: Bombay: Education Department, Government of Maharashtra.
- The Print.
- ^ "डॉ. आंबेडकर की आत्मकथा". Forward Press. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Selected works of B.R.Ambedkar (PDF). pp. 4072–4090. Retrieved 15 April 2015.