Mahamana as a Social Reformer

The Depressed Classes and Malaviyaji's Call of Conscience

Malaviyaji, as the president of the All India Seva Samiti, exhorted the volunteers to exhibit the true spirit of service without any distinction on the basis of caste and status. It is interesting to note that he also started a Boy Scout Unit in 1918 under the Prayag Seva Samiti to inculcate the spirit of service from a young age. These instances indicate that Malaviyaji was deeply sensitive to the sufferings of the people in the society around him and how he tried to alleviate them as much as possible.

The Depressed Classes and Malaviyaji's Call of Conscience

Malaviyaji's did not work for uplifting the depressed classes not due to any political motive, but more because of to his own inner conscience and firm belief. To change the age-old mindset of the people and the rigid orthodoxy of several Hindu groups was a daunting task. It was only after 1922, that he utilized the forum of the Mahasabha to project untouchability as an issue of concern for the unity of Hindu society.

He spared no efforts to debate with the pundits, quoting extensively from scriptures and other Sanskrit texts to show that untouchability was not an ordained by scriptures. He quoted passages from these texts to show that people from lower castes, on account of their purity of character and nobility of life, were also the preceptors of higher-class people. He was in favour of the abolition of this inhuman practice. He wanted to know why the depressed should be denied basic amenities like water, education, temple entry, and social status. He carried his arguments to the public and used political platforms to awaken people. To this third discrimination. An article in the weekly Sanatana Dharma he wrote:

"Untouchables are a part of the Sanatana Dharma. To help them progress, to try to keep them away from poverty and pity, to give them general and spiritual education, to protect them like another limb of the society and to see them prosper is our essential duty."

Dr S. Radhakrishnan recalls meeting Malaviyaji in Bangalore in 1927, when Malaviyaji appealed to the people there to lift the downtrodden from indignity. Explaining his views on this knotty problem, he asked for the support of the pundits in uprooting this problem.

Malaviyaji quoted a Sanskrit saying which meant, "What you don't wish to be done to yourself, don't do to others". In January 1933, he persuaded the Sanatana Dharma leaders to ameliorate the condition of the depressed classes. When the Harijan tour undertaken by Gandhiji ended on 29 July 1934 at Banaras, a meeting was held at the Central Hindu School grounds. Malaviyaji spoke in support of equal civil and religious rights to Harijans and extensively quoted from the scriptures to convince the other speaker, Pt. Devanayakacharya, and the orthodox crowd. He said: