Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on Mahar Watan: Quest for Socio-Economic Emancipation of Mahars

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the struggle of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to secure the abolition of the Mahar Watan for liberating Mahar Watandars from socio-economic exploitation prevalent at the village society. It is argued that the Mahars were tied to the watan system due to fixed hereditary occupations based on caste. It obligated them to undergo oppression about rendering disgraceful jobs, begging of leftover food, low remuneration, facing denial of landownership rights, which was primarily responsible for their degraded socio-economic status. He endeavoured to attain economic independence and social dignity for Mahars by demanding separate villages with land ownership rights away from the villages of caste Hindus.