Miscellaneous
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at Pandharpur (31st December 1937) Background: Dr. Ambedkar was traveling to Sholapur to preside over the Sholapur District Depressed Classes Conference (also referred to as the Sholapur District DC Conference). Pandharpur is a major pilgrimage town in Maharashtra, historically significant in the Bhakti tradition but also a place where caste discrimination was starkly evident—especially regarding temple entry for Dalits. Ambedkar’s visits to such religious towns were not only political but also carried strong symbolic meaning in the struggle against untouchability. What Happened: On his way to Sholapur, a massive public reception was organized for him at Pandharpur . Thousands of people, mostly from the Dalit and backward communities, gathered to welcome him, reflecting his growing mass following after the Poona Pact (1932) and his leadership in social and political movements. The reception demonstrated the organized str...