Symbolic assertion of water rights triggered violent caste counter-attacks

Evidence

The privileged castes watched in horror as a procession of Untouchables walked through the town, four abreast, and drank water from the tank. After the shock subsided came the violent counter-attack, with clubs and sticks. Twenty Untouchables were injured. Ambedkar urged his people to stay firm and not to strike back. A rumour was deliberately spread that the Untouchables planned to enter the Veereshwar temple, which added a hysterical edge to the violence. The Untouchables scattered. Some found shelter in Muslim homes. For his own safety, Ambedkar spent the night in the police station. Once calm returned, the Brahmins ‘purified’ the tank with prayers, and with 108 pots of cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd and ghee. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 324

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the ideas of ritual pollution and purification rituals in Brahminical practice, and to colonial-era caste violence discussed elsewhere.