The history behind starting of Mooknayak
Ramesh ShindeWhen Southburough commission came in 1919, the 2 representatives nominated for speaking were not from the Depressed Classes. Babasaheb Ambedkar used to work as a Professor in Sydenham college, Mumbai that time. Hence, technically he couldn't participate in this as per the law.

However Babasaheb was upset that the real voice was not being heard. He somehow managed to get the Governor's permission to state his point.
And then he wrote an Open letter in the Times of India (ToI) under the name of " Ek Mahar"...There he put forward all his demands. But ToI just published 4 lines of that letter.
This infuriated Babasaheb. Please remember that Babasaheb had not yet plunged into politics that time.
But that incident made him furious. he realised none of the Upper Caste media was ready to share views of his people.
This infuriated him so much that he decided to start media of his own and then started Mooknayak, in a few months on 31st of Jan,1920. He wanted Autonomy.
He didn't like Token Representation. He wanted to tell that we can read and write on our own..
To generate revenue, he also sent the ads of the launch to Tilak for publishing in Kesari. He gave money to Tilak for publishing it, it wasn't for free.
But Tilak refused to publish. Babasaheb himself would first write all matter of Mooknayak in English and then himself translate it.
He knew that many of his people cant read or write. But he knew it was his assertion. He wanted to send out a message.
Also he would urge the literate people in the village to read out Mooknayak to others so that people could understand.
Add Comment