Vol. 17, Part II · pages 151–155

128 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES It is for this that Manu imposed these disabilities upon women and crippled them permanently. Those who doubt this might well consider the following injunctions contained in Manu Smriti — V. 88. Funeral rites and obsequies which are performed on the death of a person shall be withdrawn (i.e, shall not be performed ) from those who are born out of intermixture, from those who are addicted to asceticism and from those who have ended their lives by committing suicide. V. 89. They shall also be withdrawn from women who have joined a heretic sect, who have too freely. who have injured a child in their womb or their husband and those who drink wine. This injunction is among others aimed at (1) those who are addicted to asceticism and (2) women who have joined a heretic sect. In this injuction asceticism refers to Parivrajakas i.e. those who have abandoned their homes and taken to Sannyas and, in referring to a heretic sect, there is no doubt that Manu has in mind the Buddhist religion. It is therefore clear that when Manu declares that no funeral rites and obsequies shall be performed, for an ascetic or a woman who has joined a heretic sect, what Manu does is to prohibit performance of funeral rites and obsequies of a member of a family-whether male or female-who has joined the Buddha’s religion. In other words he wants them to be treated as though they were disaffiliated and ho longer belonged to the family. Manu was the greatest opponent of the Buddhist religion. This is the secret of the many inequities which he heaped upon women. For he knew that if the home is to be protected against the invasion of Buddhism it is the woman who must be put under restraint. And he did it. All responsibility for the decline and fall of woman in India must be fastened upon Manu and not upon the Buddha. In the compass of a few pages I have endeavoured to present the story of the Rise and fall of the Hindu woman. I have also endeavoured to offer an explanation as to who was the author of their fall and why he brought it about. I hope that the

129THE RISE . . . . . . . . . FOR IT ? unprejudiced and the impartial will realize that it was not the Buddha who can be held responsible for the tragedy. If anything the Buddha endeavoured to ennoble the woman it was to raise her to the level of man. 1 zz 1 : Magazine— ‘Maha Bodhi’ May-June 1951, Vol. 59, Pp. 137-151.

19 SAINTS’ LITERATURE CAN HELP TO MORAL REARMAMENT OF MAN I am happy to know that there has come into existence the Eknath Research Society in Aurangabad. In my young days I was very fond of the literary works of the Maharashtra Saints and I can say how great a contribution the reading of this literature can make to the moral rearmament of man. I wish the Society every success and can promise all help from the People’s Education Society. Aurangabad, Sd./- B. R. Ambedkar. 2-9-1951. [Eknath Darshan (Marathi) Vol. 1, Shri Eknath, Sanshodhan Mandir. 128, Marathwada, Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad, 1952. ] 1 zz 1. Reprinted : Khairmode, Vol. 10, p. 143.

20 OUTLINE A PEOPLE AT BAY BY B. R. AMBEDKAR M. A., Ph. D., D. Sc., Barrister-at-Law. Author of Annihilation of Caste “RAJGRAHA” DADAR BOMBAY-14.

132 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES A PEOPLE AT BAY Table of Contents Chapter 1. A Civilization which is Infamy. Chapter 2. The Felony of a Graded Order. Chapter 3. From Millions to Fractions. Chapter 4. Waiting for a Visa. Chapter 5. Revolt of the Untouchables. Chapter 6. Held at Bay. Chapter 7. Why Lawlessness is Lawful. Chapter 8. Parellel Cases. Chapter 9. Slaves and Untouchables. Chapter 10. An Eternal Verity. Chapter 11. Untouchables and Pax Britannia. Chapter 12. Hindu Reformers At Work. Chapter 13. Christianising the Untouchables. Chapter 14. Under the Aegis of Mr. Gandhi. Chapter 15. Untouchables and their Origin. Chapter 16. Untouchables and their Destiny.