Mangaon Parishad marked true beginning of social change: Collector Amol Yedage

Kolhapur: District collector Amol Yedage asserted that the Mangaon Parishad, organised in 1920 with the aim of eradicating undesirable customs and traditions from society, marked the true beginning of social change. The first ‘Bahishkrut Parishad' (conference of the excluded) in Southern Maharashtra was held on March 21 and 22, 1920, at Mangaon village in Hatkanangale tehsil of Kolhapur district in the presence of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar.On Saturday, the 106th anniversary of this historic event was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Mangaon. Speaking on the occasion, the district collector remarked that the 15 resolutions passed at the Mangaon Parishad clearly demonstrate how the future direction of Babasaheb Ambedkar's work was shaped.Collector Amol Yedage said, "The significant steps taken by Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj within his princely state for the welfare of the excluded classes were subsequently incorporated by Babasaheb into the Constitution. Through the Constitution, several fundamental principles—such as equal education, religious harmony, and social justice—received a legal foundation. The global renown that Babasaheb achieved by overcoming adverse circumstances to pursue higher education remains a towering ideal for society to this day."Collector Yedage also expressed gratitude to ‘BARTI' (Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute) and the department of social justice for organising the programme. The event commenced with the hoisting of the Panchasheel flag and with viewing of a holographic show based on the Mangaon Parishad. Following the event, a solo play titled ‘Kranticha Sakshidar' (witness to the revolution) was presented by Rupesh Nikalje (Beed).Development Plan Worth Rs 200 Crores to Be Approved Soon: MLA Ashokrao ManeHatkanangale MLA Ashokrao Mane informed that the development plan for Mangaon, worth approximately Rs200 crore, would be approved by the state govt within the next six months. Through the adoption of 15 resolutions, the marginalised community gained immense strength. It was at this very location that the foundation for the mantra, "educate and organise," was uttered. This was not merely a conference; it marked the beginning of a revolution.The programme was organised jointly by the assistant commissioner of social welfare (Kolhapur), the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI, Pune), the gram panchayat, and the Buddhist Community of Mangaon. A large gathering of citizens and school students, alongside dignitaries, including former MLA Rajeev Awale, district superintendent of police Yogesh Kumar, Appasaheb Patil's descendant Dilip Patil, zilla parishad member Rahul Awale, sub-divisional officer Deepak Shinde, and assistant commissioner of social welfare Sachin Sale, attended the programme.