A CORPSE IN THE WELL BY SHANKARRAO KHARAT
A CORPSE IN THE WELL BY- SHANKARRAO KHARAT 1 CREATED BY- KOPAL VATS, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, MLSU 12/30/2021
The following features are to be discussed �Treatment of Mahar and Ramoshi communities in 2 the village �Role of Mahars in handling of dead bodies in the village �Contrast the treatment given to Anna and the Village Chief �Is the horse of the head constable a symbol? If yes then how? �The snake in the story is an important symbol, how? �What is the importance of the caste of the eponymous corpse in the well. CREATED BY- KOPAL VATS, DEPARTMENT 12/30/2021 �Contrast OF ENGLISH, MLSUthe personalities of Anna and his son.
Mahar Vatan Share �Before Independence, rulers, including the British, awarded land to persons of certain communities for their services. These lands were called watan or inam land. In Maharashtra, land gifts were given to those of the priestly caste, Marathas, Chaugules, among others. They also awarded land to Mahar and Ramoshi communities, now categorised as Scheduled Castes (SC). 3 CREATED BY- KOPAL VATS, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, MLSU 12/30/2021
�These Dalit communities were awarded land for their services such as cleaning villages, management of dead animals, delivering government documents, protecting villages as watchmen, etc. �After Independence, the government abolished the watansystem, through the enactment of the Bombay Inferior Village Watans Abolition Act, 1958. However, the Act recognised Mahar, Ramoshi and Matang (a small population in Maharashtra) communities’ need for this land for sustenance. 4 CREATED BY- KOPAL VATS, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, MLSU 12/30/2021
�The 1958 Act aimed to protect Dalits’ access to land. It made provision for re-granting watan land to the individuals of watandar (holder of awarded land) communities. The families could claim the land from the government by paying three years’ annual tax on the land. And, on paying 13 years’ tax, they could have absolute ownership of this land. �The Act also aimed to ensure that the watan land meant for Mahar and Ramoshi people doesn’t fall out of their hands. This land cannot be transferred to persons of other communities. Moreover, Dalit families can use this land only for agricultural and allied purposes to sustain livelihoods. 5 CREATED BY- KOPAL VATS, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, MLSU 12/30/2021
THE END 6 CREATED BY- KOPAL VATS, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, MLSU 12/30/2021
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