The first owl among the Aryan Brahmins, parading as a gentleman, and though as inhabitant of Poona, prefers to stay in Bombay, presumes to proffer shallow advice to the learned H.H. (Sayajirao) Gaekwar of Baroda that caste-distinctions among us do not at all hinder our desired goal, nor does it come in the way of our national advancement. We are not at all surprised at this empty cunning wisdom of those self-styled (garrulous preachers) who hate the Shudras and Anti-shudras with all their heartes'. When the pernicious caste-distinctions will disappear, the Anti-shudras will condemn in no uncertain terms, the (devilish ban) imposed by the Aryan Brahmins, on their taking education. Once they become educated, they will come to the evil designs and deeds of the Brahmins and hence will not deing to touch their cunning, wicked books with a pair of tongs. The Shudras will not pay respect to the Brahmins who style themselves as the most worthy of respect among the eighteen Varnas. They will also not entertain them (the Brahmins) with sumptuous feasts gratis (they who are no better than mere manual workers). They will never respect the Brahmins who play on the 'Tabla' nor would they salute them as they trade in lies.
There is another Aryan Brahmin who presumes to be a second (learned) Shankaracharya and who also preaches loudly in diverse meetings and Conferences that the Shudra peasaants condition is much better than what is was thirty years ago. We are astounded at his temerity. Our English Government has collected lakhs of rupees from the tillers of the soil by way of taxes (cess) and have expended the said amounts of money on the education of Bhats/Brahmins. But (we have pained to state) that all this has been a huge waste of money (it has served no useful purose). The vindictive Aryan Brahimins have been practsing a shameless tyranny in diverse ways for thousands of years, under the grab (or pretext) of their spurious, wicked religion concocted by them (to accomplish their nufarious objects). Thanks to the researchers of philanthropic English scholars and also to the education (preaching) imparted to the Shudras by the preachers sent to this unfortunate country by many benevolent European (English) and American people at great personal cost to themselves, there has been a slight improvement in the condition of the ignorant Shudra farmers here. The said savant (the second Shankarachrya) is ashamed to admit openly that the religious tyranny practised by the Brahmins on the Shudra peasants has lost some of its severity (sting). So he says vaguely that the condition of the Shudra peasant has inproved somewhat during the last thirty years. These crafty Brahmins use the simple unadorned language of the unlettered Shudra peasants to convince (futilely) the ignorant (unsuspecting) Governor General and other high-ranking officers and try to save their face somehow.
Have any of the Brahmin women or Brahmin children ever experienced the agony of toiling on the farms, in the burning sun, on an empty stomach, like the Shudra women or the Shudra children? Has any Bhat/Brahmin ever soiled his hands by carrying baskets of night-soil on their heads and deposting the same near the trunks (roots) of trees (as manure)? His fraterual caste-men grab about Rs. twenty per day by way of alms (gifts) of a cow, the amount earned by the Shudra farmers by the sweat of their brows and they squander these alms in entertaining women of easy virtue. It is very strange about this (evil practice of their caste-men!).
The above - mentioned contention of the, so-called learned (Brahmins) is like saying that the economic condition of the present day Bhils, fishermen, Mangs and Mahars is better than that of the nomadic Brahmins who, in ancient times, were moving about the forest tending herds of cattle, donning clothes made out of the tree-barks. Living in huts and subsisting on the wild roots of plants and trees? (It is patently absurd!). These cunning (so-called) learned Bhats/Brahmins practse their roguery in diverse ways on the ignorant, poor, Shudras and Anti-Shudras (and fleece them systematically!). It is our intention to bring this deplorable state of affairs to the notice of our poor Shudra and Anti-Shudra brethren as also (the rapacious) Brahmins (in a lighting flash, as it were). Hence we have entitled this booklet as a "Warning".
JOTIRAO GOVINDRAO PHULE
1st October 1885.
A WARNING
"A person who has sustained an injury to his body alone will know ehat physical pain is. How can any other person know it, O ignorant (rustic) one?"
If we think carefully about the condition of India in general, we soon realize that many foreign powers (people) invaded this (fair) land of ours. The foreign invaders did precious little for the comfort and happiness of the Shudra and Anti-Shudra subjects here. Nothing was done (by them) for the prosperity and advancement of this land. The first two invade India were the Iranians (people from Iran) who are now called (known all over India as) Aryans or Brahmins, and who conquerred this land and establish their rule (supremacy) here. The illustration of Parashuram's victory and rule over India should be sufficient (testimony). The Aryans, then, framed and promulgated totally unjust and immoral laws and regulations and codified them under the name of 'Manu - Samhita' (Manu Smruti). These laws were framed arbitrarily and always keeping in view the selfish interests of the Aryans. They invested these 'laws' with the authority of sacrosanct religion to give it special prestige and dignity. They succeeded in the enforcing these iniquitous laws on the Shudra and Anti-Shudras here who were drowned in the vast ocean of murky ignorance. Later on, the Moslems (the Afghans, the Mughals etc.) invaded this country. The Dutch, the Portuguese, the French also attacked India (in the 18th Century).
But these invasions were not of much significance as they could establish their hold on a few pockets (areas) of India and their rule lasted here only for a brief period of time. They did not leave imprint on the people here. Just as they did not harass the people, they did not take any steps to benefit the people either in any significant measure. Of the above-mentioned foreign invaders only two the Aryans and the 'Moslems harassed the peoples-the subject-here (the word 'Subjects' signifies the Shudras and the Anti-Shudra of India here as also subsequently in this booklet). The invaders were indeed the embodiments of treachery, jealousy, cruelty and selfishness. In order to accomplish their thoughtless (and selfish) objects, they used their rule and power as sharp whips to lash mercilessly the poor, defenceless subjects whom they had subjugated. They were past matters in the art of torturing the subjects, as they did not take any steps to improve their lot (which would have ameliorated their condition). A cursory perusal of their history (in India) would reveal that they (the foreign invaders) tortured the subjects in India in the following ways : Sometimes they harassed and finally killed them mercilessly for petty or non-existent crimes (supposed to be committed by them). Sometimes, they entertained carnal desires about beautiful, high bred, and virtuous women-folk of the conquerred people (and violated their modesty, or molested or outraged them) to satisfy their lustful (carnal) desires. For petty offences committed by the subjects, the foreign invaders used to torture them inhumanly, resulting in their deaths.
The punishments which they visited (inflicted) upon the poor people here were very strange, and barbarous. A mere narration of these tortures would horrify the hearts of even the hardened among us. His heart would burst with pity for the victims and his hair would stand on the end. How horrible is the punishment of condemning a man to death. The condemned person is made to sit on a sharply pointed iron pillar, and he is thrust down the length of the column until its sharp point emerges otu of his head which is thrashed severly with whip-lashes or with a slender bough of a tree until his skin is ruptured and he bleeds profusely. Then saline water or tamarind soaked in water is poured on the lacerated skin which causes excruciating pain to him, he writhes in grate agony and finally succumbs to the pain. His tormentors derive sadistic Pleasure in seeing him suffer his agonies Sometimes he is hurled from the ramparts of A fort deep into the ravine below, or he is tied to the legs of an infuriated tusker (intoxicated with wine etc.) and the tusker is made to run on a rough, stony path (resulting in the victim's death) (Readers will please recall the inhuman death, inflicted upon the valiant, famous Vithojirao Holkar, in the manner described above, in Poona (on 16th April 1801) by the treachevous, ungrateful Peshwa. Sometimes boiling oil or vermillion or lead was poured into the mouths of the victims which naturally resulted in their deaths. Blood-curdling punishments like those described above were inflicted on the poor, defenceless subjects for petty thefts or offences, out of sheer spite. Till recently, till the (ignominious) and of the rule of Bajirao Peshwa II the last of the infamous (notorious) line of the Peshwas, if farmers defaulted in paying the land assessment in time, they were made to bend down publicly (in front of the 'Chawdi') with heavy stones placed on their backs, or sometimes their wives were made to sit on their bent backs and they were made to inhale the pungent, obnoxious smoke of chillies burnt under their faces. If we compare the tortures and punishments inflicted on the victims during the Peshwas' regime with those prevailing in other lands and regimes (we make bold to state that) the Peshwas' punishments would carry the palm any day. (If we reflect on these severe punishments dispassionately) we are forced to wonder whether the law-enforcing agencies (authorities) who were the Peshwas' caste-men were constantly planning and mediating on diverse methods of torturing and harassing the poor subjects day in and day out. This was the one and only object of their constant study in devising such punishments. Their conception of punishing the subjects embraced various facets-such as beating up or whip lashing, maiming (their bodies), robbing or various ways of harassment (mental & physical). The subjects' unhappiness gave them (the Brahmins) untold joy and satisfaction. The Brahmin bureaucracy regarded the poor subjects as less than vermin or less than dumb animals (in the field). The poor subjects, according to the Bhat rulers were specially created (by God) to serve the Bhat Peshwas and their caste-men as helots. These helots were supposed to till the fields and garner rich harvests, to weave clothes, to toil and moil in the burning heat of sun, and to produce and supply diverse luxuries needed by the Peshwas and their cast-men, their women-folk and children too. So be it! The Omnipotent Almighty (God) dethroned the Peshwa and the evil coterie of his caste-men (counsellors) who were intoxicated with the heady wine of power and hence were persecuting the poor subjects. It was fit and proper nemesis for their notorious misdeeds and misrule. By divine dispensation, the English rule (or supremacy or raj) came to be established here, a rule which was at once just and merciful, wholesome, beneficial, righteous and peaceful-for the comfort and benefit of the long suffering masses in India. The ryots are eternally grateful and beholden unto the all-merciful God-and they further pray to him, "O Lord! May this regime last long! (we make this statement because) after the advent of the English raj (rule) here, the common people heaved a sign of relief, for they were freed, at long last, from the inhuman oppression and tyranny (born of envy and jealousy)-religious, ethical administrative and diverse other manifestations (of the same).
These day, the subjects (under the English rule) are encouraged to do things that they like-which they think are in their best interests and which are not harmful to other people. Formerly, (under the Peshwa rule) the subjects' property was vulnerable to attacks by the robbers. They lived in constant dread of high Government Officers as also of the violent marauders (robbers-i.e. the Pindaris)-enjoying the patronage of the ruling class (kings). Hence the people were unable to use the money they had earned hard way for their own comforts, nor could they store it safely because of so many threats and difficulties. As a result of this, the common people lost all interest in life and became slothful, idle and quite safe (which they have earned the hard way0. That is why they can spend them as they like, they can save them up, or can dispose of them as they like. In short, they are the undisputed masters of their earnings. That is why they have given up their slothful habits and are trying their best to acquire more and more money (for their won use). The (English) Government has introduced many good reforms for the welfare of the subjects, and are planning to undertake many new projects beneficial to the people at large. Formerly, travelling was a great ordeal for the people, because it was fraught with many dangers.
The Government has now constructed new roads and provided safety to the travellers on their journeys. So travelling has become a joyful thing for them. The government has constructed (new) bridges for the convenience of the people, have opened many new English schools, many hospitals, as also many caravanserais for the needy people. One can mention many more of such new conveniences. But there is one great project which the Government has undertaken which is truly beneficial to the people and which is commendable and eternally creditable to the Government. We need not highlight its importance to he common man. The good and valuable project undertaken by the Government holds forth great hope and cheer before the people who have been afflicted with the curse of poverty all these years. That project concerns the bridging together (joining together) the many mountain-passes interspersed on the mountain-ranges in our land and constructing many vast lakes (percolation tanks). The Government is planning to construct many canals at different locations and to provide life-giving water, through them, to the needy farmers' lands enabling them to cultivate those lands through all the seasons (all the year round). The Government also intends to provide clean drinking water from these lakes to the thirsty subjects who are suffering all these years (for lack of drinking water). Such a vital amenity was overdue, and by God's grace, it has materialised now.
For more than a century the Bhat rulers have overburdened the poor subjects with unjust, heavy taxation, and thus have gobbled up croers of rupees (for their personal comforts), but they didn't have the goodness to spend even a farthing of this ill-gotten wealth for the welfare of the poor subjects, in all conscience. We are most ashamed to narrate the various ways in which the Bhat rulers have expended this huge amount of money. They established temple-complexes at different places for their own caste-man and opened centres of free distribution of food (to them). As soon as the amounts of taxes were credited into the treasury, the Bhat rulers would issue prompt orders to donate Rs. two lakhs to temple-complex X, Rupees fifty thousand to temple-complex Y.
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