PATIT PAWAN MANDIR

 Patit Pawan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India. It was built by Shriman Bhagojisheth Keer in 1931.  

The name speaks for itself. Patit in Marathi is the lowest, humblest, downtrodden man in the society. Pawan is purified, enlightened, awakened, fulfillment. The temple which transforms the downtrodden to the pure form, which restores his rights as a human being.  

The place where he (the untouchable, dalit) can perform the puja, worship his god as everyone else does.
The entry of untouchables in a temple was unthinkable at that time. Even if the shadow of an untouchable fell on an upper caste man he would bathe again. Such was the social fabric of India and it was taken to advantage by the then British rule in India as the policy of Britishers was divide and rule. The caste system and discretion in the society was fully exploited by the British.

 One man who saw this and thought that this was wrong and devoteda great part of his life to fight against it was Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar. By establishing the Patit Pawan Mandir in Ratnagiri he created a storm in the society.