Vol. 10 · pages 11–15

Nationalism, a Means to an End Labour’s creed is internationalism. Labour is interested in nationalism only because the wheels of democracy—such as representative Parliaments, responsible Executive, constitutional conventions, etc.—work better in a community united by national sentiments. Nationalism to Labour is only a means to an end. It is not an end in itself to which Labour can agree to sacrifice what it regards as the most essential principles of life. —from Dr. Ambedkar’s Broadcast on All India Radio, Bombay in December 1942.

TABLE OF CONTENTS SR. NO. SUBJECT PAGE Foreword … … … (vii) Note on Editing … … … (xi) PART I 1. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : A Biographical Sketch … 3 2. Appointment as Labour Member of the Viceroy’s Council. … 10 3. The need for uniformity in Labour Legislation … 11 4. Election of a Member to the Advisory Committee of Geological Survey of India … … … 19 5. The Situation in India … … … 21 6. Election of a member to the Advisory Committee of Geological Survey of India … … … 30 7. Why Indian Labour is determined to win the War … 36 8. The Paper Control Order … … … 44 9. Announcement re : Grant of Inadequate Dearness Allowance to Workers … … … 50 10. The Indian Finance Bill … … … 53 11. Election of members to the Standing Committee for the Labour Department … … … 59 12. The Indian Tea Control (Amendment) Bill … 63 13. The War Injuries (Compensation Insurance) Bill … 69 14. Employment Exchanges for Skilled and Semi-Skilled Personnel … … … … 78 15. The Indian Boilers (Amendment) Bill … … 81 16. The Motor Vehicles (Drivers) Amendment Bill … 84 17. The Mines Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill … 87 18. The War Injuries (Compensation Insurance) Bill … 89 19. First Session of Plenary Labour Conference … 100 20. Labour and Parliamentary Democracy … … 106 21. The Indian Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill … 113 22. Post-war Development of Electric Power in India … 120 CONTENTS MESSAGE v PREFACE vii

(xiv) DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES SR. NO. SUBJECT PAGE 23. Labour Member’s visit to Jharia Coalfields … 129 24. Labour Member visits Coalmines … … 130 25. Promotion of Labour Welfare in India … … 135 26. Lifting of ban on Employment of Women on underground work in Coalmines … … 139 27. The Coalmines Safety (Stowing) Amendment Bill 145 28. Government Policy towards Labour … … 149 29. Miscellaneous Departments … … 159 30. Protection of Mosques in New Delhi … … 161 31. The Factories (Amendment) Bill … … 165 32. Advisory Committee on Coalmines Welfare Fund … 169 33. Mica Industry to be placed on a sound and stable footing 172 34. Standing Labour Committee discusses recognition of Trade Unions … … … 178 35. Post-war Employment of skilled workers … … 181 36. Plenary Session of Tripartite Labour Conference … 188 37. The Factories (Second Amendment) Bill … … 201 38. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill … 211 39. Damodar Valley Scheme—Calcutta Conference … 220 40. Post-war Electric Power Development … … 226 41. Government Policy re Mineral Resources of India … 237 42. Labour Policy of Government of India … … 243 43. Need for immediate re-imposition of ban on Employment of Women underground in Mines … … 253 44. Department of Labour : Demand for Supplementary grant … 260 45. The Mines Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill … 264 46. The Factories (Second Amendment) Bill … … 267 47. The Mines Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill … 274 48. Health Insurance for Industrial Workers … 277 49. War Work of National Service Labour Tribunals … 279 50. Multi-purpose Development of Damodar Valley … 284 51. Housing of India’s Industrial Workers … … 291 52. State’s obligations to Labour … … 293 53. Multi-purpose Plan for development of Orissa’s rivers 302