Vol. 10 · pages 521–525

19 Dr. Ambedkar to Lord Pethick-Lawrence [L/P&J/10/43 :f/196-8] 22, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi, 22 May 1946 *Dear Lord Pethick-Lawrence, In reading the statement issued by the Cabinet Mission I have found that on certain points there is much ambiguity. They are set out below:— (1) Whether the term “minorities” in paragraph 20 of the statement includes the Scheduled Castes ? (2) Paragraph 20 lays down that the Advisory Committee on the rights of citizens, minorities and tribal and excluded areas should contain full representation of the interests affected. Who is to see whether the Advisory Committee does in fact contain full representation of the interests affected ? (3) Whether, in order to see that there is full representation of the interests affected, H.M.G. propose to reserve to themselves the right to add to the Committee by nomination of persons from outside the Constituent Assembly representing such interests ? The necessity for nomination from outside seems to be essential, for otherwise there is no other method for securing representation of tribal and excluded areas from within the Constituent Assembly. If the necessity for nomination is admitted, will the principle of nomination of members of the Scheduled Castes from outside the Constituent Assembly be extended to secure full representation of the Scheduled Castes on the Advisory Committee ? (4) In paragraph 22 of the statement there is a provision for a treaty between the Union Constituent Assembly and the United Kingdom providing for certain matters arising out of the transfer of power. Will * The Transfer of Power, Vol. VII, No. 359, pp. 661-62.

501 THE TRANSFER OF POWER this proposed treaty include a provision for the protection of the minorities as was stipulated in the Cripps proposals ? If the Treaty is not to have such a provision, how does H.M.G. propose to make the decisions of the Advisory Committee binding on the Constituent Assembly ? (5) The statement includes Europeans under the category of “General”. From this it may be presumed that the Europeans will have the right to vote for the election of representatives to the Constituent Assembly. Are the Europeans entitled to put up Europeans as candidates for the election of the Constituent Assembly ? This is not made clear in the Statement. These are questions which require clarification. I shall feel grateful if you will be so good as to favour me with your answers to them. I am leaving Delhi tonight for Bombay. Any reply that you may like to make to the questions set out above may kindly be sent to my address in Bombay, which is given below. (Address: Saloon No. 27, Central Station, B. B. & C. I. Railway, Bombay). Yours sincerely, B. R. Ambedkar zz

20 * Lord Pethik-Lawrence to Dr. Ambedkar [L/P&J/5/337 : pp. 371-2] 28 May 1946 Thank you for your letter of the 22nd May @ in which you ask for elucidation of certain points in the recent Statement You will appreciate that the object of the Delegation is to set up machinery whereby Indians can frame their own constitution for an independent India. The object of our Statement is to provide a basis on which the parties can come together for that purpose and we hope that it will be accepted and worked by all concerned. We have limited our Statement to the minimum which seemed to us necessary for that purpose. Other matters which arise will fall to be decided by the Constituent Assembly. It is certainly our intention that the term “minorities” in paragraph 20 of the Statement includes the Scheduled Castes. On the other hand, it will be for the Constituent Assembly itself to set up the Advisory Committee and we assume that it will desire that it should be fully representative. It is not our intention to interfere with the Constituent Assembly. The personnel of the Advisory Committee is not however limited by our Statement to persons who are members of the Constituent Assembly. I think your other questions arc largely covered by the further Statement† which was issued by the delegation on Saturday evening and of which I enclose a copy. Mr. Alexander has asked mc to acknowledge and thank you for your letter # which you sent him recently. He is away from Delhi for a few days on a visit to Ceylon and will reply to you on his return. zz * The Transfer of Power, Vol. VII, No. 399, p. 723. @No. 359. †No. 376. #Not traced in India Office Records.

21 * Rao Bahadur Sivaraj to Field Marshal Viscount Wavell L/P&J/5/337 : pp. 410-13 5 June 1946 No. 592/73/43 A meeting of the Working Committee of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation was held in Bombay on 4th June 1946 under my Chairmanship to consider the situation arising out of the proposals made by the Cabinet Mission regarding the future constitution of India. The Working Committee has passed a Resolution which they have asked me to send to the Members of the Cabinet Mission for their consideration. In pursuance thereof, I am enclosing herewith a copy of that Resolution. I shall be grateful to know from the Cabinet Mission if they have anything to say in regard to the demands contained in paragraph 6 of the Resolution. Enclosure to No. 454 THE ALL-INDIA SCHEDULED CASTES FEDERATION RESOLUTION PASSED AT THE MEETING OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE HELD AT BOMBAY ON 4TH JUNE 1946 The Working Committee of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation has taken into consideration (1) the first statement issued by the Cabinet Mission on the Constitution of India; (2) the Press interviews given by the Members of the Mission in amplification of their statement; (3) the second statement made by the Cabinet Mission and (4) the correspondence between the Cabinet Mission and the Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. There are many points arising from the statement of the Cabinet Mission on which the Working Committee * The Transfer of Power, Vol. VII, No. 454, pp. 808-12.

504 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES would like to state its views. For the present, the Working Committee prefers to deal with the plan of the Cabinet Mission for framing the future Constitution of India in so far as it affects the Scheduled Castes. 2. The working Committee has noticed with profound indignation that the Cabinet Mission has not mentioned the Scheduled Castes even once in the course of their statement of 5,000 words. It is difficult to understand the working of the mind of the Cabinet Mission. The Mission could not have been unaware of the existence of the Untouchables, their disabilities, the tyrannies and oppressions practised upon them day to day by the Caste Hindus all throughout India. The Cabinet Mission could not have been unaware of the pronouncements made by His Majesty’s Government that the Untouchables were separate from the Caste Hindus and constituted a distinct element in the national life of India. The Cabinet Mission could not have been unaware of the pledges given by His Majesty’s Government that no Constitution which had not the consent of the Scheduled Castes would be imposed upon them. The Cabinet Mission could not have been unaware of the fact that at the Simla Conference convened by Lord Wavell only a year ago, the Scheduled Castes were given separate representation from the Caste Hindus. Having regard to these circumstances, the Working Committee feels no hesitation in saying that in ignoring the Scheduled Castes in the manner in which it has done, the Cabinet Mission has brought the name of the British nation into disgrace and disrepute. 3. The Working Committee has noticed the statement made by the Cabinet Mission in the course of the Press interviews that they have made double provision for the representation of the Scheduled Castes in the Constituent Assembly and in the Advisory Committee. The Working Committee feels bound to say that these provisions are absolutely illusory and unworthy of serious consideration. In the plan set out by them the Mission have not reserved any seat for the Scheduled castes in the election by the Provincial Legislatures to the Constituent Assembly as they have done for the Sikhs and the Muslims. There is no obligation on the Provincial Legislature to elect a specified number of Scheduled Caste members to the Constituent Assembly. It is quite possible that the Constituent Assembly may not have in