Vol. 17, Part I · pages 186–190

161ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY Hindus. But if you insist on postponing the referendum further, I would begin to suspect that what you want is not to test the bona fides of the Caste Hindus but time only to organize the Depressed Classes for an adverse referendum.” He made an impassioned appeal for mutual trust, confidence, and goodwill. He described how from the age of twelve, his whole being had rebelled against the very idea of regarding any fellow human being Untouchable and how since then he had led a ceaseless crusade against the evil. “You have a perfect right to demand cent per cent security by the statutory safeguards,” he told Dr. Ambedkar, “But, from my fiery bed, I beg of you not to insist upon the right. I am here to-day to ask for a reprieve for my Caste Hindu brethren. Thank God, their conscience has been roused. If you proceed to wrest from them cent per cent security by the statutory means, then it will interrupt the process of heart-cleansing and self-purification that is fast taking place among them. The particular injustice, for a while, to the Untouchables might be checked, but the taint in Hinduism would remain. After all, Untouchability is but a symptom of that deep-seated taint. And, if Hinduism is not completely purged of it, it will assert itself again and again in various ways and continue to poison our entire social and political fabric. I entreat you, therefore, not to deprive Hinduism of a last chance to make a voluntary expiation for its sinful past. Give me the chance of working among the Caste Hindus. That is but fair. If you ask for ten or fifteen years, then it is no chance at all. Hindus must give a good account of themselves within five years or not at all. For me, therefore, the five-year limit of referendum is an absolute matter of conscience. There should be a referendum, but not at the end of any period longer than five years. Tell your friends that I am adamant on this point. I may be a despicable person, but when truth speaks through me I am invincible. “(Epic Fast, Pp. 211—212).” 1 “The interview ended, and leaders started to settle other details regarding the number of men in the panel, number of total seats in the Provincial Assemblies, duration of the primary system, duration of reserved seats and distribution of posts.” “This meeting took place at the residence of Raja Bahadur Shivlal Motilal.” 1: Reprinted. Khairmode, Vol. 5, Pp. 47-48.

162 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES “It was now four in the evening. News came in that Gandhi’s health had taken a serious turn, and he was fast losing strength. Gandhi’s son, Devdas Gandhi, with tears in his eyes, described the condition of his father to Dr. Ambedkar and entreated him not to hold over the agreement by pressing for a referendum. At last it was decided to refer this matter to Gandhi. Ambedkar with selected leaders saw Gandhi in the jail at nine o’clock that night. Gandhi approved of the idea of referendum, but said it should take place after five years. Gandhi’s voice had now sunk to a whisper. The Jail Doctors intervened and stopped further conversation. The leaves of the mango tree above refused to move. It was a breathless silence. The visitors had to return. Dr. Ambedkar was not prepared to give up his point. His will-power was on the strain. Letters threatening his life came in showers.” 1 Here is one such letter : “Dr. Ambedkar, If you do not accept to Mahatma Gandhi’s demand within four days, your life will be in danger. If you want to save your life, you should accept Gandhiji’s demand and help ending his fast immediately. This is a warning to you. If you do not give up your vehemence, you will be killed.” Signed by Haribhai K. Bhat, A member and worker of BPEE” 2 Murderous looks were cast at him in the street, and some of the leaders insanely reviled him behind his back.” Further, a secret plan to kill Dr. Ambedkar by some youth from touchable classes of Poona was reported by ‘Janata’ (24-9-32, P. 8), thus: “Dr. Ambedkar’s life in danger ! Secret Meeting of Poona students Murder threat” Poona, Dt. 23-9-32, 8 P. M. 1:Keer,P.213. 2: Janata, dated 1st October 1932.

163ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY (By Special Reporter of Janata) “Two days are over. Negotiations are continuously going on. Various experiments of pressurising Dr. Ambedkar are going on. The students following the Gogate cult which had shot at the Governor, are known to be secretly planning. It is also being said that if Dr. Ambedkar is removed from the scene, things would settle and Gandhiji’s life would be saved. When Dr. Ambedkar was informed of this, he laughed at it. Probably his fearless laugh indicated that he was not afraid of such a death. However, the local Untouchable community is worried about the safety of Dr. Ambedkar and they are keeping an alert. Even if there happens a slightest injury to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, there would be a grave situation. Thousands of Untouchable youth would be ready to make any sacrifice for him. All are feeling a concern that there should not be such a violent end to Gandhiji’s oath.” 1 “The leaders who went to see Mahatmaji at 9-30 p.m. came out after a comparatively short while looking exhausted but cheerful. Dr. Ambedkar was heard to remark “Gandhiji is on my side.” “The leaders are meeting again in conference at 8 o’clock on Saturday morning and will see Gandhiji shortly afterwards. Prevalent opinion is that complete agreement is now within reach. And unless a miraculous piece of illluck intervenes, Saturday noon must enable Poona to flash out the happy news of a difinite settlement. Differences on questions of major importance have almost been surmounted and have been reduced to an almost theoretical difference on the question of a referendum of the Depressed Classes at a distant future date. It is considered likely that the leaders may agree to a referendum to be taken after 10 years. 1: Janata, dated 24th September 1932.

164 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Among the points agreed upon are stated to be the following :— 1. A panel of 4 for election to each seat. 2. A single vote. 3. The total number of seats in all Provincial Councils to be reserved for Depressed Classes would be between 150 to 155 as against 71 allowed by the Communal Award. The Conference, which had met at Pandit Malaviya’s place, early in the morning, after a non-stop sitting of over thirteen hours, came to an end at 9-30 p. m., after which Pandit Malaviya, Sjt. C. Rajagopalachari, Mr. Jayakar, Dr. Sapru, Dr. Ambedkar and others left hurriedly for Yeravda jail. The Conference attracted anxious crowds at Malaviyaji’s place. Even when the leaders rose at 9-30 p. m., no hope of settlement to-night was entertained. Leaders are racing against time, and lunch after dinner today went side by side with discussions. While they looked serious and absorbed earlier, boisterous laughter was heard emanating from behind the walls in the evening. The Conference of caste Hindus and Depressed Class Leaders commenced at 9 o’clock this morning at Malaviya’s residence behind closed doors. The Conference, it is understood, covered much ground and came to a settlement on questions of panel for election, and basis of representation except in the United Provinces, though the final word on the matter is still unsaid. Regarding panels, it is stated that a panel of four has been fixed as against Dr. Ambedkar’s understood demand for two and Gandhiji’s suggestion for five. To anxious queries by pressmen late in the evening, Dr. Sapru replied : “discussions are so far satisfactory, and we propose to sit through it even in the night.”

165ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY Dr. Ambedkar after the Conference stated :— “The situation is hopeful. Differences of crucial character are few, and there are chances of agreement. Gandhiji is feeling weak owing to the fast but carried on the conversation with us for over fifteen minutes.” 1 “On Saturday morning discussions were resumed. The question of the total number of seats was decided by granting 148 seats to the Depressed Classes in the Provincial Assemblies, and it was also decided that 10 per cent of the seats of the Hindus from British India in the Central Assembly should be given to the Depressed Classes. And then discussion was held for hours on the question of referendum which baffled the solution as before. As nobody would agree to Dr. Ambedkar’s demand, he thought it proper to see Gandhi once again in the matter. So, accompanied by Dr. Solanki and Rajagopalachari, he went to Gandhi. Gandhi told Ambedkar that his logic was irrefutable; but he said mere statutory guarantee would not root out the disease. He, therefore, entreated Ambedkar to give a last chance to Hinduism to make a voluntary expiation for its sinful past and added that there should be a referendum but not at the end of any period longer than five years. “Five years or my life,” said Gandhi with a tone of finality. Returning to the place of discussion, Dr. Ambedkar said that he was not prepared to yield on the point of the period of referendum which should be, he averred, not less than ten years. After an hour or so they decided to make the agreement without the condition of referendum attached to it ! Rajagopalachari explained it to Gandhi in the jail at three in the afternoon. Gandhi said it was excellent and gave his consent. Rajagopalachari returned posthaste to 1, Ramkrishna Bhandarkar Road, Shivlal Motilal’s Bungalow, and amidst rejoicings announced that Gandhi had blessed the agreement. It took them no time to draft the agreement. Amidst an atmosphere of joviality, freshness and chat, the agreement was signed at five in the evening on Saturday, 24th September, and it went down to history as the Poona Pact. 1: The Free Press Journal, dated 24th September 1932.