Vol. 17, Part I · pages 406–410

381BE YOUR OWN LIGHT ! BRA : Of course, we must protect the individual from invasion of his rights from other individuals. Liberty of the person must always be a primary concern. That was in my mind when I urged for fundamental rights. MRA : If that was in your mind then you might urge Parliament to revise fundamental rights. We must fight against both State capitalism and Private capitalism. You know how the vast majority of people everywhere are subject to the will of the employers. BRA : Indeed, liberty so far seems to be the liberty of the landlord to increase rent. The capitalist always wants to reduce wages and increase hours of work. Capitalism is a dictatorship of private employer. MRA : The fundamental rights—right to life, liberty and happiness—remain a dream ....... BRA : The new young must go on fighting. They can change the Constitution. MRA : This may not be possible without upturnings like the 1789 revolution in France. BRA : Strange to hear this from you ! I thought that by making Gandhi the liberator of Untouchables in your novel, you have been converted to non-violence. MRA : I could not live up to the Mahatma’s ideal. We had to face Hitler and Mussolini. I went to Spain and joined the International Brigade. Though I fainted at the sight of blood in a clinic and was asked to opt out.... But one had to take sides in the second world war. A poet called the so-called war for freedom of the democracies against fascism, the fight for a “half lie” against a “big lie.” BRA: You know, though the Mahatma was all for the Harijans, he did not get up his beliefs in the Varnashram dictated by the Bhagwad Gita ..... By calling them sons of Hari, the supreme God, he thought he was exalting them. In fact they were left at the lowest levels.

382 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES MRA : Is that why you have adopted Buddhism as your religion ? BRA : May be that was the chief consideration. Also by remaining a Scheduled Castes citizen, one accepts the status of the outcaste. I have felt the faith of the Buddha, which does not believe in the Hindu God Brahma aspires for human beings, man and women, to be free of dogmas. Obscure myths and legends ! One can pursue knowledge ! One can disown casteist heroes of the Hindus like God King Ram, the avatar of Vishnu ! And many other sentimental myths of Hinduism. MRA : Indeed, I find the Buddha’s hunches far more plausible than the guesses of the Brahmins. He was the first existentialist of the world. He cried out. Dukha, dukha, dukha ! The Hindus were always for make-beliefs. God is ananda. A consolation prize for beggars who ask the feudal Lord God for favours by offering gifts of flowers, bribes of garlands and fruits !—via the priests. BRA : That is why most priests have big bellies. MRA : What is your message for the rejected ? BRA: I say to the Untouchable : Be a lion ! Hindus sacrificed goats before the image of Kali. You be your own light ‘ atta deep bhav !’ MRA : Like the Buddha said to Ananda : Be a lamp unto yourself !....”1 zz 1 : Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, An eminent writer and author of “The Untouchable”—Tribal World, April, 1991, P. 13. Reprinted, Rattu Remembrances of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Pp. 110—114.

45 HINDUISM IS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL THOUGHT IN INDIA “Bombay, Wednesday* Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Minister for Law, Government of India, who arrived in the city from Delhi this evening declined to comment on reports about his conversion to Buddhism. Dr. Ambedkar told pressmen that he intended to start a college at Ahmednagar on the lines of the Siddhartha College. The College which will give instruction in both Arts and Science subject will be started before July next, he stated. He is leaving for Poona tonight and returning to the city tomorrow evening. He said, as one interested in the subject, he had been collecting pieces of information as to the causes leading to the birth and fall of Buddhism in India. Dr. Ambedkar was of the opinion that the significance of Buddhism would not be understood unless the exact circumstances which gave birth to it were understood. He disagreed with most people who were under the impression that the religion of India had all along been Hinduism “Hinduism is the latest development of social thought in India,” he declared. Causes of Decline Turning next to the causes which led to the decline of Buddhism, Dr. Ambedkar refuted suggestions made by many people in India that Buddhism was destroyed by the dialectic of Shankaracharya. “This is contrary to facts as Buddhism existed for many centuries after his death.” Dr. Ambedkar believed that Buddhism faded away in India because of the rise of Vaishnavaitism and Saivaism. Another cause was the Muslim invasion of India. “When Allauddin marched into Bihar, he killed over 5,000 Bhikkus. The remaining *The 3rd May 1950.

384 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Buddhist monks fled to neighbouring countries like China, Nepal and Tibet. Efforts were subsequently made by Buddhists of India to raise another priesthood in order to revive Buddhism. But these failed as by then 90 per cent of Buddhists had embraced Hinduism. Answering the question why Hinduism survived in India and Buddhism had died, Dr. Ambedkar said, “this religion is difficult to practise while Hinduism is not.”—P.T.I.1 zz 1 : The Free Press Journal, dated 4th May 1950.

46 SCHEDULED CASTES’ EMANCIPATION —DRAFT MANIFESTO— “An Executive Committee Meeting of All India Scheduled Castes Federation was held at the Residence of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at New Delhi on 6th Oct. 1951 to decide the Election Manifesto.”1 In that meeting a decision was taken, not to have alliance with Congress, Hindu Maha Sabha, R.S.S., Communist Party and Jan Sangh. The power to have the alliance with other Politicat Parties was delegated to the adhoc committee comprising Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, N. Shivraj and Bapusaheb Rajbhoj. It was also decided that the adhoc Committee would take the appropriate decisions. “The emphasis was given to make the ‘Samata Sainik Dal’ of ‘Scheduled Castes Federation’ stronger and effective.” “The manifesto prepared by ‘Scheduled Castes Federation’ was approved unanimously. The press wrote columns after columns speculating about the proposed manifesto. Indians and Western Journals welcomed the manifesto released on 7th October 1951 which was unique, unparalled and outspoken.” 2 The copies of manifesto were circulated to the representatives of news papers well in advance. Accordingly the leading news paper ‘ The Times of India’ dated October 3rd, 1951 reacted under the above title which is as follows :— “... Seeking to fight the battle against poverty on two fronts, the Federation, it is understood, will advocate birth control to limit population and urge measures for increased and intensified agriculture and industrial production. The Federation considers rapid industrialization as very essential but is of a view that agriculture would continue to be the foundation of Indian economy. As regards administration, the Federation will press for the creation of linguistic provinces. It will insist on stringent action against corruption and black-marketing in all phases of life, particularly against Ministers or Officers who are corrupt. The Federation will advocate reduction of expenditure in the army, re-levy of the salt tax, abolition of prohibition 1 : Khairmode, Vol. 10, P. 147. 2 : Janata, October 13th, 1951.