Vol. 17, Part I · pages 496–500

471DR. AMBEDKAR..........ACID TEST courage. But he cannot accept Mr. Acharya’s challenge because the Mahatma is an astute politician. And this is a question of political strategy and not a purely religious question. Mr. Acharya forgets that the Mahatma has often told us : “Most religious men I have met are politicians in disguise. I, however, who wear the guise of a politician, am at heart a religious man. My religion is my politics (Autobiography). He has always subordinated religion and principle to policy and politics. It is impossible to exaggerate the injury he has inflicted upon his country in general and upon Hinduism in particular. Look at the Poona Pact, entered into in haste ; there is now a countrywide feeling that it was grossly unfair to Caste Hindus. Mr. Gandhi stampeded the country into an unjust settlement. He is now again trying to stampede the country to do something for Harijans which they do not really want.” zz 1: Source Material, Vol. 1 Pp. 107-108.

APPENDIX -VII DR. AMBEDKAR WANTED AN EXTENSION IN AMERICA Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar January 16, 1915 35. Vide paragraph 1103 of 1913 —S. B.,* Bombay, January 16th—The Censor writes : The following letter passed through from Minister of Education, Baroda. d/o No. 509, dated 8th January 1915, to B.R. Ambedkar. Esquire B. A., 554 West 114th Street, New York :— “Inform him that ‘proposals will be submitted to His Highness the Maharaja Saheb to grant you an extension in continuation of the one already sanctioned,’ and that the result will be communicated.” Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar January 30, 1915 81. Vide paragraph 35 Baroda, January 25th—The Assistant Resident writes : “Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is a Parwari **a resident of Bombay who was sent by the Gaekwad to America to study Finance and Sociology. He figures in the Baroda Service List as a Military Probationer, but has done no military training and was apparently appointed in order to draw pay. He was sent to America in June 1913 and it is believed that he is still there. A certificate of identity was given to him.” Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar February 13, 1915 107. Vide paragraph 81 Bombay, February 8th—Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is a Mahar by caste, native of Ambed, Taluka Dapoli, District Ratnagiri. He is a graduate of the Bombay University having passed his B. A. Examination from the Elphinstone College. He then joined the Baroda State Service and in 1913 was sent to America by the Baroda State to study Economics. He left Bombay per S. S. Sardegna on the 15th June 1913. It appears that Ambedkar had asked for an extension of his stay in America for two years more within which time he expects to finish his studies. zz *Abbreviations : S. B.—Special Branch. ** For the meaning of the word ‘Parwari’ see article by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar under the title ‘The Mahar : who were they and how they became the Untouchables.’ on Pp. 137—150 in Part II of this Volume.—Editors.

APPENDIX -VIII FOR THE PRESENT DR. AMBEDKAR MUST WORK AS A PROBATIONER IN ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT LETTER FROM GOVERNMENT OF BARODA “Government of Baroda, No. 744 Huzur Cutchery Baroda, 7th June 1918. My dear Sir Narayanrao, In reply to your letter of the 5th ultimo, enclosing Mr. Ambedkar’s, I write this to say that the papers were submitted to His Highness the Maharaja Sahab and he has been pleased to order that Mr. Ambedkar should join Baroda service on the salary that was agreed to be given to him when he left for America. If that is inadequate, his request for improved salary will be considered after a while. For the present. In view of his conduct which His Highness is constrained to remark has not proved worthy of his education or trust reposed in him. His Highness is not disposed to give him more liberal terms. His Highness has always been taking a (good) deal of interest in the welfare of Mr. Ambedkar’s community and has spent large sums of money on Mr. Ambedkar himself. Could not be under these circumstances have set an example of probability and straight-forwardness even at some loss and discomfort to himself, particularly when he was promised better prospects in course of time ? As regards his request for professional work in the College, His Highness will consider the question when there is a vacancy provided he is found fit for those duties. For the present, he must work as a Probationer in the Accounts Department. Since Mr. Ambedkar is not in a position to furnish requisite security for repayment of the money spent over his education in the event of his relinquishing service, he will have to submit for a period of 5 years to a deduction of 15 p.c. of his pay which will be

474 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES kept as deposit under the rules with the liability of forfeiture, if he left service again. But as a special case, His Highness has ordered that so long as this deduction reduction reduces his emoluments to less than the contracted initial salary, he may be given a proportionate increase from the date of his joining. Lastly, as a special case the Maharaja Sahab has permitted Mr. Ambedkar to stay in the Guest House for the present and has asked for plan Estimates at an early date for a house to be built for him. Your Sincerly, Manubhai Mehta. Sir H. G. Chandawarkar, Redder (Peddar) Road, Malabar Hill, Bombay.” 1 zz 1 : Rattu : Little known facts of Dr. Ambedkar, Pp. 230-231.

APPENDIX -IX TAKE EARLY ACTION TO REPAY YOUR DEBT “K. E. D. S.F. No. 43 No. 8088 of 1919-20 TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS Office of the Educational Commissioner, “EDUCATION, BARODA”. Baroda, 13th/14th May 1920 From A. B. Clarke, esquire, B. A. (Cantab), The Educational Commissioner, Baroda State, Baroda. To, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, The Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Bombay. Subject: Repayment of debts. Sir, I have the honour to invite your attention to my letter No. 4675, dated 24th January 1920* and a subsequent reminder No. 6121, dated 18th March 1920* on the subject quoted above and to request that you will be good enough to expedite the matter and to take early action to repay your debt to the State. I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most obedient servant, A.B.Clarke. Commissioner of Education, Baroda State” 1 zz *Letter not available—Editors. 1 : Rattu : Little known facts of Dr. Ambedkar, P. 232.