Vol. 17, Part II · pages 321–325

298 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES No Gain or Loss But the question that I would like to ask all Congressmen is this. What is it that they would have gained if the Governor had given the undertaking in the terms of the A.I.C.C. resolution? It seems to me that the important question is who is to determine whether the occasion for the exercise of the Special Powers by the Governor had arisen or not. There would have been something achieved, if the Congressmen were asking for an undertaking that whether the occasion for the use of special powers had arisen or not was to be determined by the Cabinet. Such an undertaking would have been of real value, but such an undertaking was not demanded. The undertaking demanded by Congressmen was inconsequential, that in spite of it and without violating it, the Governor would have been left free to interfere on the plea that in doing a particular thing the Ministry was acting in such a manner that in his judgment the occasion for the use of Special Power had arisen. I have been therefore trying to find out what would have been lost by the Governor if he had given the assurance and what would have been gained by the Congressmen if the Assurance had been given.” 1 zz 1 :The Bombay Chronicle, dated 9th April 1937.

4 IT IS PURELY A PARTY MOVE NO NATIONAL PURPOSE “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, leader of the Independent Labour Party in the Bombay Provincial Legislature, on behalf of himself and his party members, has written a letter to Mr. B. G. Kher, leader of the Congress Party, refusing to support the latter party in expressing disapproval of the appointment of the Council of Ministers by the Governor of Bombay. In his reply, Dr. Ambedkar throws the blame for the present situation upon the Congress Party, for, in his party’s opinion, the Congress demand for an assurance from the Governor is unnecessary and impossible. The Governor’s action in not calling the session of the Legislature, Dr. Ambedkar maintains, cannot at the moment be called into question. Such action will be unconstitutional only if six months elapse without the session being called. The Constitution having now come into operation, Independent Labour Party thinks, that no extra-constitutional agitation by members of the Legislature should be launched upon unless all constitutional means have been tried and have failed. This move of the Congress Party is intended to justify the Congress position, and to enhance its power and prestige, adds Dr. Ambedkar. It is purely a party move. It has no national purpose.”1 * zz 1 The Times of India, dated 17th May 1937. * Jagjiwan Ram, President Bihar Prov. Depressed Classes Leage, Patna sent a letter dated 8th March 1937 to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. may be perused at appendix-VIII

5 WE SHALL WAGE RELENTLESS WAR TO INTRODUCE ADULT FRANCHISE “It is amazing that the Bombay Ministry holding office on the ticket of the Indian National Congress which has pompously announced the programme of framing the National Constitution through Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise, should shirk its duty and responsibility on the question of adult franchise in the manner in which it is trying to do in the matter of Bombay Municipal Amendment Bill” said Dr. Ambedkar in the course of an interview with a “Sentinel” representative. “Some of the members of the Lothian Committee for which the Congress never showed much love was prepared to introduce adult franchise throughout the entire Province “he said,” and the only difficulty which came in their way was the scarcity of men to register votes on the polling day.” “ The Congress Government which has been shouting for years past for adult franchise should have taken the first opportunity to introduce it in district and taluka boards and municipalities. But they have shirked this responsibility right at the start. “As regards adult franchise for Bombay Municipality there should not have been any room for hesitation, if there is any place in the whole Presidency which is best fitted for “experiment” in adult franchise, it is Bombay. The standard of literacy is higher here than anywhere else. The people are more alive to public question than perhaps elsewhere. There are a host of other reasons why Bombay is the fittest place for introducing adult franchise. Yet the Congress Ministry brings forward a bill which contemplate adult franchise in 1942 and that on the condition that the Corporation would agree to it. “As Mr. N. M. Joshi has said, it is an absurd condition. The Corporation is not going to commit suicide by voting for an electorate which will, to a large extent, wipe them out of existence.

Greatness can be achieved only by struggle and sacrifice. Neither manhood nor Godhood can be obtained without going through the ordeal of fire. —Dr. B. R. Ambedkar