Vol. 17, Part II · pages 406–410

32 WHAT I SAY IS THAT BE FIRM AND SINCERE During the course of an interview on the 27th, Oct. 1951 at Jullunder, press correspondents asked Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, certain questions with regard to Kashmir, India’s relation with Commonwealth etc. Answers given by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar are given below : —Editors. Question : What is your opinion about the Kashmir problem ? Answer : I fear that a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir may go against India. In order to save Hindu and Buddhist population of Jammu and Ladakh, from going to Pakistan, in such an eventuality, there should be zonal plebiscite in Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir. Question : Why has Churchill come to power again in Britain ? Answer : The defeat of the Labour Party was probably due to sudden emergence of Iranian Oil and Egyptian question. The British general electorate probably thought that if the Labour Party came into power, Mr. Bevan would dominate, which meant that the defence of Great Britain would be weakened. Question : What effect the return of conservative party will have on India ? Answer: I do not think it will have any effect, except probably that Mr. Churchill may raise the question of sterling balances, and probably there may be some change in British attitude towards Pakistan. Mr. Churchill has not been very fond of Hindus in India, his sympathies naturally are with Pakistan. Question : With Mr. Churchill in power, Do you think India should continue to remain in the Commonwealth ? Answer: Are we in the Commonwealth ? I have not been able to understand our Prime Minister. In 1929 he insisted that India will not be satisfied with Dominion Status. In 1942, when the ‘Quit India Movement’ was started he was the man who opposed ‘Quit India Movement’ which attitude was opposed to the attitude taken in Lahore. When I framed the Constitution he strongly

382 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES objected to India becoming a Dominion and suddenly he went to London for talks and came back and made a declaration that India should be in the Commonwealth. Question : But what do you think India should do at present ? Answer : I cannot say anything. It is a very complicated question. India should do whatever is to her advantage. If the country thinks that it is not to her advantage to remain in the Commonwealth, she should go out. What I say is that be firm and sincere. zz

33 NO USE ABOUT INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY WITHOUT STRIKING POWER “Dr. Ambedkar does not like journalists. He told them so at an informal meeting in Bombay on Saturday* When he was offered the Co-operation of the Press he rejected it. Most of what he said was “off the record.” He made it clear he felt that Mr. Nehru was dragging India headlong to ruin. Instead of poking our noses into other people’s affairs, he suggested, we ought to isolate ourselves from the rest of the nations and build our collapsing economy. Dr. Ambedkar seems to be haunted by the threat of a Chinese invasion. China is on our doorstep and we cannot defend ourselves, he says. It is no use talking about an independent foreign policy without striking power. Dr. Ambedkar is a formidable intellect. One cannot avoid being impressed by him even if one disagrees completely with his views. He puts his case clearly; he is prompt in replying to questions. He is a master of sarcasm.” 1 zz * The 24th November 1951. 1: The National Standard, dated 25th November 1951

34 U. S. A. INCLINED TOWARDS PAKISTAN “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Scheduled Castes’ leader and former Union Law Minister, returned to Bombay by a T.W.A. Constellation on Saturday,* from the United States, after receiving an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Columbia University. The degree was conferred on Dr. Ambedkar at a special convocation on June 5, for his contribution to the Indian Costitution.”1 “Bombay, June 14, 1952 (PTI) “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Scheduled Castes’ leader, said here today that the general public of the U.S.A. was “more impressed by Pakistan and her policies than India. It was more favourably inclined towards Pakistan”, he added. Dr. Ambedkar, who had gone to America to receive the degree of LLD., from the Columbia University, was giving his impressions of the public opinion in America, as gathered from talks with various people in that country.” 2 zz * The 14th June 1952. 1: The Sunday Standard, dated 16th June 1952. 2: The Bombay Chronicle, dated 15th June 1952.

35 RETAIN ENGLISH AT ANY COST Aurangabad, July 3, 1953. “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, former Law Minister of India, has pleaded for the retention of English as the medium of instruction in colleges and universities at any cost. In an interview, Dr. Ambedkar remarked that English was the richest of all languages and said: “I do not believe any other language in India including Hindi can be used instead of English in schools and colleges.” Dr. Ambedkar, who is the founder-chairman of the People’s Education Society in Aurangabad, said that he would not allow either Hindi or the regional language to be the medium of instruction in the Aurangabad College. English, he added, would be the medium of instruction. Talking of Indian languages, Dr. Ambedkar said that no other language could take the place of Hindi. He explained they had selected Hindi because of the fact it could expand. However, he said, Hindi lacked “literature and depth,” both of which the English language possessed. To enrich Hindi, Dr. Ambedkar said, a Hindi Academy consisting of eminent men should be started and a vocabulary should be prepared.—UPI.” 1 zz 1 : The National Standard, dated 4th July 1953.