Vol. 17, Part II · pages 466–470

441PEOPLE’S EDUCATION SOCIETY 14. A list shall be maintained of the subscribers and patrons of the Society. 15. An account for the purpose of the Society shall be open and kept with bankers selected by the Governing Body. Every sum of money received on account of the Society shall, without undue delay, be paid in to the credit of that account unless otherwise expressly ordered by the Chairman. 16. All cheques and orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chairman of the Governing Body or by a person or persons appointed in that behalf by the Governing Body. Certified to be a correct copy of the Articles. 5th July, 1945. B. R. Ambedkar D. G. Jadhav S. C. Joshi zz For Branches of the institution at various places, see Appendix—XII

7 APPEAL BY The Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, M. A., Ph.D., D. Sc, Bar-at-Law., Member, Governor General’s Executive Council. On Behalf of THE PEOPLES EDUCATION SOCIETY THAT the Scheduled Castes, commonly known as the Untouchables, number about 50 millions is clear from the latest Census Report. That the education of the Scheduled Castes is at present in a very backward state all over India and that so far as higher education is concerned they are very far behind the higher classes are well-known facts. That the social and economic condition of the Scheduled Castes ail over India is deplorable is also an admitted fact. It is further realized by all that one of the reasons why the Scheduled Castes have not been able to overcome their difficulties and disabilities is the lack of education amongst them. From these facts, for the solution of the problem of the Scheduled Castes the need of a special organization devoted to this particular work will be fully recognised. There being so far no such organisation, it was decided to establish the People’s Education Society. The Society has been registered under the Registration of Societies Act, XXI of 1860 and is recognized by the Government of India. To promote higher education among the Scheduled Castes all over India is the chief aim of the Society as will be seen from its constitution. The Society proposes shortly to open in Bombay a fullfledged College for degree courses in both branches, Arts as well as Science, and for pass as well as Honours Courses. The College is not a sectarian institution. It will be open to students of all communities and of all creeds from all Provinces and States. The staff of the College will be as far as possible cosmopolitan. The special feature of the College will be the particular care of the students of the

443APPEAL Scheduled Castes, who will be granted facilities in the matter of admissions, freeships, scholarships and hostel accommodation. The Governing Body of the Society desire to make the College a model institution for imparting higher education. The Society feels highly encouraged by the fact that its project of starting a College in Bombay has received the approval of the Government of India, who have been pleased to give very substantial aid in meeting the initial expenditure. They have agreed to pay to the Society a sum of Rs. 6 lakhs, half as a grant and half as a loan without interest for that purpose. Owing to the abnormal prices of land, building materials and scientific and other equipment this sum will fall short of the actual requirements. The College will require at least Rs. 15 lakhs. After taking into account the amount provided by the Government of India it will be seen that there will still remain a large sum of Rs. 9 lakhs to be collected by way of donations. The Society, therefore, has to ask for substantial help from other quarters. The Society entertains high hopes and trusts that its appeal for financial help for successfully carrying out its project will receive sympathetic consideration from all those who are interested in the advancement of education is general and that of the Untouchables in particular. There is a very large population of Scheduled Castes in some of the States and the Society, therefore, appeals to the Rulers of the States for extending to it a generous help in this matter. The Society would be glad to make special provision in the College for the Scheduled Castes students, as well as for the non-Scheduled Caste students, from the States and in particular to agree : (1) to reserve a certain percentage for admission to the different classes in the College both on the Arts and Science side; (2) to reserve accommodation in the hostels for students, which will be erected as part of the College building; and (3) to reserve a certain number of freeships and scholarships.

444 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES The Society would be prepared to accept any other reasonable condition which a State making a donation might like to suggest. The Society submits that, while the College will derive substantial help from such financial contributions, the States will also derive great benefit from the College, in that the Scheduled Caste subjects of the States will find in the College a special institution, charged with the duty of taking special interest in the education of the Scheduled Castes. The Society, therefore, makes this earnest appeal to the Rulers of the Indian States* and requests them to help the Society by making generous contributions towards the materialization of the project and thereby afford the muchneeded facilities for the advancement of higher education, to people of the Scheduled Castes in India and their Scheduled Castes subject in particular. The Society will be glad to furnish any other information that may be required in this connection. 26-11-1945 B. R. AMBEDKAR 22, Prithvi Raj Road, New Delhi. zz Printed at, Delhi Press, New Delhi. * The Maharaj of Baroda was again approached for financial assistance for establishing a College at Bombay for the benefit of the Depressed Classes. An Appeal in that connection was made by Mr. K. A. Keluskar, on behalf of Dr. Ambedkar—See Appendix XIII.

8 A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE UNTOUCHABLES IN BOMBAY Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was continuously making efforts to generate the funds for the movement of Untouchables to bring the human dignity in terms of social equality to the Indian Community. He was planning to establish a Centre, so as to execute and monitor the activities of the Untouchables. He appealed probably in 1949, to the Princes and the people of India.—Editors. To The Princes and People of India Funds for A Social Centre for the Untouchables in Bombay The Scheme needs Rs. 3,25,000/Won’t You Help ? An Appeal By The Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, M.A., Ph.D., D. Sc, Bar-at-Law, Member, Governor General’s Executive Council The New Movement among the Untouchables The down-trodden and degraded condition of the Untouchablewho number today 70 millions of India population—has been one of the major problems of India. The work of raising them to the level of other communities has engaged the attention of many Hindu reformer for ages past. But the phenomenon of the Untouchables taking upon themselves the responsibility of improving their own lot is quite a new one. It is their won struggle for equality and began only 25 years ago. This struggle has passed through several stages and the movement has gathered strength in spite of repeated rebuffs and constant opposition. The message of self-reliance has reached even the lowest strata; the backwaters of outof-the way villages and lonely hamlets have been stirred; and the sleepy hollows where once rank superstition, utter self-debasement and abysmal ignorance reigned are now throbbing with new life. The right spirit has