Vol. 17, Part II · pages 476–480

451A SOCIAL . . . . . . . . . IN BOMBAY Cost of the Centre According to the proposed plan the requirements of the Centre are detailed below :I. Land - 156’ × l32’ about - 2,280 sq.yds. value (already taken on lease) .. Rs. 37,000/Ground rent per year .. Rs. 2,200/II. Structures : 1. Hall-Building consisting of a ground and two upper floors. Ground Floor :—Hall 120’ x 62’ (with 10’ wide Verandah and gallery inside having seating accommodation for about 2,500 persons) Approximate cost. .. Rs, 75,000/Two Upper Floors:—32 single room tenements 16 on each floor. .. Rs. 75,000/2. East Wing Building :—Ground and 2 upper floors, 3 double room tenements on each floor -9 in all .. Rs. 26,500/3. West Wing Building : Ground and 2 upper floors, 3 double room tenements on each floor -9 in all .. Rs. 26,500/4. Front Building :— Ground and 2 Upper Floors :— Ground Floor :—Printing Press, Gymnasium and Office. Three Upper Floors :— Offices .. Rs. 85,000/on the 1st floor and 13 double room tenements on each of the remaining 2 floors. Total .. Rs. 2,88,000/Cost of Land .. Rs. 37,000/Grand Total .. Rs. 3,25,000/The cost of the Centre is estimated at Rs. 3,25,000/-. The estimate is of course based on prices prevailing in normal times.

452 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES These stuctures are designed to serve a three-fold purpose. The first is to house all activities for the promotion of the well-being of the Untouchables under one roof in order to bring about co-ordination and prevent dissipation of effort. The second purpose is to provide a place for the Untouchables to which they can look as a centre of knowledge and inspiration, a place which will provide a meeting ground for the Untouchables for exchanging ideas, for performing social and religious function and act as a centre of culture in which they can take pride. The third and the most important purpose is to provide the Centre with a permanent source of income to maintain itself and to sustain its activities. Most of the buildings are intended and planned for being rented out. They will bring rent which will keep the Centre going and make it self-supporting. An Appeal to the Princes and People of India It is a universally recognised fact that the present condition of the Untouchables is the most serious blot, from the humanitarian point of view, on Hindu Civilization and constitutes one of the greatest obstacles to an all-round progress of the Indian nation. The problem needs all the courage, ingenuity, resources and organising power of all the parties concerned for its solution. In spite of the efforts of social reformers and politicians the progress hitherto achieved is far from satisfactory. In fact, it may be safely asserted, that only the fringe of the problem has so far been touched. The Untouchables, considered as a mass, are as backward as ever. Their aspirations for social, economic, educational and political advancement are thwarted at every step, and the habit of depending upon outside help which is being insidiously cultivated may render the Untouchables unfit to fight their own battles. The force which will sweep all the obstacles from their path and really emancipate them from their age-long bondage can, I am sure, come only from whithin. It is because this new movement of the Untouchables is a movement from within that I feel sure that will help and encouragement it will be a success. It may be said that if the Untouchables are anxious to undertake the work of their salvation they should also take up the responsibility of financing it. I am glad to say that the Untouchables

453A SOCIAL . . . . . . . . . IN BOMBAY of Bombay are fully alive to this aspect of their movement. They have already come forward to raise a fund for the building up of the Social Centre by per capita subscription. Every man and woman is prepared to make a contribution to this great cause. Some have already paid and many more will do so before long. But it is equally true that left to their own resources the Untouchables will not be able to raise the whole sum. It will be cruel to ask them to depend upon themselves. The task of building up the Centre cannot succeed without the help of the Princes and People of India. To tell the Untouchables to bear their-own burden may be correct. But will that be considerate ? Have the Princes and People of India no responsibility for the miserable lot of the Untouchables ? If they have is it right that they should refuse to help the Untouchables on the ground that the Untouchables desire to take up the work of their salvation upon themselves ? I am sure that the Princes and People of India have a better regard for the spirit of self-respect shown by the Untouchables than such an attitude would indicate. I am sure there is in them a more acute sense of righteous indignation against the inequities heaped upon the Untouchables and a keener desire to give them the means to enable them to overcome these inequities. The uplift of the Untouchables must be a joint undertaking in which the Untouchables will supply the resolution and the inspiration for the movement, the sweat and the toil for the movement, and the Indian community must supply the money required for the movement. It is for this reason that I appeal to the Princes and People of India for financial help for the movement. The Princes and People of India will not, I am sure, fail to realise what tremendous and irresistible force the elevation of the Untouchables will supply to the national regeneration and reconstruction of India. The Social Centre will of course so organise the Untouchables that they will be able to rise socially and culturally above their present level, attain the status of human beings and live on terms of social equality with the rest of the Indian Community. But I am sure that will not be the only benefit arising from the activities of the Social Centre. The Centre will make them active, true and patriotic citizens ready to stand by the cause of the country.

454 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES It is on these grounds that I am appealing to all to help me to build up of the Centre. It has become a truism that without raising the Untouchables the country cannot rise and that in their salvation lies the salvation of the country. I am tired of repeating truisms. The time for uttering truisms is gone. The time for action has come. Deeds and not words are wanted. My appeal to the Princes and People of India is made in all earnestness and I am confident that they will respond to it with large hearted generosity. 22, Prithviraj Road, Sd/- B. R. Ambedkar New Delhi. zz

9 CONSTITUTION OF ALL INDIA SCHEDULED CASTES FEDERATION The All India Depressed Class conference was held between 17th to 20th July 1942 at Nagpur. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar attended this conference. A resolution was passed unanimously on 19th July 1942 to establish “All India Scheduled Castes Federation.” ‘ All India Scheduled Castes Federation’ and the Constitution was made public on 7th September 1942* That Constitution was amended and finally published in January 1955 as under : Editors **ALL INDIA SCHEDULED CASTES FEDERATION CONSTITUTION President: B. R. Ambedkar, M. A., Ph. D., D. Sc, LL. D., D. Litt., Barrister-at-Law, Member, Council of States. Address : 26, Alipore Road, Civil Lines, Delhi January 1955. *Report of Depressed Class Conference. Nagpur Sessions. Third Session, Held on 18th, 19th and 20th July 1942, published on 7th September 1942, Annexure—No. 4, Pp. 109—121. **Reprinted from the book printed by K. S. Arora at Thacker’s Press, Oak Lane, Fort, Bombay.