Vol. 17, Part II · pages 541–545

516 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Is the lesson now clear to, us that for everything in the future we must depend on our own strength, resources and courage ? We have to fight our battles single handed; often times it may be a case of the Scheduled Castes versus the Rest. We have asked and asked and it was not given. We have knocked and knocked and was not opened. May be we have to break the doors open and take what we want and what is our due. Thus I foresee very difficult times ahead for our people. To cope with this we must be united and strong of one mind and of one voice. I appeal to all our brethren, even those who stay away from us, to come together under one roof and to demand with one voice, and to fight together under one banner . . . . . . . But we must organise and unite. Fight on we must, and fight we will, fight every inch of the ground, fight along the line and every one that stands in our way. The present struggle in U. P. is to have the equal human rights in political, social and economic India. I had no idea of participating in the Satyagraha of the Scheduled Castes Federation of U. P. The inhuman treatment and insult to our women Satyagrahis before the Hindu-Congress Ministry compelled me to participate in this Holy Struggle. Until and unless the revenge of this insult is taken no Scheduled Castes people will sit silently. Now the time has come that under the leadership of the Reverred Dr. Ambedkar either we should die in achieving our final goal or do whatever we can. I appeal to the Satyagrahis to remain non-violent in their actions. In the end I appeal to all the Scheduled Castes Federation branches except the U. P. S. C. F. not to send any batches to Lucknow as this Satyagraha will remain only until the present session U. P. Assembly. U. P. S. C. F. is alone strong enough to conduct the Satyagraha to the end.” April 19th, 1947 The 16th day of the Satyagraha. Four batches from different parts courted arrest. First and second batches were arrested near Zanda Park and Ameenabad. Third and fourth batches which include four ladies were arrested near Kaisor Baugh. The batches were led by

517POONA SATYAGRAH Messrs Joharilal, Sewaram, Gopichand, Bijipat Ramjee Basti. The ‘Harijan’ Minister Mr. Girdharilal accompanied by the City Magistrate persuaded the Satyagrahis to stop Satyagraha but soon came to know what little respect he could command from his community people.” 1 S. C. Satyagraha Continues in U. P. April 21st, 1947 Today the Satyagraha entered into 27th day. Upto this time 1285 Satyagrahis have been arrested. The Satyagrahis are pouring from different districts of the Province. Agra, Aligarh, and Cawnpore are laeding. The first batch of 35 led by Mr. Kesarlal from Agra were arrested near the Chauk bazar. This batch includes 17 ladies also. When the Satyagrahis reached the Chauk Bajar, Police whose number was more than the Satyagrahis, made a lathi charge upon the non-voilent and peaceful Satyagrahis, as a result of which the Dictator Mr. Kesar Lal along with his daughter was seriously injured. One other Satyagrahi namely Mr. Baboolal also received serious injuries upon his head. He fell on the ground and became unconcious. The police removed him in that condition to the police station nearby. 2nd batch of 46 led by Sarvadanandji were arrested near the Kaisarbagh. Third and Fourth of 25 each were arrested near Aminabad. These batches were led by Mr. Rajaram and Ramjilal. Fifth batch of 23 were arrested near Lotuche Road. This was led by Mr. Walchandji from Agra. There is a great resentment about the police lathi-charge amongst the Scheduled Castes people. The news about the bad treatment and keeping Mr. Rajbhoj, the General Secretary of All India Scheduled Castes Federation, Mr. Tilakchand Kuriel the President of the U. P. Scheduled Castes Federation and other leaders like Mr. Gopichand from Agra and 1 : Jai Bheem, 27 April 1947, P. 1 and 7.

518 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Mr. Fullidas from Cawnpur, in C Class is causing provocation and resentment amongst the Untouchables of the Province. The Untouchables are now imagining the future Ramrajya in which they will be real slaves of the Caste Hindus. April 22nd, 1947 Today there was a great commotion amongst the Scheduled Castes due to the lathi-charge of the Police on previous day near Chauk. The Assembly was reopened today after three day’s adjournment. Instead of demonstrating in the city the Scheduled Castes Satyagrahis demonstrated before the Council House. The first batch of 30 including 7 ladies, led by Mr. Jodharam from Cawnpore were arrsted while on the way. The second batch of 32 of Agra led by Swami Harinandji were arrested before the Council House. Third batch of 40 including 4 women Satyagrahis were arrested near Hajaratganj. The main slogans of the Satyagrahis were the following :— 1. Down with the Caste Hindu-Congress ! 2. Down with the Begar system ! 3. Do or die, must have the Separate Electorates ! 4. Down with the Pant Ministry ! 5. Down with the ‘Harijan M. L. A.s of the U. P. Assembly’! It is very strange that the important news of our Satyagraha movement is not published by the Caste Hindu press. The statement issued by the General Secretary of All India Scheduled Castes Federation Mr. Rajbhoj, before his arrest, was also not published. All the leaders are kept in the C class. They are not allowed to read the news papers even. Let the Caste Hindu papers understand that by not publishing the news in their newspapers they cannot cow down the spirit of the Scheduled Castes. By doing in this way they are only cheating themselves and their own people. The day is reaching very fast when the common Hindu will be thrown into a great confusion to see the great bitter awakening of the Scheduled Castes people all over India.

519POONA SATYAGRAH The total number of arrests upto date is 1387 . Today the number of arrests was 102.” 1 U. P. S. C. F. Satyagaha Mr. P. N. Rajbhoj Sentenced for 6 months R. I. Lucknow, Saturday Mr. P. N. Rajbhoj, Ganeral Secretary of the All India Scheduled Castes’ Federation was convicted and sentenced yesterday to six months’ imprisonment by the City Magistrate, Mr. B. D. Sanwal, under Section 138 IPC for defying the District Magistrate’s order banning processions and causing apprehension of breach of peace. Mr. Gopichand Pipal, another Scheduled Caste Leader was sentenced to * months rigorous imprisonment on a similar charge. Mr, Tilak Chand Kuril, President of the U. P. Scheduled Castes Federation, was directed by the Magistrate to furnish two sureties of rupees five hundred each to keep peace for six months. “The Magistrate acquitted about sixty women and children who had been arrested in connection with the Satyagraha in Lucknow with a warning.—A.P.I.” 2 zz 1: Jai Bheem, 4th May 1947, P. 2. 2: Jai Bheem, 25th May 1947, P. 2. * Figure is not traceable—Editors.

APPENDIX—VI GANDHI DIS-FRANCHISED UNTOUCHABLES BY FORCING POONA PACT BRITISH LEADERS SCATHING CRITICISM OF GANDHIAN TACTICS Lord Winterton, speaking on the Scheduled Castes, status during the course of the debate on July 16th on India Independence Bill in the House of Commons said that one of the many evil things Mr. Gandhi had done to India was what he had succeeded in bringing about by the Poona Pact. Had it not been for his action, these people would have enjoyed a much better franchise than they did today, but Mr. Gandhi threatened to fast to death. If he again threatened to fast to death after the transfer, it would not be the affair of the Brithish Government. It had been said that Britain left India a cockpit. Few people had done more than Mr. Gandhi to make it a cockpit, and he regretted that at this late hour Mr. Gandhi had shown no appreciation of the task which had been achieved by the British on the one hand, and Mr. Jinnah and Mr. Nehru on the other. Another Prominent Conservative Leader Mr. Bucher who spoke on the problem of minorities in India observed, “Scant attention has been given to minorties, especially in the Committee stage. It is virtually impossible to raise their case, Indeed it is very difficult to do so because this House is today deciding to transfer sovereignty, and power to Indians themselves. “We are also deciding that independence shall take place before the actual Constitution making. That means that the Constituent Assemblies have it in their power to make the Constitution under which the minorities will have to live. Dr. Ambedkar, leader of the Scheduled Classes, who has himself served the cause of self Government, has told me that it would be helpful if some reference could be made to his community.