Vol. 17, Part II · pages 91–95

68 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES raising funds he could not have collected 1,000,0000 for Swarajya Fund. Forgetting his personal relation and leaving aside other considerations, like a shrewd politician he attached the name of Tilak to the Fund. Gandhi was staunch opponent of Christian religion. In order to please the Western world he often quoted from the Bible in times of crisis. In order to understand the working of his mind I have two other instances to quote. During the Round Table Conference he told people, “I shall not raise any objection against the demands presented by the representatives of the Depressed Classes”. But, as soon as the representatives of the Depressed Classes people placed their demands, Gandhi quietly forgot about the assurances given by him. I call it a betrayal of the people belonging to the Depressed Classes. He went to the Moslems and told them that he would support their 14 demands if they in turn opposed the demands placed by the representatives of the Depressed Classes. Even a scoundrel would not have done this. This is only one instance of Gandhi’s treachery. Nehru Committee’s Report was presented in the open session of the Congress for discussion. Some amendments were to be made in the Report. All of you must be knowing about it. Mr. Jayakar was hired by Mr. Gandhi to oppose these amendments. These amendments were very vehemently opposed by Mr. Jayakar and his supporters. This is known to many people. But what were these amendments and why so were these forcefully opposed ? Not many people know the background of these amendments. I came to know about the opposition of Jayakar. (It is a fact I have no reason to question the truth about it) from people who had opposed the amendments. All this was made known by Pandit Motilal Nehru, and Mr. Jinnah who was betrayed by Mr. Gandhi. The corrections which were proposed to be made in the Nehru Committee Report were suggested by Mr. Jinnah for the benefit of his community. But, when Gandhi came to know about it, he thought, a great deal more had been given to the Moslems by Pandit Motilal Nehru than what he wanted to give originally.

69IS GANDHI A MAHATMA ? In order to humiliate Pt. Motilal Nehru he vehemently opposed these proposals. Hindu-Moslem hostility is the result of the deceitful action on the part of Gandhiji. The man who was considered to be a friend of the Untouchables and the Moslems betrayed the cause of the very same people whose cause he claimed to be a champion. This immensely pained me. There is an old saying which benefits the occasion (Bagal mein chhurri Munh mein Ram) : ‘God’s name on the lips and dagger under the armpit.’ If such a person can be called a Mahatma, by all means call Gandhi a Mahatma. Accoding to me, he is no more than a simple Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. I have given more than what the Editor of the ‘Chittra’ demanded. I must have told a great deal more than what the readers of the Chittra can digest. Apart from the incidents quoted herein, there are two more things that I shall tell and then close. The age of Ranade, Gokhale, Agarkar and Tilak and the movements started by them were different from the Gandhi age. Their age was the age of knowledge. There is absolutely no doubt about it. Gandhi’s age can be called the ‘Tamo Yug’ of India. The politics of Agarkar and Tilak was based on honesty and truth. It was not hollow and noisy. But the politics of Gandhi is hollow and noisy. It is the most dishonest politics in the history of Indian polity. Gandhi was the man responsible for eliminating morality from politics and instead introduced commercialism in Indian politics. Politics has been denuded of its virtue. ‘When the salt has lost its savour, wherewith you shall salt it’, asked Jesus Christ of the pharisees. How to get rid of the pernicious saintly idiosyncracies of Gandhiji in Indian public life is the second and most important question. If the Hindu India does not realize it today, it will take a long time to retrace its steps. Majority of the Indian population is illiterate, ignorant and uncivilised. This may not be the fault of the people. The privileged few of the society have deliberately kept the masses ignorant and illiterate. As a matter of fact it is impossible to fight against the Mahatma on the strength purely of logic and rationalism. It is fight between intellectualism against miracles and idiosyncracies.

70 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Reason alone cannot wipe off the hypnotic effect of Mahatmic miracles. In these circumstances I would like to offer some suggestions. In order to put an end to the activities of the Mahatma, other Mahatmas should come forward to take active part in Indian public life and set up a political wing of their own. There is no dearth of the Mahatmas in India. Upasani Buva, Dada Maharaj, Mehar Baba, Narayan Buva Kedgaonkar are some of the famous names. Numerous saints and ‘Mahatmas’ are present in India. They know the art of befooling and ensnaring the innocent people. True, the number of their followers is far less than followers of Gandhiji but their incapacity or lack of ability alone cannot be the reason for that. They have the ability and the strength to attain freedom along with the salvation for their Hindu masses. There are many reasons why they have not been able to know this. Owing to his dual policy and duplicity of character Gandhiji was able to succeed in creating a following by promising to attain spiritual and political liberation for all. I believe that if Uspani Buva, Narayan Maharaj etc. adopt the methods of Gandhiji undoubtedly they too would be able to establish the wing which can effectively face the blind followers of Gandhi. In this lies India’s salvation. Having a number of parties in the country will be beneficial to this country at least for the time being. If an organisation is set up with these aims and objects, it would be able to serve the same purpose as was served by the Apsaras of the puranas namely the annihilation of their adversaries. And if this dose not happen and this organisation remains reactionary even then its existence would be useful. In this way, at least the pernicious creed of fascism which is spreading its tantacles all around will be stalled. I believe that if a Mahatma comes and places his Manifesto stating in a straight forward manner that he can achieve salvation, perhaps India will attain intellectual liberation. This is not a joke. This is no vilification or criticism of anybody. I am writing it with all the seriousness that I can command. Will the Hindus by changing the minds of the Mahatmas like Dada Maharaj, Meher Baba or Narayan Buva try to serve India ? zz This article was published originally in Chittra (Marathi), Dipavali Special Number, 1938.

7 APPEAL FOR PURSE TO MARATHI SCHOLAR Dr. Ambedkar states that it has been decided to give a purse to the wellknown Marathi scholar Mr. J. R. Ajgaonkar on his 60th birthday by his friends and admirers. Dr. Ambedkar adds to say that the study of the old literature which Mr. Ajgaonkar made his life’s mission has not yielded him any great return. In his successful attempts to enrich the Marathi literature, it is found that the old scholar has been left poor and helpless, on the threshold of his 61st year. Some very regrettable domestic calamity, some time back, make it all the more necessary for the lovers of Marathi literature, to stand by the veteran scholar and help him in his time of need. Dr. Ambedkar requests the public to send their contributions to the Purse as early as possible. Sd/— B. R. Ambedkar zz 1:Bombay Chronicle, dated 14th July 1939. Date is not mentioned-Editors.

8 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER IN EVERY FIELD OF LIFE Message to The Marhatha First Annual Journal (“ Marhatha ” Special Number ) Ambedkar School of Politics, Poona Estd. 30th July 1944 “ Study, Service and Sacrifice ” MESSAGE I have always held that Knowlege is Power in every field of life. The Scheduled Castes will not attain their goal of freedom and liberty until they drink deep of all knowledge. J trust, ‘Ambedkar School of Politics, Poona’ will make an honest attempt in that direction. The Marhatha First Annual Journal is a good attempt and I wish them all luck. Sd/— B. R. Ambedkar zz Date of the publication is not available—Editors.