Vol. 17, Part III · pages 101–105

72 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (51) Charmakar Maheela Mandal (52) Charmakar Sudharak Mandal (53) Youngmen’s Mahar Association Vinchoor (54) Naigaon Social Equality League (55) Bahishkrit Bhajan Samaj Vadala (56) Chandanvadi Maheela Mandal (57) Chandanvadi D. C. Association (58) Solapur District Tal. Karmale Hitvardhak Samaj (59) Satara District Balveer Sainik Dal (60) Thana District D. C. Association (61) Bandra Katwadi Varoode Mandal (62) Nasik Yuvak Sangh (63) Naigaon B. D. D. Block Tenants Association (64) B. & C. I. Railway D. C. League (65) Nasik District Madhyavarti Mandal (66) Bhartiya Samaj Seva Mandal (67) Madhyavarti Samata Sainik Dal (68) Ravangaon D. C. League (69) Atpadee D. C. Society (70) Kulaba District D. C. Association (71) Tramway Co-operative Society Chawl Tenants Association (72) Social Equality League (73) Jangira Bahishkrit Praja Chirol Mandal (74) Dadar Mahila Mandal (75) Navyuvak Mandal Ahmedabad (76) Dharwar District D. C. League (77) Belgaon District D. C. League (78) Karwar District D. C. League (79) Meghwal Sudharak Samaj (80) Gujarath Dalit Sudharak Mandal (81) Satara District Tarun Seva Mandal (82) Rohidas Tarun Mandal Thana (83) Somvanshiya Sanmargadarshan Sangh, Kalyan (84) Thana District Charmakar Aikechhu Mandal Manikpur (85) Kamathipura 13 Lane Bhajan Samaj

73FUTURE...........MY SERVICES (86) The Berar, Asprishya Samaj Sudharak Seva Mandal Berar (87) The Supa Pargana, Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh (88) Satara District Vandar Manar Sangh (89) B. P. T. Bahishkrit Labourers Navyuvak (90) Karnatak Machignar Society (91) Karnatak D. C. Youth League (92) D. C. Association Hubali (93) Chitra Bazar, Bori Chawl D. C. League (94) Rohe Taluka Mahar Sangh (95) Kamathipura Stable Street Mahar Association (96) Agripada Mcpl. Chawl D. C. Tenants Association (97) Bandra Chani D. C. League Bhaogra (98) Bandra Palee Bahishkrit Samaj (99) Mahar Military Indian Officer Association (100) Mahim Killa D. C. Association (101) Reteecha Dhakka Punch Mandal (102) B. I. T. Poibawadi Chawl D. C. League (103) Panvel Pensioner Mahar Punch (104) Crawn Cigartte Co’s D. C. Labour Mandal (105) Nana Chawk Mahar Sangh (106) All India Untouchability League Poona (107) Maharashtra Seva Sangh Poona (108) Dakshin Maharashtra Satya Prasarak Mandal Kolhapur (109) Matang Dnyanodaya Samaj Bombay (110) Asprishyonnati Mandal Nasik Road (111) Temple Entry Satyagraha Mandal Nasik (112) Bahishkrit Hitchintak Seva Sangh Nasik Road (113) Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Boarding Nasik (114) Asprishya Taroon Samata Samaj Chirabazar” 1 Impressed with the abiding love and gratitude of his people, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar stood embarrassed and motionless for a moment before the vast gathering. After a pause he declared to the vast audience that whatever services he could render were the summation of the co-operation of all the workers and the unflinching backing of his people. He said that no leader was 1 : Hatole, Pp. 29-33.

74 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES by himself responsible for the fulfilment or failure of a mission : so he asked them to continue the struggle. As for his own self, he said, after all, he was a human being and it was human to err. He might have been at times partial, but that should be excused he added. “I am described as a traitor by Congressmen,” he observed, “because I opposed Gandhi. I am not at all perturbed by this charge. It is baseless, false and malicious. But it was a great shock to the world that Gandhi himself should have sponsored violent opposition to the breaking of your shackles. I am confident that the future generations of Hindus will appreciate my services when they study the history of the Round Table Conference.” He also disclosed how he happened to see Gandhi four or five times in London, how Gandhi went secretly to the Aga Khan with a copy of the Holy Koran in his hand and asked the Muslim leader to withdraw his support to the Depressed Classes, and how the Aga Khan had refused to do so. * Lastly, he appealed to his people not to deify him as he hated deification. At the conclusion of the meeting, he honoured the Nasik heroes who had been by then released from Jails.” 1 “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in thanking the audience said that he would not have been able to place before the R. T. C. the case of the Depressed Classes had he not been supported by the solidarity of the seven crores of the Untouchables. He referred to the difference of opinion existed between himself and a certain sections of the Depressed Classes and assured them that he did not stand for any particular section of the Depressed Classes but was prepared to accept any scheme safeguarding the interests of the whole community. He criticised the attitude of Mr. Gandhi in dealing with the minorities problem and said that he, while negotiating with the Depressed Classes, was at the same time secretly confabulating with the Mohammedans. He asked the audience not to place reliance on a leader but always depend on their own strength. He finally congratulated the Nasik temple entry Satyagrahis.” 2 zz * : The Janata, 30th January 1932. 1 : Keer, Pp. 193-94. 2: Bombay City S. B., January 30th 1932.

11 KEEP BEFORE YOUR EYES THE STRUGGLE OF GAUTAM BUDDHA AND RAMANUJA While on tour as a member of Franchise Committee, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar visited Madras in 1932. “On February 28, Dr. Ambedkar was accorded a colourful reception at Madras by a huge gathering of 10,000 men belonging to the Depressed Classes. Muslims, Christians and Non-Brahmins also participated in the reception. The Chairman of the Depressed Class Army Service presided. Almost all Depressed Class Institutions in the Southern India such as the Depressed Class Army Services Institution, Madras Provincial Depressed Classes Federation, the Presidents of Adi-Dravida Malayalam Sabha, Adi-Andhra Mahasabha, Arundhateya Mahasabha, Kerala Depressed Classes Association and the Labour Union unanimously presented Dr. Ambedkar with an address. At the meeting Dr. Ambedkar revealed Rajah’s somersault from separate electorates to ‘joint electorates with reserved seats’. He said that Rajah should not have made any commitment before Kamptee session of the All-India Depressed Classes Congress was held. He, therefore, exhorted the Untouchables to capture political power, to be on their guard against any verbal and rosy promises, and urged them to believe only those leaders who had experience their woes. In the end he asked them to keep before their eyes the fare of the touchable leaders like Gautam Buddha and Ramanuja who had struggled to better their condition and to remove the stain of Untouchability.” 1 zz 1: Keer, P. 196.

12 UNTOUCHABLES MUST HAVE POLITICAL POWER Dr. B. R. Ambedkar decided to hold the second session of the All-India Depressed Classes Congress at Kamptee. Hardas L. N., President Reception Committee issued following circular showing importance of the session.— Editors. “As you are aware, the second session of the All-India Depressed Classes Congress will be held on the 24th and 25th of April next at Kamptee. The importance of this session is immense. The session will concern itself with the two following issues :— 1. The Minorities pact presented to the Round Table Conference and to which the representatives of Depressed Classes were a party. 2. The foundation of a new Central Organization to work and speak in the name of the Depressed Classes of India. The Minorities Pact embodies the political rights of the Depressed Classes under the new constitution. It was not accepted by the representative of the Majority community at the Round Table Conference. The Depressed Classes however had given the Minorities pact their full support. Of late however certain Associations presuming to speak on the name of the Depressed Classes of India have been won-over by the Hindu Maha Sabha and have therefore repudiated the Minorities pact. It is, therefore, absolutely essential that the representatives of the Depressed Classes should meet and apply their best mind to the provision contained in the Minorities Pact and give their considered opinion on the same. The delegates who represented the Depressed Classes at the Round Table Conference-Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Rao Bahadur R. Srinivasan-will attend the session and explain the circumstances and the provisions regarding the Minorities Pact.