Vol. 17, Part III · pages 221–225

192 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES the politics of this country and a part which can be very helpful to themselves and to Labour in general. All this however depends upon how well and how quickly you organize yourselves. I have told you why you must organize and what you can do by organisation. I will now close by telling you, begin your organization and wait not till you achieve it. I thank you for the honour you have done me in asking me to preside at this Conference and I wish you all success.” 1 zz 1 : Booklet Printed at the Bharat Bhushan Printing Press, 57, Vincent Road, Dadar Bombay No. 14.

45 EDUCATED MAN WITHOUT CHARACTER AND HUMILITY IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN A BEAST The Bombay Province Depressed Classes Youth Conference was held on 12th February 1938 at 8 p. m. under the Presidentship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in the vast pandal erected for G. I. P. Railway Depressed Class Workmen’s Conference. After the welcome1 speech by Shri Murlidhar Pagare, Chairman of the Reception Committee, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar delivered a very instructive, inspiring and thrilling speech. He said, “The rule in life, he said, they should keep in mind, was that they must cherish a noble ideal. Whatever might be one’s ideal either of national progress or of self-development, he continued, one should patiently exert oneself to reach it. He observed that all great things in the world were achieved by patient industry and by undergoing toil and tribulations. He further said that one should concentrate one’s mind and might on one’s goal. Man must eat to live and should live and work for the well-being of society. Turning then to the problem of education, Dr. Ambedkar said that education was a sword and being a double-edged weapon, was dangerous to wield. An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of the poor, he remarked, the educated man was a curse to society. Fire upon such an educated man !” “Character is more important,” he emphasized, “than education. It pains me to see youths growing indifferent to religion. Religion is not an opium as it is held by some. What good things I have in me or whatever have been the benefits of my education to society, I owe them to the religious feelings in me. I want religion but I do not want hypocrisy in the name of religion.” The conference was a great success. It showed that, given a chance, the Depressed Class leaders also could organize the masses.” 2 zz 1 : Janata, dated 26th February 1938. 2 : Keer, P. 305.

46 UNTOUCHABLES HAVE TO STRIVE THEMSELVES “Under the auspices of the Somvamshiya Hitakaraka Samaj and the Untouchable residents of Tadwadi, Mazgaon, a public meeting was held on March 19th, 1938 at Tadwadi Mazgaon, to present an address and a purse to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Dr. P. G. Solanki, the leaders of the Independent Labour Party. R. K. Tatnis, Editor, Vividh-Vritta presided. He, M. N. Talpade, S. T. Gaikwad and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar made speeches in Marathi. About 500 persons including about 100 women attended the meeting. The President, M. N. Talpade and S. T. Gaikwad, during the course of their speeches recalled the services of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Dr. P. G. Solanki towards the cause of the Untouchables. An address and a purse was then presented by the President to Dr. Ambedkar. Dr. P. G. Solanki was not present as he was reported to be ill. Replying to the address, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar stated that the Untouchables had to strive for their uplift themselves without the help of any other individual or organisation. The Congress organisation, though it professed to help the cause of the Untouchable, did not do anything. Not only that but such organisations did quite the contrary. This was evidenced by the remission of the sentence passed on one Mahomedan for a heinous offence of rape on an Untouchable girl in the Central Provinces. He then stressed the need of a Hall for Untouchables in Bombay and appealed to the audience to subscribe for the same. He stated that it was easy for him to collect the requisite amount by approaching persons like Birla or Bajaj. But he did not want to do that and thus unnecessarily give them an upper hand. He then announced that the purse presented to him would go towards the funds of the Independent Labour Party. The function started at about 10-30 p. m. and concluded peacefully at about 12-30 a.m. (Sd.) ...................... Superintendent, S. B., C.I.D. 22nd March 1938.”1 zz 1 : Source Material, Vol. I, Pp. 170-171.

47 LEAD DECENT LIFE “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar addressed the Konkan Panchmahal Mahar Conference at Kankavli, district Ratnagiri, on May 14th 1938. About 1,500 persons attended. He deplored the miserable condition of the Mahars and advised them to lead a decent life and do take full advantage of their legal rights such as the use of public wells and Dharmashalas, education etc. He asked them to join the Independent Labour Party as the Congress had not done any good for the Depressed Classes consisting as it did mainly of Brahmins and merchants who were responsible for their poverty. He said that he was not so desirous of driving away British Imperialism from India as he was of driving away the rich element from the Congress. Lastly he exhorted them to support the Khoti system Abolition Bill. Among others, a resolution was passed supporting the Mahar Watan Bill and Khoti system Abolition Bill which had been sponsored in the Legislative Assembly by Dr. Ambedkar. (Sd.) Superintendent S.B., C.I. D. 30th May 1938.” 1 zz 1 : The Bombay Secret Abstract, dated 21st May 1938.

48 GOVERNMENT DID NOT CARE DEPRESSED CLASSES “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar addressed a meeting at the Premabhai Hall, in Ahmedabad while halting there on 22/23 October 1938. “He admitted that he was opposed to Gandhi in politics. It was because he had no faith in Gandhi; he did not believe that Gandhi would do good to the Depressed Classes. He said if Gandhi was sincere why should he not ask the Premiers of Bombay and C.P. to include representatives of the Depressed Classes in their ministries ? He maintained that the Congress Government of Bombay was not reducing the land revenue, nor was it prepared to tax the rich. The former Government had recommended the grant of waste lands to the Depressed Classes for cultivation, recruitment of the Depressed Classes in the police services and a certain percentage of reservation in Government Departments for the Depressed Classes. But the Congress Government did not care for them.” 1 zz 1 : Keer, Pp. 311-312.