Vol. 17, Part III · pages 296–300

267IF DEMOCRACY....................OUR DOOM Resolution-Mr. D. G. Jadhav Mr. D. G. Jadhav, moving the resolution said, “Mr. President, brother delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the Resolution that I have the honour to move for your acceptance reads as follows : Resolution V : Establishment of All - India Scheduled Castes Federation This Conference is of opinion that the time has arrived for the establishment of a Central Political Organization for carrying on the political movement of the Scheduled Castes. This Conference, therefore, resolves to establish the AllIndia Scheduled Castes Federation as the Central Political Organization of the Scheduled Castes of India and appeals to all local political organizations of the Scheduled Castes to merge into this Central Organization and to work through it. For the execution of this purpose, this Conference authorises the President to form a Committee with himself as the Chairman to frame a constitution for the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation. The Committee will submit the report to a provisional council consisting of the following on whose approval the constitution shall become operative : Bengal : Mr. R. L. Biswas ” A. D. Roy ” R. S. Dhusia ” B. C. Mandal Bombay : Mr. D. G. Jadhav ” P. N. Rajbhoj ” B. K. Gaikwad Punjab : Mr. Gopal Singh ” Seth Kisandas C. P. & Berar : Mr. R. V. Kawade ” K. H. Shendre ” H. L. Kosare

268 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES United Provinces : Rai Saheb Shamlal Rai Saheb Ramsahai Dr. Nandlal Jaiswal Mr. Badriprasad Balmiki Babu Tilakchand Ladies and gentlemen, the resolution which I commend for your acceptance will, I am sure, appeal to all and may be safely expected to have your unanimous support. None needs being told that union is strength. These are the days of collective pressure and unless we put forth our whole strength under one organization we cannot expect to survive the onslaughts from other greater communities. We all know that the caste Hindus are very strongly organised under the Congress, and the Muslims under their League. Knowing these facts, if we do not combine under one Federation, our opponents will take advantage of the disunity amongst us and play one faction against another. Thus, while we shall be fully occupied with petty quarrels amongst ourselves, the world will be told that there is no such thing as separate entity of the Depressed Classes. We would have no opportunity left for giving fight to our opponents and thus the disunity amongst ourselves will be the cause of our downfall. One can very well imagine the worst dissabilities awaiting for us, should we be surrendered to the good will of the caste Hindus ? This resolution demands that all provincial organizations should merge into and work under one Central Organization. In times of war political parties in the belligerent nations forget their existence and work together to face the common enemy. We must take lesson in time for our fight is no less than a war of our existence. I am sure every one of us would prefer to die than live like a slave. Why not, then, follow the old adage that ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Unite now before it is too late and prevent the ills that stare you in the face. After the ills take charge of you it will be too late to cure. It is possible that some amongst us may fear the loss of

269IF DEMOCRACY....................OUR DOOM self-importance by placing themselves under one leadership but I put it to you whether the loss of importance of few persons is greater than the loss to be sustained by the millions. I appeal to you not only to accept the resolution unanimously but to lose no time in bringing together all the different local organization under one central banner. I do not mean to say that there exists any important organizations which are not with us. All that I mean to convey is that even the few, unimportant though they may be, should not remain aloof from our organization. With these few words, I commend this resolution for your acceptance. Rao Bahadur N. Shivraj then called upon Rai Sahib N. C. Dhusya from Bengal to second the resolution. Accordingly Rai Saheb N. C. Dhusya Seconded the resolution. The resolution was supported by : (1) Mr. P. N. Rajbhoj, Poona (Bombay) (2) ” Mangilal, (Rajputana) (3) ” B. C. Mandal, B.A., (Calcutta) (4) ” Badriprasad Valmiki, Allahabad (U.P.) (5) ” P. L. K. Talib, M.A., LL.B., (Lucknow, U.P.) (6) ” P. J. Roham, M.L.A., Ahmednagar (Bombay). Rao Bahadur N. Shivraj said, “As Resolution No. V has been proposed, duly seconded and supported, I now put it to vote. All those who are in favour of the resolution will signify their assent by raising their hands (all seem to have raised their hands). All those who are against the resolution will signify their disapproval by raising their hands. I find no one is against the resolution. I declare that the resolution is carried unanimously.”

270 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Concluding Address by Dr. Ambedkar Rao Bahadur N. Shivraj then requested Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to speak as promised by him. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar who spoke this time in Marathi, said : Friends, during the last ten years the political movement has taken great strides. Still I am sure the resolutions which you have passed today mark the beginning of a new era so far as the Untouchables are concerned. As you know, I am taking up from tomorrow the duties of my new office. I, therefore, consider it to be my duty to render to you an account of my stewardship during the past twenty years, (Dr. Ambedkar here repeated in Marathi the account of the political, economic and social progress made by the Depressed Classes during the past twenty years.) I must tell you that between the condition of the Muslims and the Untouchables there is a substantial difference, although both are known as minority communities. The Muslim Community is very rich as compared to our Community. They were rulers in this Country till the British came. They have, thus, superior status behind them and then progress is decidedly far in advance of us. We had been oppressed for centuries. Our economic condition is one of extreme poverty. We cannot simply compare ourselves with the Muslims on the ground of population alone. We have to work up ourselves from the beginning relying entirely on our own efforts. We have to raise our Community. Due to my new appointment the responsibility for shouldering the task now rests upon others. I have no love for office. I am quite alright as I was. I do not consider that there is any difference between “the Hon’ble Dr. Ambedkar” and the simple “Dr. Ambedkar”. What I consider most important with regard to my appointment is that a convention is now established that there should be a seat for the representative of the Depressed Classes on the Executive Council of the Governor General. This is death-blow to Brahminism. Therein lies the importance of my appointment. It was not in the interest of Brahminism to have such a convention at all. I consider this a great victory for the Untouchables.

271IF DEMOCRACY....................OUR DOOM There are many people who are not well disposed towards me. I am by nature given to live alone and spend my time in reading. Many people consider this nature of mine as an indication that I do not treat the people properly and avoid them. I assure you that I do not mean any insult to any one. My time is limited. I have to do many things and I have no assistance. Many Hindus look upon me as their enemy. They complain that I speak hard to injure their feelings. I know I have kind heart and I have many friends even among Brahmins. But even a kind hearted man has to speak the truth. When he sees his kith and kin being treated worst than dogs and their future progress blocked by all means, how can they expect me to treat them kindly as though they have done nothing. I try to suppress my feelings and treat my opponents with honour but guilty conscience feels the pinch, although my treatment to my opponents is never unkind. I am definitely of opinion that in this Country political rights must be shared between the Hindus, the Musalmans and the Depressed Classes. The Depressed Classes must by law have a proper share in the Government of the Country along with the Hindus and the Musalmans. The future constitution can only work if it rests on these three pillars. To achieve this, you must all come together under one flag and have only organization. If we have not so far achieved the position in the Constitution which is due to us, it is because we have not been united. If you all unite and work under one organization, I have no doubt that you will reach the position you are entitled to. Congress is a big organization and its influence is spread far and wide. Some naturally ask why this is so, and why our organization is not so spread. There are two things at the command of the Congress. The Congress have the whole Press of India behind it. It gets full publicity. We can get no publicity from the nationalist Hindu Press. Secondly, the Congress has money at its command. You will remember that the Congress collected a fund of one crore of rupees. This large fund forms the secret of its success. But for the work of our Community I have never asked for funds. What progress and organization we have achieved we have done so without the help