Vol. 17, Part III · pages 331–335

302 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES drafted. “ The stand we take,” he said, “is that the constitution must be tripartite. It must be a constitution which will be controlled and worked by free, independent and important elements in the national life in the country. We do not propose to allow Hindus and Muslims to work up an agreement for political advancement, leaving the Scheduled Castes in the cold. Therefore, we propose to have one single organisation, such as the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation, functioning all over India and acting as a single live piece to this particular political aspiration of the Depressed Classes”. Emphasising the importance of technical training, Dr. Ambedkar said that no nation could progress without “tool men”. Besides, technical training had a vast future in the industrial development of the country.” 1 zz 1 : The Times of India, dated 10th May 1943.

85 POVERTY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN POST-WAR PERIOD “Poverty will not be tolerated in post-war period”, observed Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, addressing the members of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, on Monday afternoon the 10th May 1943. Although he could not predict the shape of things to come, he felt sure that conditions would be so radically changed that poor man would be able to live a cultured and civilised life in post-war period. The problem of permanent peace according to him depended on the successful solution of three factors namely imperialism, colour bar and poverty. Imperialism he said had now become a hackneyed phrase. The question of colour bar, he remarked was as important as the question of imperialism. It had got to be tackled and solved in a manner so that the peace of humanity might not be disturbed in future. Dr. Ambedkar was entertained to tea at the Taj Mahal Hotel by Mr. M. L. Dahanukar, President of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, on Monday evening. 1 zz 1 : The Bombay Chronicle : dated 11 th May 1943,

86 SWARAJ COULD BE IN HANDS OF LABOUR “The utter hollowness and the superficiality of the present Labour Movement in India was deplored by the Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Labour Member to the Government of India, at a tea party given in his honour by the Bombay Presidency Committee of the Indian Federation of Labour, on Monday evening the 10th May 1943. Maniben Kara welcomed Dr. Ambedkar and said that it was to be regretted that there was schism in the Labour Movement. She paid tribute to the ameliorative work done by Dr. Ambedkar within the short period since he took up the reigns of office as Labour Member. Dr. Ambedkar in reply advised the Labour leaders present to sink their differences and present a united front against capitalism. Dr. Ambedkar referred to the growth of the Labour Movement in Britain and traced how it had captured the reigns of Government twice wresting power from the hands of the ever-dominant Tories. It was an example for the Indian Labour Movement to emulate. He urged the need for the formation of a United Labour Party in this country, on the model of the British Labour Party. In conclusion, Dr. Ambedkar said that if Democracy in England had failed, it was because it was in the hands of the Tories. It was, therefore, important in whose hands Swaraj would be. He exhorted the Labour leaders of India to see that when Swaraj came it could be in the hands of Indian Labour.” 1 zz 1 : The Bombay Chronicle : dated 11 th May 1943.

87 QUALIFY FOR ENJOYING THE RIGHTS “The Scheduled Castes Federation gave a reception to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Member, Viceroy’s Executive Council, at the open plot near Gokuldas Pasta Road, Dadar this evening the 5th December 1943. Mr. B. V. Jadhav presided. Dr. B. R. Ambedar was garlanded on behalf of many Backward Classes organisations. Replying to felicitations Dr. B. R. Ambedkar gave a review of his activities as a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and the efforts he had made to get equal status with the Muslims and Hindus and a greater number of seats in the legislatures, for the Scheduled Castes. He also revealed that he had been able to get a sum rupees of three lakhs from the Government for the uplift of the Scheduled Castes. After exhorting the audience to join in big numbers the Federation which alone could fight for their political rights, he asked them to educate themselves, unite for the common good, and qualify for enjoying the rights they were claiming.” 1 zz 1 : The Bombay Chronicle : 6th December 1943.

88 SCHEDULED CASTES MUST DISCARD HINDUISM “Replying to the welcome addresses by three scheduled castes’ organisations, after the resolutions were disposed of at the Scheduled Castes’ Conference, held at Cawnpore*, on January 31 1944, Dr. Ambedkar set out the role of his community in India of the future and appealed to youths to forge sanctions by developing organisational strength behind the Federation so that no party, not even the British Government would dare refuse to recognise their importance in the future scheme of India’s constitutional development.” “We must resolve that in a free India of the future we will be a ruling race. We refuse to continue to play a role of subservience or accept a position in which we could be treated as servants, not masters,” declared Dr. Ambedkar. If and when a Swaraj Government is established in India, he asserted, Hindus, Muslims and the Scheduled Castes, 3 parties in the Country would share the political power. He visualised the day when it would be possible to guarantee a minimum wage of Rs. 30 a month, provide housing for labour, and pensions as an insurance against old age to the poor. His answer to those critics, who asked him to join the Congress, was simple, said Dr. Ambedkar. “I regard as more important the freedom of the scheduled castes in India, the community which has been the victim of domination and oppression for over 2000 years.” He preferred to work for the unlift of his community rather than Swaraj for the country. Dr. Ambedkar asked the people to ponder over the causes for their sufferings extending over a long period of 2000 years. The Hindu Dharma, he asserted, was the main cause. Of all religions in the world it was Hinduism that recognised caste distinctions and Untouchability. This was the cover, the clock, for all injustices perpetrated on the Scheduled Castes by caste Hindus. The position even today, he regretted to say, was that in villages they could not live with self-respect. * Kanpur.