Vol. 17, Part III · pages 441–445

123 THE SCHEDULED CASTES SHOULD GIVE UP POLITICAL ALOOFNESS Dr. B. R. Ambedkar delivered speech at Bombay on 12th June, 1951. “The Scheduled Castes should give up their political aloofness and co-operate with other communities in strengthening our newly won freedom. But in such co-operation the separate entity of the Scheduled Castes Federation should be maintained. You must change your policies radically towards the Congress. Up to this time our relations with the Congress had been one of opposition. On the political field we were enemies of each other. So far, we were rather narrow minded in our outlook, the only interest before us being that of our Community. Now that we have achieved our freedom, we should change our outlook entirely and co-operate with others, keeping in view the interest of our Community and help consolidate our newly won freedom. It is wrong to say that the foundation of the Federation was last collapsing. As a matter of fact we gained strength and we stand solidly united. The Federation had a very bad defeat at the polls in 1946. I found that it was essential for a few of us to get into the Constituent Assembly to safeguard the interest of the Community. All the doors and windows were then closed to us. I was not sure of my-self but stood for election from Bengal. I won the seat, At that time, I had not the least idea that I would do some thing for the nation as a whole. The responsibility of framing a Constitution for the country was placed on my shoulders. I feel now that it was the golden opportunity for myself and community. By framing this Constitution, I convinced the Hindus, who were abusing me and my party, for the last 20 years as anti-nationalist, that they were entirely wrong. We are as staunch a nationalist organisation as any other. The time has now changed and we were different from that of Hindu domination, when we were not sure of our future. Our ultimate goal now should be to consolidate our newly won freedom.

413THE SCHEDULED..................ALOOFNESS The Federation should give up its aloofness. Ours is a small Community and if we have to maintain our status quo we must co-operate with some political party in the coming Election. This question will, however, be decided at the time of Elections in the light of the political situation then prevailing in the country.” zz

124 I AM LIKE A ROCK WHICH DOES NOT MELT BUT TURNS THE COURSE OF RIVERS Dr. Ambedkar’s speech at Ramdaspur, Jullundar, Punjab on 27th October 1951, during Election Campaign. He said, “Dear brothers and sisters ! I had an idea to tour the Punjab before, but I could not come here and I have come to know that many people were collected in Jullundur and were disappointed to find that I had not come here. I hope you will excuse me for this inconvenience caused to you all. My inability to come here although caused much inconvenience to so many people, but, I was helpless and it was all due to the following reasons. Firstly, during my four years in the Congress Government, I had been overburdened with official work and could not find time to come here. Secondly, I was also not keeping good health during all those years and still I am not quite well. Thirdly, the Achhuts of the whole of India wish that I should tour the whole of India and speak to them. You can well understand that our country is such a big continent that it is not possible for a single man to tour the whole country even in two years. So I could not fulfil people’s desire and could not come here when they wanted me. Therefore, I want that all our people should stand on their own legs and be united so that they may be able to weather away the storm without my assistance and not to press upon me too much. A man should leave politics after the age of 55 years, because even Government gives notice to a Government servant after the age of 55 that he is unfit for service now and he should retire. But the politicians of the present age start their politics after the age of 55 years so that they may be able to earn their livelihood; does not matter whether they are able to serve the country or not. They have only one point in mind and that is to get something out of it for their own self. I have no selfish motives. I am not continuing in the politics simply for my own good ; but I am doing so for the sake of my community. I jumped

415I A M...................RIVERS into politics in 1920 and since then I have taken part in politics and upto this time, I have spent thirty long years of my life in serving my community. Although I want to leave politics, but I have been compelled to remain in politics thinking the necessity of organising my community. Out of these thirty years, eight years I was Member of the Government. I do not know if there is any politician who has been in politics continuously for such long time. I remained in the Government for eight years and had I wished I could have remained for ever there. I am not proud of it but I know that with my qualifications at my back, nobody had power to expell me if I simply wanted to remain there. But the cause of my community necessitated my resignation from the membership of the Congress Government. I may assure you that I have always kept the well-being of my community in mind wherever I go. When I came from England after getting my degree in Doctor of Philosophy, there was nobody in India with such qualifications. So when I reached Bombay and settled in the Mohalla from where I had gone, the Bombay Government after a great difficulty found my place, as nobody knew where I was residing, it was such an unpopular place, and approached me to accept the post of Professor of Political Economy. I refused the offer. If I had accepted that job, I would have been at least the Director of Public Instructions. I would have got three or four thousands of rupees per month. I refused the post because I had a great feeling for the service of my community which I could not have done remaining in that service. A Government servant, you know, cannot serve his community as he has to go according to the wishes of the Government and follow the policy of the Government. After earning some money for two-three years, I again went to England for further studies and came back as a Barrister. When I returned to Bombay, I was again asked by Bombay Government to accept the post of a District Judge. I was offered Rs. 2,000 per month and promised that I will be a High Court Judge after some time. But I did not accept that also. My income although, from the other source at that time was only Rs. 200.

416 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES In 1942, I had to face two questions. One was to serve as a High Court Judge and the other was to join the Government of India as a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. Had I joined the High Court, I would have received Rs. 5,000 per mensem as pay and Rs. 1,000 as pension after retirement but I did not do that. I entered politics. I got birth in Achhut community and will die for my community and the cause of my community is supreme to me. I did not join any party or body. I remained independent. While in the Congress Government, I remained true to my people. Many people thought that I had joined the Congress party as I had accepted the Cabinet Minister ship of the Congress Government. The critics pointed out that Dr. Ambedkar had joined Congress and why the Scheduled Castes people should continue to remain in the Scheduled Castes Federation. I explained about it at Lucknow that earth and stone are to different things and they can never mix together. Stone will remain the stone and the earth will remain the earth. I am like a rock (stone) which does not melt but turns the course of rivers. Wherever I may be, in whatever company I may find myself, I would never lose my separate identity. If anybody asks my co-operation, I would gladly give it for a worthy cause. I co-operate with the Congress Government for four years with all my might, and with the sincerity in the service of my mother-land. But during all these years I did not allow myself to merge into the Congress organisation. We want to join that party which we think has sympathy with the Scheduled Caste people and which will take pains to redress the grievances of our people as we are taking. But there is not a single party which has sympathy with our people, all are selfish. I have come here in connection with the elections. I may tell you that unless you are united you will not be successful. To be successful, one must be either powerful or rich. One of these is essential for our success. We have neither any money nor we are in majority. Marwadi and Banias do not have power but they have money. So they can purchase anything with that. They can purchase the police, as well as the Courts. Our people have