Vol. 9 · pages 131–135

102 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Executive. They could not ask a question which it did not like. They could not move a resolution which it did not permit. They could not bring in legislation to which it objected. They could not vote as they chose and could not speak what they felt. They were there as dumb driven cattle. One of the objects of obtaining representation in the Legislature for the Untouchables is to enable them to ventilate their grievances and to obtain redress for their wrongs. The Congress successfully and effectively prevented this from happening. To end this long and sad story, the Congress sucked the juice out of the Poona Pact and threw the rind in the face of the Untouchables. zz

CHAPTER IV AN ABJECT SURRENDER Congress Beats An Inglorious Retreat I THE Poona Pact was signed on the 24th September 1932. On 25th September 1932, a public meeting of the Hindus was held in Bombay to accord to it their support. At that meeting the following resolution was passed :— “This Conference confirms the Poona agreement arrived at between the leaders of the Caste Hindus and Depressed Classes on September 24, 1932, and trusts that the British Government will withdraw its decision creating separate electorates within the Hindu community and accept the agreement in full. The Conference urges that immediate action be taken by Government so as to enable Mahatma Gandhi to break his fast within the terms of his vow and before it is too late. The Conference appeals to the leaders of the communities concerned to realize the implications of the agreement and of this resolution and to make earnest endeavour to fulfil them. “This Conference resolves that henceforth, amongst Hindus, no one shall be regarded as an Untouchable by reason of his birth, and that those who have been so regarded hitherto will have the same right as other Hindus in regard to the use of public wells, public schools, public roads, and all other public institutions. This right shall have statutory recognition at the first opportunity and shall be one of the earliest Acts of the Swaraj Parliament, if it shall not have received such recognition before that time. “It is further agreed that it shall be the duty of all Hindu leaders to secure, by every legitimate and peaceful means, an early removal of all social disabilities now imposed by custom upon the so-called Untouchable Classes, including the bar in respect of admission to temples.” This resolution was followed by a feverish activity on the part of the Hindus to throw open Temples to the Untouchables. No week passed in which the Harijan a weekly paper started by Mr. Gandhi which did not publish a long list of temples thrown open, wells thrown open and schools thrown open

104 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES to the Untouchables set out under special column headed “Week to Week” on the first page. As samples I produce below these “Week to Week” columns from two issues from the Harijan. ‘Harijan’ of 18th February 1933 WEEK TO WEEK (During the Week ending 7th February 1933) TEMPLES THROWN OPEN One temple recently built at a cost of a lakh and half rupees in North Calcutta. One temple in village Bhapur, district Ganjam, Madras. One Thakurdwar temple at Naurania, in Jullundar, Punjab. WELLS OPENED One Municipal well, at Guriapur in Jaipur town, district Cuttack, Orissa. Two wells in Wazirpura and Nikigali, Agra, U.P. In Trichinopoly (Madras) an orthodox Brahmin has offered expenses necessary for digging three wells for the common use of Harijans and caste Hindus. SCHOOLS STARTED A free school in Bachrota, district Meerut, U.P. One school at Metah district in Rajputana. Three schools at Fatehpur, Chemun and Abhaypur in Jaipur State, Rajputana. One school at Fatehghar, district Farukhabad, U.P. Three night schools in Muttra, U.P. Three night schools in Gorakhpur Town, U.P. One night school in Hata Tehsil, District Gorakhpur, U.P. One night school at Sak-honia. INDIAN STATES 1. The Palitana State (Kathiawar) Assembly has passed by a large majority three resolutions relating to the facilities to be given to the Harijans. 2. A standing committee has been appointed by the Government of Sandhur State, Madras, to concert measures calculated to ameliorate the condition of the Harijans in the State. GENERAL 1. The Harijans in various villages near Kashia in Gorakhpur district have given up carrion eating. 2. On the occasion of the ‘Basantpanchami’ festival ‘Basantotsava’ was celebrated at Muzaffarpur (Bihar) under the auspices of the Harijan Seva Sangh in the temple of Sri Chaturbhujnathji in which all castes of Hindus took part. A. V. THAKKAR, General Secretary.

105 WHAT CONGRESS AND GANDHI HAVE DONE TO THE UNTOUCHABLES : AN ABJECT SURRENDER Sjt. V. R. Shinde, President, All-India Anti-Untouchability League and Founder-Trustee of the Depressed Mission Society of India, Poona, has addressed an open letter to the members of the Legislative Assembly on Sjt. Ranga Iyer’s Untouchability Bills, strongly urging them to support the two measures. In Taikalwadi in ‘G’ Ward of Bombay, there was an outbreak of fire recently which caused very setious damage to the huts and belongings of 48 Mahar families. The President of the Bombay Provincial Board of the Servants of Untouchables Society sanctioned Rs. 500 for giving relief to these families, and the relief was organised by a sub-Committee of the ‘G’ Ward Committee of the Society. A sum of Rs. 402-8 was distributed as an urgent measure of help to the 48 families, containing in all 163 persons. The Bombay Government has issued orders that requests from local bodies for assignment of Government lands for wells, tanks, dharamshalas, etc., should not be granted except on condition that all castes alike will have equal use of such wells, tanks, etc. ‘Harijan’ of July 15, 1933 WEEK TO WEEK EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES Three reading rooms for Harijans have been opened in the North Arcot District by the S.U.S. In the Madura District S.U. S. workers got Harijan children admitted into the Viraganur taluq board school. Banians, towels, slates, etc. were distributed free to the children of the Melacheri school established by the Madura S.U.S. Two Harijan students of Ramjas College, Delhi, have been allowed free scholarship and free lodging and one a free scholarship by Principal Thadani of the College. One night school for adult Harijans was opened under the auspices of the Lahore Harijan Seva Sangh in the Harijan quarters outside Mochi Gate. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs. Brij Lal Nehru. It has been decided to start one more hostel for Harijan students in Brahmana Kodur (Guntur). The East Godavery District Harijan Seva Sangham has resolved to start a hostel for Harijan Girl Students studying in Coconada. A sum of Rs. 630, 20 bags of rice, fuel necessary for one year, have been already received as donations for the hostel, which will be started with 15 students. The Anantapur District Harijan Seva Sangam has

106 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES decided to start a hostel for Harijau students in Uravakonda. Some provisions and money have already been collected and it is intended to start the hostel with 20 students. Owing to the unremitting efforts of the District Harijan Seva Sangham, Guntur, Harijan boys have been allowed into the savarna schools in a manner of villages and towns. WELLS Three wells in Coimbatore District which were in a bad condition, were cleaned and made available for use. The District Board President, South Arcot, has promised to dig four wells in cheries selected by the S.U.S. During the fortnight ending 31-5-33, no less than 125 wells in all were opened to Harijans and 5 new ones constructed in Andhradesh. GENERAL A shop has been opened in a bustee near Hogg Market (Calcutta) where Doms live, for supplying them with articles of food at cheap rates. Rs. 60 has been paid by the S.U.S. Bengal for paying up the debts of a Harijan family at Bibi Bagan bustee (Calcutta). The Amrita Samaj (Calcutta) has given service to some Harijans. 450 Harijans of Bolpur (Birbhum) have given up drinking habits and 1,275 Muchis have taken a vow not to take beef. Three new district centres of S.U.S. have been opened during the month in Bankura, Murshidabad, and 24 Parganas. Trichinopoly, Tanjore, Tinnevelley, Salem. Dindigul, North Arcot and Madura have all taken up the idea of a Gandhi Harijan Service corps for direct and personal service in the cheris. Alandural, a Harijan village 12 miles from Coimbatore was given Rs. 25 worth of grain, Rs. 100 worth of cloth and Rs. 5 worth of oil, as relief after a fire in the village. A Harijau Youth League has been formed in Chidambaram. A shop to supply provisions at cost price to the Harijans has been set up in Tenali and is being made use of by them. A sum of Rs. 110 was spent in giving help for rebuilding houses of Harijans in Valanna Palem (East Kistna) recently destroyed by fire. A sum of Rs. 100 was contributed by the Provincial Committee towards the relief of Harijans in Yellamanchili (Vizag) who lost their houses by a fire. The local Harijan Seva Sangham is endeavouring to erect new houses for the Harijans in a better locality and is collecting donations—in cash and building materials. One Harijan has been employed as a servant by a savarna gentleman in Gollapalem.