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Dr. Ambedkar's crusade for SocialJustice and equal opportunitiesfor Depressed Classes of India.

E. Kannan, Ex. MLA, Kozhikode -5,General Secretary of

All lndia Depressed Classes Congress.

INTRODUCTION

IIJP, Congress in race to 'own' Ilalit iconJrlin $rrndhi

t{EB DELHI Afttr Va]ldrhbbsiPrtel, B.It Anltredkar is theluext nutitingl ictln ovcr whus'rb

Icgircy thc Congrtss and theBJP 3re sl9t for a tu$ 0f war.With Amb*dhal* I25th birthanrrivutsary yr:ar heginningonAFril l+ t}ttrvodrawingupPlam htlon[ crlebr&ti,Jn*r

tic b*iir for fhe BJP'sclaim to,{nrbedkacs lecBcY i*

I95tl. "ApPmPriating nationllhistury ir not hcrY ud Dalit

v+tes have llrv:rYs bwn im-1xrrtant." Sudha Pai, Politic:'lSciuntist :rnd llector. Ja**r-harlsl Nehru l)nruer silY, said,

lYhil€ rho Congrcss hux tun-stihtted a comntiltce ttndor itspresidttlt, Sonia GlrrrJhi. andvicc-presitlent, It.rhul C:rndhi,to lorm plaru lo comn]ulro-ratd the Yenr, tlrr: BJP is orgr-nising e cumntt'tnorrtiott ottApril 1.1 rt xll district-lcvel of'fic*e of tha PrrtY' 'l'hc IlSS"s

mouthpicce, Pant'fiiuru'ri, andits English vcrsion. ?he Otga-nr'.rcr, rre coming out withcornmstnomtivo cr)lle(t$ni'editiqus on Dr. tunb*dl'urr.Mi-nister of glcial Justirc Tho-warchlud Gr:hlol aunouncedin Der:ettbcr that th! goveur'rrrent hod ret asirle hr' lOU

rrqre frjir f mentorittl toAmbdktrr"

The ConP't'ss cr>rnmiltnirvill rneet on ,\prll l 3 anrl rlrrw

lee, rdmitted; "0ur higgest

nW has been proietled as an'li* io thr: Cnngr*ss,s it was r PartnurshiP

h*fweenthe trv*."IIr. Baju sair! the Congr*ss

did not u,{nt t{, coniinv }Jr"Arnbudkar's legacy to tlat uf aD*lit lcon. Neithcr does thenss.

ca,ogaoq/'l r$9! €ns{ti

:t rtE, tltNtlg r f rrl0A

t,

BJP and Congress When in their race to'own' Dalit

lcon they are likely to run riot on political fictions about

Dr. Ambedkar and his deeds" Therefore it will be in the

fitness of things to give a glimpse of facts as it happened

in the struggle for emancipation of untouchables by Dr.

Ambedkar in his own words.

During the Second Rottrrrl l,rlrlr, ( orr[crcnce inLondon in1932 presided ovcr lry llrlll,,lr l'rrtrrc Minister

Ramsey Macdonald both Dr, Arrrlx,rlk,lt ,trrrl (j,rndhiji

were present. Dr. Ambedk,rI ru |lrrr,rl lr)r ,,cparate

representation and separate clr,r lot,tlr, llr,ltrl; given todepressed classes. Gandhi oppo..rr(l lltr, ,,,unr,. But the

British Prime Minister declarr,rl ( (,nunitrr,rl Award.

Gandhiji on reaching lndia dcr l,rrr,rl l,t,,l rrrrto Death

against Communal Award. [)r. Arrrllr,rll<,rr issued a

Statement condemning the fast.

Confused and bewildercd to llrr,r,xtrcme lndiai'r

leaders of all Political opinion ruslrcrl to t.rlk over the

matter with Dr. Ambedkar. Panrllt M,rdan Mohan

Malaviya the Veteran Political Lcirtlt,r of lrrdia urgently

convened a Round Table Conferencc ol thc depressed

classes and the rest of the Hindus. Ihc Hindus were

represented by Madan Moharr Malaviya. C.

Rajagopalachary Rajendra Prasad Sir ttrj B,thadurSapru.

M.R. Jayakar G.D. Birla Sir Prabha Sankar Pattani and

Sir chunilal Mehta. Depressed classcd wcre represented

by Dr. Ambedkar, GeneralSecretary E. Kanna, Dr. Solanki

of Bombay Rasiklal Biswas of Bengal and V.l.

Munuswami Pillai of Madras. An agreement was

reached which came to be called Poona fact, Gandhiji

accepted this and ended the fast.

These letters mainly written by Dr. Ambedkar

rcveals the inner secrets of the Political situation in the

country and the struggles of the Depressed Classes for

socialjustice and political freedom. The Gandhi- lrvin

Pact and certain statements of Mahatma Gandhi

regarding the Harijan issue in the country were some

sort of warning to Dr. Ambedkar about the political

dangers that the Depressed Classes will have to face.

He decided to avert it. A most representative conference

of the Depressed Classes of lndia was arranged to meet

in Nagpur on 7th, 8th and 9th of August 1930. All the

awakened Depressed Classes throughout lndia including

the present Pakistan & Bangla Desh were asked to attend

it. Dr. Ambedkar presided over the conference. lt was

really the most representative Assembly of theDepressed Classes at the time, Here D.r Ambedkar met

Shri.E.Kannan of Malabar (Calicut). An organization

called All lndia Depressed Classes Congress was formed

with Dr.Ambedkar as President and Sri.E.Kannan was

made the Generalsecretary. The newly formed working

committee was immediately confronted with numerous

difficult problems. By this time the British 'government

had decided to give lndia some measure of Political

Reforms and in order to get a united acceptance of their

schemes by all the different section of Political Opinion

o

in lndia the British Government decided to convene an

lndian Round Table Conference in London. Fortunately

forthe Depressed classesthe British Government invited

Dr. Ambedkar and Rao Bahadur R.sreenivasan a Veteran

Harijan Leader of South lndian to represent the

Depressed classes in lndia. ln a few months time the

lndian Round Table Conference was announced with

Dr.Ambedkar and R.sreenivasan as representatives of

the Depressed Classes in it. The Round Table Conference

was the best avenue for the Depressed Classes to expose

to the civilized world the miseries of the Depressed

Classes in the country and to seek remedies for them.

No doubt Dr. Ambedkar threw himself heart and soul

to this cause and brought for the first time in history

the Harijan issue to the notice of the world. These letters

are mainly.written by Dr.Ambedkar to his General

secretary. They will throw light on the difficulties

Ambedkar had to fightwith in order to guarantee justice

to the Depressed classes in a free lndia. The events

connected with the Poona Pact are too significant and

most revealing. From the Historical point of view these

letters are of precious importance to the people

especially to the Weaker Section.

More than any other literature in the country on

the subject, these letters will revealthe tragic difficulties

in which the Depressed Classes were living at the time

and what would have happened to these dumb millions

in 'swaraj lndia' if Dr. Ambedkar had not risen to the

occasion and taught valiantly and most heroically to

secure Security for the Depressed Classes in Free lndia.

The most significant event in the whole story is

Dr.Ambedkar's clash with Mahatma Gandhi at the

Round Table Conference which ultimately resulted in

Gandhiji declaring a fast unto Death in order to prevent

separate representation and separate electrorate being

given to the Depressed Classes by the Biritish

Government. But eventhough this startled the whole

country and evidently the whole world Dr.Ambedkar

stood like a rock and declared that he could not go back

from his stand. Confused and bewildered to the

extreme lndian leaders of all Political opinion rushed to

talk over this matter with Dr.Ambedkar and find out a

solution which would enable Gandhiji to end his fast.

Accordingly Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya the Veteran

Political leader of tndia urgently convened a Round Table

Conference of Depressed Classes and the rest of the

Hindus. Atthis conference the Hindus were represented

by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. C. Rajagopalachary,

Rajendra Prasad, Sir Bahadur Sapru M.R. Jayakar, G.D.

Birla Sir Prabhasankar Pattani and Sir Chunilal Mehta.

The Depressed Classes were represented by

Dr.Ambedkar his General Secretary, E. Kannan,

Dr.solanki of Bombay Rashikal Biswas of Bengal and V.l.

Munuswamy Pillai, An agreement was reached which

came to be known as Poona Pact. Gandhiji accepted

this and ended the fast. This averted a major crisis.

lf we look at the map of the world nowhere else

can we f ind such a section of people ca lled

Untouchables as can be found in lndia. But here even

the observance of untouchability served as a feather

on the cap of orthodox Hindus until its practice was

proclaimed a Penal offence by the Constitution of lndia.

Even the Negroes of America and Africa will be

surprised to know that a section of people exists in lndia

called scheduled castes who were treated till recently

not only as untouchables but also unapproachables.

Though untouchability has been abolished by law

it would be absurd to hold that social disabilities of the

untouchables have ceased to exist with the

proclamation of the abolition of untouchability. Social

institutions coming down for thousands of years and

woven into the fabrics of Hindu life could not all on a

jl.

sudden cease to function. Though the practice of

untouchability is abolished the social facts remain. A

glimpse into the Hindu Society will make matters clear.

The untouchables fall outside the pale of Hinduism if it

is taken on the basis of four-fold caste system. Yet they

were essential to the normal functioning of Hindu life.

The menial profession which were said to pollute or

degrade were not for members of Savarna Community'

Consequently the Panchamas were to carry these

functions. Every Hindu village postulated a group of

houses outside the normal village area where these

humble folks on whom depended the sanitation and

other menialwork of the village lived in most miserable

condition. lf the street had to be cleared, if scavenging

had to be done. lf the dead cattle had to be removed,

the members of the four castes had to depend upon

the Panchamas i.e. the Untouchables. The position of

the untouchables in society when the Caste System was

in ascendancy was in many ways worse than that of

slavery. The slaves were at least a property of the master

and therefore stood better in an individual relationship

with the master. consideration of economic self interest

and human feeling smoothened the barbarism of

personal slavery. But these mitigating factors could not

be applied to the system of untouchability which was

in fact and in effect a system of communal slave holding.

No personal or social consideration were permitted to

reduce the rigours of the system.

It is against the tyranny of such social order that

Dr.Ambedkar fought and the educated members of the

Scheduled Castes still have to fight. The present

generation of educated Scheduled Castes are almost

ignorant of the difficulties harassment and cruelties that

the educated amongstthe Scheduled Castes had to face.

Let these letters serve them as a clarion call for more

social ferver.

The personality of Dr.Ambedkar has been amply

revealed in his letters. Ambedkar was very vehement in

his criticism of Caste and Untouchability. He exhorted

the Scheduled Castes. 'You must abolish your slavery

yourself. lt is disgraceful to live at the cost of one's self

respect for self respect; is the most vital factor in life.

Without it a man is a mere cipher. The religion that does

not teach its followers to show humanity to its co-

religionists is nothing but a display of force. The religion

that asks its adherents to suffer the touch of animals

but not the touch of human beings, is not a religion but

mockery. The religion that compels the ignorant to be

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ignorant and the poor to be poor is not a religion but a

visitation.

Criticisms were leveled against Dr.Ambedkar

at the time that he was not interested in lndia winning

freedom. But the fact was quite otherwise, Even while

he was fighting very vehemently for the communal

award at the Round Table Conference in London he

wrote to Sri.E. Kannan, General Secretary of All lndia

Depressed Classes Congress that "the full solution to the

problems of Scheduled Castes could be found only in

lndependent lndia and it will be suicidal to the

Depressed Classes to run away from Swaraj". What he

wanted was that adequate safeguards should be

provided for the untouchable minority in !ndependent

lndia. He wanted the Scheduled Caste people also

should be aware of this fact. The intensity of the feelings

of Dr.Ambedkar can be seen from the followingexchange between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr.Ambedkar

after the first historic Round Table Conference in London

in 1930.

Dr.Ambedkar: "Gandhiji, I have no homeland"

: 'You have got a homeland and from

reports that have reached me of your

work at the Round Table Conference I

Gandhiji

know you are a patriot of sterlingworth"

Ambedkar : "You say I have got a homeland but still

I repeat I am without it. How can I call

this land my own wherein we are

treated worse than cats and dogs,

wherein we cannot get water to drink?

No self respecting untouchable worth

the name will be proud of this land. I

do not feel sorry for being, branded a

traitor.

lf in my endeavour to secure human

rights for my people who have been

trampled upon in this country for ages

I do any disservice to this country itwould not be a sin. I have been striving

to win human rights for my people

without meaning or doing any harm to

this country.

ln his fight for liberation of Untouchables.

Dr. Ambedkar stands on an equal footing with that of

N.Kruma, Jomekenyatta. Martin Luther King and Booker

T.Washington. The circumstances in which these Negro

leaders fought and Dr.Ambedkar fought were different

,

t{

llre Scheduled Castes were numerically small spread

,rll over the land. All of them were poor serts dependant

on the land lords for their daily bread. They were

invariably ignorant and illiterate masses who were

denied entry even to public places. There is nothing tocompare the economic condition of the Negrous in

Africa and America and that of Scheduled Castes in

lndia. Now with all the cruel limitations of being an

Untouchable that he was able to carry on the struggle

of liberation of the Untouchables of lndia to victorious

end inspite of the opposition of the overwhelming

majority of the Savarna communities can only be

explained by the fact that he was born to carry out the

task.

Few men are gifted with such talents as

Dr.Ambedkar possessed. He possessed an arresting

personality. He was not only a great scholar but also a

writer of great eminence. His books on the Problems

of a Rupee Pakistan why and why not What Gandhi and

Congress have done to the U ntoucha bles, theannihilation of Caste etc. bear marks of erudition,originality and scholarship. He was a born agitator,

organizer & orator.

An Untouchable young man rebellious by

nature endowed with all the qualities for leadership,

after the completion of his studies in England and

America with the aid of merit scholarship returned to

his native land tasting the fruits of social justice and

equality that were prevalent in western world and

ardently desiring the same justice to be extended to

him and the members of his fellow untouchable

community in his native land. But he experienced the

curse of Tantalus everywhere. Not only he found social

justice and brother hood were denied to his people but

found the same being denied to him also even though

he possessed the highest available Degree from the

Universities of Europe. England and America.

Dr. Ambedkar possessed a fine personality.

He was considered one of the best well dressed men in

lndia at the time. With all that he was treated as an.

Untouchable in lndia. Therefore he found the tyranny

of Caste and the curse of untouchability unbearable.

He therefore argued that if freedom will have any value

the curse of untouchability and the tyranny of Caste

must be wiped out as early as possible. He thought

that a caste ridden independent lndia will be torn by

internal strifes and that not only freedom will not be

:,

based on strong foundation but will also loose most ofits va lues.

His task was not to "make mild a ruggedpeople" but to make the docile untouchables a ruggedpeople from that of serfs who had lost the sense offreedom and equality on account of the tyrannyimposed upon them from time immemorial. He decided

that Untouchables of lndia cannot for all time remainhewers of wood and drawers of water. With this end in

view he agitated for separate representation to theScheduled Castes. Like a whirlwind he travelledthroughout lndia bearing the torch of rebellionexhorting the untouchables to awake from slumber and

fee! as human beings. The Scheduled Castes slowlybegan to rally around him and found in him their real

leader and fighter for their cause. The authorities alsocould not shut their eyes for long against the tyranny ofcaste and enslavement of Scheduled Castes.

During the Round Table Conference inLondon, Ambedkar ably represented the case of theScheduled Caste community in lndia. The Conference

was compelled to recognize the validity of hisarguments. The British public opinion was shocked toknow the in-human condition of the scheduled Castes

^

in lndia. The British Government realizing the necessity

of special treatment for Scheduled Castes announced

the Communal Award which was intended to enable

the Scheduled Caste to voice their grievances in the

Central and State Legislatures by genuine

representatives elected by Scheduled Castes

themselves. The epic fast of Mahatma Gandhifollowing

the announcement of Communal Award and the

resultant Poona Pact are too well known to be narrated'

ln order to save the life of Mahatma Gandhi Ambedkar

had to make some concessions' Yet with all itsshortcomings Poona Pact was an achievement of

unprecedented character in the recorded history of

lndia, For the first time in recorded history the existence

of Scheduled Castes and their disabilities were taken

cognizance of by National leadership. The events which

culminated in Poona Pact and the Poona Pact itself

served as an eye opener for all concerned. Writing to

Sri.E.Kannan on the occasion, of the Silver Jubilee of

the Poona Pact, Dr. Rajendraprasad, who was President

of lndia said the Poona Pact stands out as a "Land Mark

on our road to social progress". As a result of the

Communal Awardwhich ultimately took the form of

Poona Pact, the problems of the Scheduled Castes could

rf

lrr,presented in Central and State Legislatures by

rr,llresentatives of Scheduled Castes and they therefore

11ot an opportunity to voice their grievances. Thetlducated members of Scheduled Castes began to be

,rbsorbed in Government services. This gave an impetusl'or Scheduled Castes to send their children to schools.

Gradually they began to get scholarship and otherconcessions. On the whole there began a tremendous.rwakening among the Scheduled Castes.

The difficulties that Dr. Ambedkar and his co-

workers had to encounter were many in ther strugglefor the emancipation of the untouchable. They lacked

finance. Untouchables were serfs and slaves. Educated

.)mong the Scheduled Castes. Could be counted infingers. They had no press and therefore lacked thevehicle of propaganda and agitation. Being serfs of Cast-

llindu landlords the untouchables did not dare to come

Iorward openly to uphold their cause. lf they come

Iorward against the established order, they had to meetwith torture, eviction denial of labour etc" Hende Dr.

Arnbedkar had to face an uphill task" But he put up a

v,rliant fight. The sudden death of Dr. Ambedkar was an

Irrr,pairable loss to the Scheduled Castes of lndia. Yet

llrr,rc will be no doubt that his example wil! continue to

^

inspire the Scheduled Castes for generations to come

to do their little bit to uphold the cause for which Dr.

. Ambedkar dedicated his life, namely the liberation of

the oppressed people from social bondage.

It was against this communal Award thatMahatma Gandhi made his epic fast. The following

statement of Dr.Ambedkar dealing on the constitutional

safeguards of the untouchables and the fast of Mahatma

Gandhi is self explanatory.

Says Dr.Ambedkar "! need hardly say that I

was astounded to read the correspondence between

Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Samuel Hoare and Prime

Minister which was recently published in papers in

which he had expressed his determination to starve

himself unto death tillthe British Government of its own

accord or under pressure of public opinion revise their

opinion and with draw their scheme of Communal

representation for the Depressed Classes. The enviable

position in which I have been placed by the Mahatma's

vow of self immolation can easily be imagined. lt passes

my comprehension why Mr. Gandhi should take his life

on an issue arising out of communal question which he

at the Round Table Conference said is of a comparatively

small importance. lndeed to adopt the language of Mr.

r?

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Gandhi's way of thinking, the communal question was

only an appendix to the book of lndia's constitution and

not the main chapter, it would have been justifiable if

Mr.Gandhi had resorted to this extreme step forobtaining lndependence for the country on which he

was so insistent allthrough the Round Table Conference

debates. lt is also a painful surprise that Mr. Gandhi

should single out special representation for theDepressed Classes in the CommunalAward as an excuse

for his self immolation. Separate electorates are granted

not only to Depressed Classes but to the Indian

Christians, Anglo lndians, Europeans as well as to the

Mohammadans and Sikhs. Also separate electorates

were granted to the landlords, labourer and traders.

Mr.Gandhi chooses to let everybody else except the

Depressed Classes retain the special electorates given

to them. The fears expressed by Mr.Gandhi about the

consequences of the arrangements for thercpresentation of the Depressed Classes are in my

opinion purely imaginary. lf the Nation is not going to

split up by separate electorates to the Muhammadans

,rnd the Sikhs the Hindu Society cannot be said to be

rplit up if the Depressed Classes are given separate

r,lcctorates. His conscience is not aroused of the national

split up by arrangement of special electorates for Classes

and Communities other than Depressed Classes. To this

distribution of Seats Mr. Raja was a party" Surely Mr.

Raja before he criticizes the Communal Award and

accuses others, should refresh his memory of what he

accepted as a member of the lndian Franchise

Committee on behalf of the Depressed Classes without

any protest. lf the population ratio of representation

was to him a natural right of the Depressed Classes and

its full realization was a necessity for their protection

why did not Mr.Raja insist upon it in the Franchise

Committee when he had an opportunity to do so. As to

his contention in the Communal Award the Depressed

Classes have been separated from the Caste Hindus, it

is a view to which I cannot subscribe. lf Mr. Raja has

any conscientious objection to separate electorates

there is no complete change of heart on the part of

caste. Hindu towards the Depressed Classes. He will

have the opportunity to prove that fact to the

satisfaction of the Depressed Classes who are not

prepared to take his word by getting himself elected in

the general constituency. The Hindus who profess love

and sympathy for the Depressed Classes will have also

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Ir

an opportunity to prove the bonafides by electing

Mr.Raja to the legislature. The Communal Awardtherefore in my opinion satisfied those who wantseparate electorates and those who want Jointclectorates in the sense it is already a compromise andshould be accepted as it is. As to the Mahatma I do notl<now what he wants Whatever his views are today whilein London he was totally opposed to any system ofspecial representation for the Depressed Classes

whether by Joint electorates or by separate electoratesbeyond the right to vote in a general electorates based

upon. Adult Suffrage he was not prepared to concedeanything to the Depressed Classes by way of securingtheir representation in the legislature. This was theposition he had taken at first. Towards the end of Round

l-able Conference he suggested to me scheme which hesaid he was prepared to consider. The scheme wasglu rely conventiona I without a ny constitutiona I sa nctionlrchind it and without any single seat reserved for thel)cpressed Classes in the electoral law. The scheme was,rr follows:- Depressed Classes candidate might stand in

llrc', general electorate as against other High Caste Hindur,rndidates. lf any Depressed Class candidate wasrh,feated in the election, he should file an electionpr,tltion and obtain the verdict that he was defeated

because he was an untouchable and so on and infinitum.

I am disclosing these facts as some people are even now

under the impression that joint electorates and reserved

seats would satisfy the conscience of the Mahatma. This

will show why I insist that there is no use discussing

question until the actual proposal of the Mahatma are

put forth, I must however point out that I cannot accept

the assurance of Mahatma that he and his Congress will

do the needful. I cannot leave so important a matter as

the protection of my people to the conventions and

understandings. The Mahatma is not an immortal

person and the Congress assuming it is not a malevolent

force is not to have an abiding existence. There had

been many Mahatma in lndia whose sole object was to

remove untouchability and elevate and absorb the

Depressed classes but every one of them has failed in

his mission. Mahatmas have come and Mahatmas have

gone. But the untouchables have remained

untouchables.

I have enough of experience of the pace of

Reform and the faith of Hindu reformers in the conflicts

that have taken place at Jamad and Nasik to say that no

well-wisher of the Depressed classes will ever consent

to allow the uplift of Depressed classes to rest upon

tl

,,uch treacherous shoulders. Reformers who in moment

of crisis prefer to sacrifice their principles rather than

lrurt the feelings of their kindred can be no use to the

Depressed Classes. I am therefore bound to insist upon

statutory guarantee for the protection of my people. lf

Mr.Gandhi wishes the communal Award altered it is for

him to putforth his proposals and to prove that they

give a better guarantee than has been given to us under

the Award. I hope that the Mahatma will desist from

carring out the extreme step contemplated by him. We

mean no harm to the Hindu Society when we demand

separate electorates we do so in order to avoid total

dependence on the sweet will of the caste Hindu in

matters affecting our destiny. Like the Mahatma we also

claim our right to err and we expect him not to deprive

of us that right. His determination to fast himself unto

death is worthy of a far better cause. I could have under

stood the propriety of stopping riots between Hindus

,rnd Muhammadans or between Depressed Classes and

the Hindus or any other National cause. lt certainly

r annot improve the lot of the Depressed Classes.

Whether he knows it or notthe Mahatmas'actwill result

lrr nothing but terrorism by his followers against the

l)cpressed Classes all over the country. Coercion of this

sort will not win the Depressed Classes to the Hindu

fold if they are determined to go outAnd if the Mahatma

asl<s the Depressed Classes to make a choice between

Hindu faith and the possession of political power I am

quite sure that the Depressed Classes will choose

political power and save the Mahatma from self

lmmolation. lf Mr Gandhi cooly reflects on the

consequences of his act I very much doubt whether he

will find this victory worth having. lt is still more

important to note that Mahatma is releasing reactionary

and uncontrollable forces and is fostering the spirit of

hatred between Hindu Community and the Depressed

Classes by resorting to this method and therebywidening the existing gulf between the two. When I

opposed Mr.Gandhi at the Round Table Conference

there was hue and cry against me in the country and

there was a conspiracy in the so called nationalist press

representing me a traitor to the nationalist cause to

suppress correspondence coming from my side and

boost the propaganda against my party by publishing

exaggerated reports of meetings and conferences many

of which were never held. Silver bullets were freely used

for creating divisions in the ranks of the Depressed

Classes. There have been a few clashes ending in

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violence. ]f the Mahatma does not want all this to bercpeated on a larger scale let him for God,s sakercconsider his decision and avert disastrousconsequences. I believe that the Mahatma does notwant this. But if he does not desist inspite of his wishesthese consequences are sure to follow as night followsthe day. Before concluding this statement. I desire toassure the public that although I am entitled to say thatI regard the matter as closed I am prepared to considerthe proposals of the Mahatma. I however trust thatthe Mahatma will not drive me to the necessity tomaking a choice between his life and the rights of mypeople. For I can never consent to deliver my peoplebound hand and foot to the caste Hindus for generations

to come".

Yet at the critical moment. Dr. Ambedkarresponded to the call of humanity and saved the life ofGandhiji by agreeing to alter the CommunatAward in arnanner satisfactory to Gandhiji. The arrangement is

known as Poona Pact.

It was beyond comprehension in those daysof Poona Pact that a member of Scheduled Castes Sri.

K,ll.Narayanan will be selected as the president of lndia.llro Possibility of a Scheduled Caste Sri.Bangaru Laxman

being elected as the All lndia President of Bharatiya

Janatha Party was still more remote - yet facts are

sometimes stranger than fictions. This riddle can be

explained from the fact that the great saints Valmiki and

Veda Vyasa who laid corner stone of Hindu culture and

Philosophy and enriched the same belong to the lower

strasta of Hindu SocietY.

. Though Sri.Kannan was a married man he

had no children. He was a family friend of mine and

whenever he came to Trivandrum he used to stay with

me. Towards the fag end of his life he lost his eye sight

due to eye cataract. He came to Trivandrum for eye

operation. He was admitted in Trivandrum eye Hospital

and his eyes were operated upon' After operation he

regained his eye sight. He stayed with us for nearly a

month after which he returned to Kozhikode. After a

little while he had some urinal trouble and he was

subjected to an operation in Medical colelge, Kozhicode

from which he did not recover and breathed his last in

1975.

Dr.Ambedkar was a great Patriot' ln his letter

dated 6-1-1931from Round Table Conference in London

addressed to E. Kannan Ex.MLA General secretary of

the All lndia scheduled caste congress of which Dr'

\

A

Ambedkar was President he write as follows: "l was glad

to receive from your last letter that the papers in lndia

received very well the stand I have taken at theconference. I know that there are many amongst us and

there are a great many amongst Europeans who think I

am doing a wrong to the Depressed classes by otopposing the national demand, I have always held thatit wouyld be suicidal to the Depressed classes, to run

away from Swaraj. lt is their only Salvation and I am

happy to know that you and many of our people are in

agreement with me".

Dr. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism which is

our off shoot of Hinduism He did not embraceChristianity or Mohamadanism. He was a true son ofthe soil.

Now that both Congress and BJP are inearnest to celebrate L25th Birth Anniversary of Dr.

Ambedkar throughout the year it is only in the fitness

of things that his letters are being published in a book

form.

C.C.KUNJAN, BABL

First Director of Harijan Welfare

Kerala State.

-

Bhim Rao Ambedkar

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc.,

Bar-at-Law.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 1-2

1-08-1930"

My dear Kannan,

I have received your letter of the 26th July. I

am glad to hear that you are coming to Nagpur. Please

bring as many of our Madras Presidency friends as you

possibly can with you.

Regarding your resolution I am in sympathy

with the sentiment underlying it. But I think you will

agree that we shall have to place it before the meeting

and abide by the decision of the majority.

ln order to save time I propose to call a

meeting of such of our leaders who choose to come on

the 7th, a day before the actual meeting of the Congress

and discuss the resolutions to be placed before it' I shall,

therefore, be glad if you can manage to come on the

morning of the 7th to Nagpur.

Yours sincerely,

^-.

B.R.Ambedkar.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Member, Legislative Cou ncil

Bombay.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

17 August 1930.

My dear Kannan,

Ever since our separation from Nagpur I have

been anxious to drop you a line as early as possible. But

unfortunately lt has taken me a week to give effect tomy intention. The delay was due to two reasons. One

was the pressure of professional work which wasawaiting me on my return and the other was inabilityto get at your new address owing to the fact that thesheet on which the addresses of the delegates weretaken remained with Mr. Rajabhoj who came to Bombay

only yesterday.

Late as I am, let me thank you for having

taken the trouble to come over to Nagpur. lf theCongress has been a success it is entirely due to theparticipation of public workers like you and I hope thatwe shall try our level best to make the Depressed Classes

Congress an annual function. 1 thinkthatthe importanceof such a move can hardly be exaggerated and I trustthat this is the view which is shared by all of us.

I am extremely desirous of making our

centralAssociation a complete success. May ltherefore,

request you to get into touch with all the leading men

in the Madras Presidency and secure their effective co-

operation. You have the power to co-opt and I suggest

that you should exercise it very liberally so as to bring

in our net all those who are worth having'

. Have you started your duties as general

secretary? They are heavy. But I know you can discharge

them.

With my best regards,

I am yours sincerelY,

B. R.AM BEDKAR.

Bhim Rao Arnbedkar

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Membe; Legislative Council

Bombay.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

1't Sept.1930

My dear Kannan,

I was wondering why you did not write tome for such a long time. Your two letters of the 22'd

and 24th August 1930, therefore, brought a great relief.

I did not reply to them earlier than this as I was waiting

to hear from Rao Sahib Muniswamy Pillay to whom I

had written sometime ago to find out whatarrangement, as the Chairman of the WorkingCommittee he desired to be made for carrying on the

work of the Committee. ! regret very much to say thatI had not had any communication whatever from him

as yet. Under the circumstances I feel helpless to make

any definite suggestion on the various points you have

raised. However, as I see that it is not good to keep you

hanging" I am giving my views regarding them.

lcertainly agree with you that theproceedings of the Congress and the Conference held

at Nagpur should be published. lt will, therefore, be

necessary to write to gentlemen who moved and

seconded and supported the resolutions to give a

resume of their speeches. The question is as regards

the time and cost of printing. As to time my own view is

that it might be published when the next session of the

congress is held. But ! realize that if it was delayed the

utility of the proceedings of the congress will be gone.

A wider diffusion of the knowledge of the stand taken

by the Congress in the political field will serve as a

corrective to the many misguided members of the

Depressed Classes themselves. You will thus see that I

have an open mind on the question of the immediate

publication of the proceedings. But you will also see that

I value the diffusion amongst our people of the

proceedings more important than its publication. For

that purpose it is necessary that the proceedings should

not only be published in English but also in all the

Provincialvernaculars. I am wondering whether I should

be able to bear the cost of printing both in English and

Maratti.

I am writing to Mr.Ogle of C.P. Whether he

could bear the cost of the print in English so that I will

be.left to meet only the cost of the Maratti print. lf he

agrees, I will undertake the work immediately and let

you know. ln the same way, lthink, you should write to

members of the different province and put before themthe idea of printing the Report in vernacular.

Regarding the leadership of the Party I feelflattered to find all eyes turning towards me" lf it is thewish of all I will not shirk it. But I do not wish ourorganization to be founded on the barren rock ofleadership. Besides we cannot make any change of thissort this year. I cannot too greatly insist upon the factthat without organization we can do nothing andwithout discipline no organisation can function. We

have elected Rao Sahib Pillay as our Chairman for theyear and we have to work under him. Our decisions

regarding leadership should wait till the year is over and

tillwe have met again. Please inform allourfriends thatI am with them in our common endeavour irrespective

of the question whether I am leading or following.

I have not received the photos from our C.P.

friends as yet. I will let you know as soon as I hear fromthem.

I was planning to send you printed stationaryfrom here and have written to Rao Saheb Pillay to letme know the appropriate headlines and addresses. But

as I have said, there has been no reply from him. I am

also waiting to send our contribution.

Give me yoLlr exact address and you will have

the promised. Type-writer sent on to you' I am glad to

read on your determination to keep the flag flying' ln

that effort you will have my fullest support'

With best regards.

Yours sincerelY,

B.R.Ambedkar.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Member, Legislative Council

Bombay.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

3'd Sept. 1930.

My dear Kannan,

Your letter of the 31't ultimo convinced me

of your dash and I have no doubt you will make our

organization a complete success. By the way I am

shocked to read the sub-head line of your letter paper.

You must delete the line 'Leader etc', lt puts me in an

award position. But it is not fair for Rao Saheb Pillai,

Please, for my sake, cance! that line and have other letter

papers printed without it.

! am glad to read that you are determined

to see that undesirable persons do not go to the Round

Table Conference to represent us. You will be glad to

learn that I have been asked by the Viceroy if I can go to

the Round Table Conference if invited. I have replied to

him in the affirmative. The Governor of Bombay has

called me for an interview today. I am seeing him and

shall let you know what he says.

Regarding the typewriter I have decided toIet you buy one locally rather than send one from here,

with the attendant risk of breakage on the way. l,

therefore authorize you to buy a typewriter to suit your

style for about Rs.60/- and send the bill to me.

I have been wondering why Rao Saheb Pillay

has not replied to my letter. Perhaps you can enlighten

me on one thing. I hope he does not think out Nagpur

Congress has gone too far.

Affectionately yours,

B.R. AMBEDKAR

-.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Member, Legislative Council

Bombay.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

8-9-1930.

My dear Kannan,

I have received your letter of the 6th. yes I

promised to let you know the result of my interviewwith the Governor of Bombay. We had a very cordialtalk on the present political situation in relation to thequestion of the Depressed Classes. He referred to myNagpur Presidential address and said that inspite of it I

would be invited for the Round Table Conference as I

am havingthe largestfollowingof the Depressed Classes

of lndia. This is no doubt, to a large measure due toyour efforts. The way you presented our cases gave me

hope that we should succeed.

As lam feeling a little indisposed. lshallwriteto you in detail after a few days"

Yours sincerely,

B.R.Ambedkar

Bhim Rao Ambedkar

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Member, Legislative Cou nci I

Bombay.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

26-9-1930

My dear Kannan,

I quite realize the great surprise you must

have felt at my silence forthe lastweeks. But I am sorry

to say that all my activities have been put to a stop to

by a severe attack of malaria which has confined me to

bed for the last two weeks. Even now I feel so very

exhausted that I have not the strength to write this letter.

But lfeelthat ! should not keep you in anxiety any longer.

Mr. Pillay also wrote to me saying that he desired to

convene a meeting of the working committee. I would

have welcomed it but there seems to me very little time

to arrange the meeting before my departure to England

which will be on the 4th of October. I feel tremendous

responsibility as a delegate to the Round Table

Conference and I am overweighed by the feeling that I

and my colleague Rao Bahadur Srinivasan might present

our differences in the open Conference. I hope that with

the blessings of al! of you there will prevail amongst us

two that sweet reasonableness which is so essential for

unity. I hope you and Mr. Pillay could meet Rao Bahadur

Srinivasan and impress upon him the necessity of unityalong the lines laid down at our Nagpur Congress.

Before leaving for London I shallwrite to youwhat arrangements I am making to carry on the workof our Working Committee in Bombay. I shall remit ourcontribution to Mr. Pillay in two or three days.

With my warmest regards to you,

Yours affectionately,

B.R. Ambedkar.

^-.

Bhim Rao Ambedkar Damodar Hall

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law, Parel, Bombay 12

Member, Legislative Council 17 August 1930"

Bombay.

My dear Kannan,

I am in receipt of your letter of 26'h which

has evidently crossed mine of the same date" ln that

letter I have explained why I could not write to you. You

might have seen it by now.

You express anxiety about my safety. No

doubt, there is some excitement against the delegates

of the Round Table Conference. Government seem to

have taken note of it, Mr.Shivtarkar who saw your letter

has humorously asked me to tell you that our people

here are Maharashtras and know well how to look after

themselves, You have seen their mettle and their recent

spirit for which you too have contributed your share.

You need not at all be anxious about my safety Our cause

is great and my mission is of much consequences.

Therefore we may not fail anywhere. Here in Bombay I

have full confidence in the strength of our people. Under

that strength you and I are safe"

lr

ia

I anticipate very heavy work for you when I

am in London. I willtry to keep you in touch with day today events. You must be up and doing" You know thatmy going to the Round Table Conference is not looked

upon with satisfaction not only by the lndian National

Congress but also by Dr. Moonje and his HindooMahasabha. They may try to divide our people in lndia

and cause confusion. This is what you have to be careful

about. You must see that the important leaders of theDepressed Classes in every Province stand by our Nagpur

resolutions and give me full support in any stand I take

at the Conference.

ln my last letter I desired you and Mr. Pillay

to meet Rao Bhadur Srinivasan. Please see that you

atleast meet him before he starts.

I shall try to write to you again before I leave

for London. ln the meanwhile. I am

Yours affectionately,

B.R. Ambedkar

11th Oct.1930

11 AM

P & O.S.N.Co

S.SViceroy of lndia

My dear Kannan,

I regret I could not send you a message

before t left Bombay on the 4th . There was such a rush

of work that I did not get breathing moment to attend

to a nyth i ng.

Myself and my collegue Rao Bahadur

Srinivasan are in excellent health. I have had one or

two talks with him on the attitude that we as

representatives of the Depressed Classes should adopt

at the Round Table Conference. I have hopes that I will

bring him down to My view point to a large extent. The

trouble is that there is so much disparity in our ages

that we can't be chums. However, I am trying to keep

shoulder to shoulder with him.

The delegates to the Rou nd Ta ble

Conference have been meeting everyday to discuss

communal question and I am glad to inform you that

they are most sympathetic to our demands.

Before leaving Bombay I have sent a money

order to Rao Saheb V.l. Muniswamy Pillay of Rs.300/-

I

as our contribution plus the cost of the typewriter. You

can therefore carry on your work. The central Provinces

people will also be sending you their quota Hoping that

you will keep me in communication with everythingthat

is going on in lndia.

I am,

Yours sincerely,

B.R.Ambedkar

My London address is

Thomas Cook and Son Ltd

378 Strand

London W.C. 2

re)paqurv'u'B

'Agalecurs sJno1

spre8ar lsaq qll6"paaolns noA nnoq /vtoul

eur ]al ll!/n no1 'ssal3uo3 Jno Jo aapturuoc 3ur>;lorvr

aql Jo Surlaaur Surploq ale noA pel8 ure I

'Aru.ry aql u! sassel) passalda6 aq]

Jo luaulrnlfar aql Jo uorlsanb aq] ol ple8a.r ut etpul

Jo Jarqf-ut-lapueuuol aJnlnJ aq] 'poomlaql dlllqdrls ql!^

^ arrualur ue osle peq I 'ssal3uo3 uotun apprl

aql Jo Arelarca5 aq] 'lle Jo lueuodtur lsoru pue alod

ueqerg '.ry1 'funqsuel rl4 'alels 1o A.relalcas aql uaas

a^eq | 1e1 o5 'Allunoc aq] Jo artl leltlttod aLll ur suoslad

lueyodul Suraas urBurzrlrln ure I teruatul aql.q/I agl ll!]af,uauuol lou saop ssautsnq aL{l }nB 'Jaqua^oN qrZI

aql uo suado 'rvroul noA se 'aluelaluol aql

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oq ll!M Alqeqord ql!qM uorlsanb Jno ql!/!\ papaaco.rd

seq aluaJaJuo] aLl] aJoJaq Jo asn alerrj o] atu JoJ

v,lrurl ur uraq] Aq pasodo.rd eq Aeur teqt suotleralie Jo

suoluppe Aue rvtoul au lal pue saf,ut^ord ]uaJaJJlp aql ul

,r;doad Jno ro uorurdo aq] a)e] noA;t pa8tlqo laal llpqs

I pue lleur ]xau aqt Aq noA o] puas lleqs I ql!L{M;o Adoc

u spren8a;es Jno Jo luaualels e dn unne.rp aneq | 'elpul

lo uorlnltlsuol aJnln, aql ut sassell passaldag aqt JoJ

spren8artes aq1Jo uotlsanb ,qt uo luaruaa.r8e a1n;osqe

ur aJe uesenrutJs JnpeL{B oey an8ea;1oc Atu pue ;;asAuleq] s! noA olAanuoc ol a^eq I SulqrtslU aq1

'plno/v\ ast/v\raqlo ll ueL{l Alplde.r

orotu ssalSo.rd ol lq8no luauanou .rno d;aq laLll rl]!/v\

leq] aJns ue I pue sJoleroq-ollol qlns Jo pnold laal I

'rnd8ep ur lau arvr Aep *T agl uo pamoqs noA se ssalSuo3

e!pul llV sassel3 passaldaC tno Jo ssaff,ns oql roJ

uselsnqlua aLues aql a^eq ;;r1s noA leLl] alllou o1 pe13

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'ueuuey leap 461

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I-M- uopuol

UIVJAVTA

suapreg plauralsaqf g

tgEt roula^og - auoqda;a1

]]N]U]INO] ]IBVI- CNNOU NVICNI

C/o. Thomas Cook & Son

Barkaley St

London W

My dear Kannan,

Thank you very much for your letter of the

24th October with the enclosed cutting from Swaraj'

I quite understand that there is universal

discontent among the depressed classes for the very

inadequate representation granted to them in the

Round Table Conference and I quite appreciate your

saying that a move in getting a larger representation

shoutd be my first duty in London. But I may quite

frankly tell you that the wrong is now beyond redress'

First of all it is too late now to open the question and

secondly there remains in official circles the opinion that

there are no persons in the Depressed Classes qualified

to represent them. Well, I think the fault is largely of

our own making. The Depressed Classes movement is

yet a weak movement and has not attracted thc

attention it deserves. This is due entirely to the fact that

our leaders besides delivering speeches have donc

nothing and, secondly our movement is so recent in

origin that it must wait a while to be big enough.

Our conference opened its session on the

14th last I spoke today. My speech had a good effect

and many congratulated me on it. My health is not quite

what it ought to be and, for the first week I was confined

to bed. But now I am better.

I shall be thankful to you if you will keep me

informed of things in India,

With my warmest regards,

I am,

Yours sihcerely,

B.R.Ambedkar.

^-.

Bhim Rao R-. Ambedkar

M.A., Ph.D, D.Sc'Bar-at-Law

Member, Bombay Legislative Council

Fellow. UniversitY of BombaY

President, DePressed Classes

lnstitute, BombaY

Delegate, lndian Round Table Conference'

Tel:ABERCORN 2401

42 Cliften Gardens

Maida Vale

London, W9t9-12-!930

My dear Kannan,

Thank you very much for your letters' lt was so

good of you to have kept me informed of what is going

on and what our congress organization is doing in lndia.

But I am extremely sorry to find that you were not

nominated to the Madras Legislative counciland in your

place a Brahmin has got in. I quite share your indignation

atthesystemofnominationandlhopethatlsha]lbeable to give it a decent burial at the conference'

You must have been getting allthe news regarding

the Round Tab]e Conference and it is, therefore,

^

unnecessary for me to say much. My work ofpropaganda is going ofl, and, as a part of it I addressedthe members of Parliament yesterday on the "positionof the untouchables in the future Constitution of lndia',.It had a very good effect and many have promised togive all help. I have prepared a note on the safeguardsfor the Depressed Classes in the future Constitution oflndia for submitting to the Conference lt will be printedby Monday next. I shall send you copies by the nextmail and I want you to hold meeting throughout lndiaand send telegrams from all parts to the Prime Ministerthat the dema nds conta ined a re ou r lrred ucibleminimum and must be granted or we shall not acceptany constitution. You must act promptly.

I am also drawing up a memorial on the entry ofthe Depressed Classes in the Military for submission tothe Secretary of State. You will have it when it is ready.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar.

Bhim Rao R. AmbedkarM.A., Ph.D, D.Sc.Bar-at-Law

M ember, Bom baY Legislative

Council

Tel:ABERCORN 2401

42 Cliften GardensMaida Vale London, W9

4-1-793L

Fellow. University of BombaY

Vice President, Bombay Textile Labour Union

Delegate, lndian Round Table Conference.

My dear Kannan,

This is just to tnform you that I am leaving for lndia from

Marsailles on the l-3'h February and will reach Bombay on the

27th.

lmmediately on my arrival in Bombay I propose to call a

meeting of the Working Committee of the Depressed classes

congress and I want you to lnform our friends in all parts of thc

country to be ready to meet me for discussing the situation and

deciding on our future plan of action. Rao Bahadur Srinivasan

leaves Marsailles on the 6th and will be in Bombay on the 20th' I

hope you will alljoin in giving him a great and hearty reception'

He has behaved splendidly at the Conference and has proved to

me that every inch of him is a gentleman.

Hoping to meet You soon,

lam

Yours sincerely,

B.R.Ambedkar.

INDIAN ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE

London

6-1-1931

My dear Kannan,

I am sorry I have not been able to replypromptly to the many letters which you have very kindly

written to me. But this has been entirely due to my

being appointed to almost all the Sub Committees ofthe Conference which have occupied all my time.

I was glad to read from your last letter the

papers in lndia received very wel! the stand I have taken

in the Conference. I know that there are many amongst

us, and there are a great many amongst Europeans, who

think that I am doing a wrong to the Depressed Classes

by not opposing the national demand, I have always

held that it would be suicidal to the Depressed Classes

to run away from Swaraj. lt is their only salvation and I

am happy to know that you and many of our people

are in agreement with me. Ofcourse Swaraj will not be

the blessing. I say it will be unless the depressed classes

get all the guarantees that they need. You will be glad

to know that I have been carrying on the greatest fightfor these and I hope to be successful. I am sending

herewith a memorandum on the safeguards for the

-

Depressed Classes which I have submitted to tlr,'conference. lhope you will agree that it i',

comprehensive enough to cover all our needs. lt will

be very fitting if you will, on getting the memorandurlt,

convene a meeting of the depressed classes and senc1 ,t

letter to the Prime Minister that the memorandutrt

contains our irreducible minimum and should b,'

granted" Act as promptly as you can. Our conferenr,'

will have finished its work by the end of the month. I

have not fixed my future programme. But I purpose to

go over to Geneva for meeting the officers in thr'

Secretariat of the League of Nations. I may go even to

the U.S.A. But, of that I am not yet certain. Howevt't

you will hear from me in course of my movements.

Hoping to find you in the best health.

I am,

Yours sincerely,

B.R.AMBEDKAII

Bhim Rao R. Ambedkar

MA.,Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-law parel,Damodar Hall

Bombay - 12

28-2-1931.My dear Kannan,

This is just to say that I reached Bombayyesterday by the S.S.Mooltan. As I wrote to you fromLondon lam very, anxious to hold at.an early date ameeting of the leaders of the community in order tochalk out our future line of action. I shourd like to knowfrom you whether, in your opinion, there is a chance ofthe meeting being made a truly representative one. Asyou have been in touch with our people allthese monthsI think you should be in a position to advise me on thisquestion.

I have given a statement to the press on theRound Table Conference. Let me know how you feelabout it.

With my warmest regards,

I am,

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

B.R.Ambedkar Damodar Hall

Parel Bombay

7-3-1931,.

My dear Kannan,

I am in receipt of your letter. I accept 12th

April as the date for the Conference. You should write

to all leaders known to you in all Provinces, also to Raja

and Gavai. Tell the delegates that they must be in

Bombay on the lLth evening. I could arrange someone

to go and meet th'em in the station. lf they inform me

of theirtime of arrival. Anyhow on your assurance that

12th is acceptable I am proceeding with the preparations.

I am,

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

Bhim Rao R. Ambedkar Damodar Hall

MA.,Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-law Parel, Bombay - 12

9th March,1931,.

My dear Kannan,

I am in receipt of your letter of the 25th

February I am glad to know from you that what little I

was able to do at the Round Table Conference has

received the appreciation of the Depresses classes.

The Round Table Conferences, as you know,

will soon meet in lndia and there are many problems

affect the depressed classes which will come up forsettlement and it is, therefore, very necessary that thedepressed classes should formulate their views on theseproblems before the conference meets. There are twoways in which, it seems to me we can proceed. One

way is to convene a meeting of the Depressed Classes

Leaders -a-select few- at some convenient place. The

other is to call a session of the depressed classes

congress. ln my opinion the choice between the twomust be governed by the natu re of the issues which a re

to be discussed. As I understand them, the issues are ofa technical character and cannot be effectively discussed

in a Congress session composed of a miscellaneous lot.It will require close study to probe into them and findout their solutions. My view therefore, is to call a sma!!

conference of the leading members of the depressed

a

classes from all provinces and from all parts of theDepressed Classes, say in the month of April. I am

prepared to take the responsibility of holding such a

conference in Bombay if all members agree to come toBombay. On the other hand I am agreeable to go to any

other place that may be unanimously decided upon.

You will therefore, be good enough to proceed to get

into communication with all leading men of theDepressed Classes in the different provinces and invite

their views on the desirability of holding such a

conference and the date and place.

Your idea of starting an English journal is

welcome to me. But I should advise you to wait till theconference meets.

Willyou let me know how matters stand withRao Bahadur Srinivasan my Colleague at the Round Table

Conference. I wrote to him on my arrival in Bombay.

But there has been no replay. My fear is that he is

probably ill.

With my warmest regards,

I am,

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

Bhim Rao AmbedkarM.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Member, Legislative Council

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

3-6-1931.

Bombay. Fellow, University of Bombay

My dear Kannan,

I should think that now we must find out

the attitude of the lndian National Congress towards

the stand we have taken at the Nagpur Conference. I

suggest that you write to the General Secretary of the

Congress enclosing copies of our resolutions and

Memorandum and ask him to let you know their views

on them.

Perhaps you have seen press reports that Mr.

Jawaharlalwill be in Calicut on his way backfrom Ceylon.

You arrange to meet him there. You must have the

utmost caution in dealing with him. Ask him what willbe the attitude of the Congress towards our agitation

for our political rights. lt should not appear that we are

going to him for any favour because we do not want

any body's favour when what we demand is only our

birth right. Please try to give the utmost publicity towhat he says. Also write to him when he shal! have

gone from Calicut so that we shall have his reply in black

and white. 6

I am likely to be very busy for some time lnconnection with an important case. You should kbep

me informed of the developments.

With my warmest regards,

I am,

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

Bhim Rao AmbedkarM.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law,

Member, Legislative CouncilBombay. Fellow, Univer:sity of Bombay

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay 12

My dear Kannan,

I received your long letter. But owing to the pressureof work of the cHIRNER criminal case I could find no time tosend you a reply.

You will be glad to knowthat the Government haveagreed to give the Depressed classes representation on theFederal structure committee. I have been asked by Governmentif I am willing to serve on the committee if I am invited. There is

no formal invitation sent to me as yet or for the matter of that,to anybody else. But I think it will come before long. tnanticipation of the invitation I have fixed my passage byS.S.Mooltan which leaves Bombay on the 10th August. lt wouldhave been to have given our ldea of forming our Depressedclasses c ongress a real being. But that does not seem to bepossible. However, I should like to know what response you gotto your circular inviting opinion on the feasibirity of the proposalfrom various provinces. lf there is anything which you think I

could to further our plans I am at your service.

With my warmest regards,

I am,

Yours sincerely,

-

B.R. Ambedkar

Bhim Rao R. Ambedkar 3 Bernard Street

M.A., Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law Russel Square

Delegate, lndian Round London W.C.l

Table Conference TelePhone:

Terminus 5817

11th November 1931.

My dear Kannan,

I am in receipt of your two letters and alstr

the statement you issued on behalf of our people' I

thank you for the same. You are a great worker and I

am sorry that the Depressed Classes have not providerl

you with sufficient field for displaying your activity. I

hope that before very long they will do so. I fet'l

enormouslyflattered bythe number of telegrams I havt

received from our people all over lndia expressing thcir

confidence in me and the condemning attitude ol

Mr.Gandhi and the Congress. This shows that our peoph'

are alive to their interests. Mr.Gandhi has not changltl

his attitude towards our demands. I have, no doubt th'rt

even in the teeth of Mr.Gandhi's opposition we willwirr

What will be the measure of our success I cannot s.ly

But that we will succeed is without doubt. Rao Bahad'rr

and myself have drafted another supplementary

memorandum defining our demands in respect ol

special representation copies of which I am sending

under separate cover for distribution among our people.

I am glad to hear of Rao Bahadur Rajah appreciating

my work at the Round Table Conference. lt is something

when it comes from a man who is jealous of maintaining

his leadership. I have got a copy of the memorandum,

which you say Mr.Raja has sent to the Round Table

Conference. My plans for the future are not settled. But

I do not propose to tarry away much behind after the

Conference is over. I am sending you a cutting from the

Manchester Guardian.

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

A

Rao Bahadur M.C. Rajah Royal Hotel

Simla

26-09-1981

My dear Kannan,

As it takes such a long time for my letter lo

reach you and your reply to reach me. I had an intervicw

with the Viceroy and discussed with him various point.'

I did impress on the necessity of sending atleast ottr'

man to the Round Table Conference. ! did all I can irr

the matter. Hope our friend Mr. Muniswamy Pillay will

succeed. Not only this, I met the Reforms Commissionlr

and explained to him the matter. Apart from that I havr'

tabled a motion in the Assembly. This motion ought to

have been discussed last week but owing to Press llrll

and other important Bill it, has been delayed. Hope wr

will take it next week. His Excellency did not ask ttt,'

about you. We were immersed in political talk and hc t',

the good old Willingdon. He made very kind enqulrir",

about the Depressed Classes in general. I agree wrllr

you that a joint representation should be made sigrtlrl

by leading members of the community in allthe distrit l',

! do not think that our Swamiji would say "No", He wtll

certainly co-operate with you. For a good cause and lot

the benefit of community all must join.

^

I have already sent two cables one to theManchester Guardian and one to the Times of London

contradicting the statement of Mr.Gandhi that theCongress is the Champion of the Depressed Classes. I

hope this will help Dr. Ambedkar in his work there. I amglad Dr. Ambedkar is doing his best. All want is that he

should not go in for joint Electrodes. We want separate

Electorates whether we get adult franchise or not

lwill be having another interview with H.E.

the Viceroy before I leave Simla. I shall let you know theresult then.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

M.C. Raja

Londotl

13-1-1932

My dear Kannan,

This is just to say that I am leaving for lndia on tho

15th from Marsailles and will be in Bombay on the 29th' You wlll

have read by now that I am appointed member of the lndian

Franchise Committee. You will realize the importance of thls

Committee from the stand/point of the Depressed Classes antl

the great necessity of organizing the evidence of the Depressed

Classes in a proper manner' I would value very much your

assistance if you can manage to tour round with me along with

the Committee to work as a liaison officer between myself and

theleadersofthedepressedClassesineachProvince.ldonotknow how you can manage the finance" I will be taking one man

with me whose cost I shall have to bear' I suggest you take tho

sum of Rs.300/- that is lying with Rao Bahadur Muniswamy Pillay

for this purpose. This ought to be sufficient for the purpose' ln

any case write to me what you think of it' to my address ln

Bombay so as to reach me before the 29th January or thereafter'

C/o. lndian Franchise Committee Camp lndia' lf you decide to

take up the work come and joint me in New Delhi from 1'l

FebruarY.

SincerelY Yours,

aB.R.Ambedkar

I am writing to Muniswamy' You see him'

B.R.A.

P.S"

^

New Delhi

3-2-1932lndian Franchise Committee

My dear Kannan,

I have received your letter of the 28th

January. I am sorry you cannot join me before I arrivein Madras. As ! received letters from our people in

various provinces I hope to be able to do without yourassistance till then.

Regarding the Kampte Conference I really

know nothing and until I know more about it I cannot

say anything about it.

Regarding the Memorandum which you and

Muniswamy Pillay propose to submit on behalf of theDepressed Classes Congress to the Franchise Committee

I should like to say that I should see the memorandum

before it is submitted. I think you will agree with this. I

shall, therefore, be glad to have your memorandum.

Sincerely yours,

My address : Member,

Camp- lndia.

B.R. AMBEDKAR

lndian Franchise Committee,

INDIAN FRANCHISE COMMITTEE

Pattt,t,

t4-2-79 t)

My dear Kannan,

I am in receipt of your letter of the 7th whltlr

reached me only yesterday' I am glad to find you so keen ott

holding a session of the Depressed classes congress. I attt,

however, sorry that you have fixed on Kampte as the venue' Wl

once met in the central Province and we must make it a rttl''

not to meet in the same Province twice consecutively. I catt't

a.suggest for the moment any other avenue. I would, therefot't

requestyoutoholdupthemattertillwemeetinMadras.I have seen the answers you have formulated' I

think they need to be reconsidered. I would advise you not lrr

submitthemtillwemeet'lnthemeantimelamsendingyoil.lcopyoftheanswerslhaveformulatedandwhichwillllr'submitted on behalf of our Bombay organization. Discuss tht"'r'

answers with Rao Bahadur Pillay and we shall make our fltt'rl

decisions when we all meet'

ln the meanwhile,

lam

a

Yours sincerelY,

B.R. Ambedkar

INDIAN FRANCHISE COMMITTEE

CAMP: INDIA

Cicil Hotel, Simla

2L't April, L932.

My dear Kannan,

I have received your letter of the 16th whichreached me only to day and also the cutting from theBombay Chronicle. I am considerably annoyed to read thatyou are not likely to attend the Conference at Kumpte. You

are one of those who initiated it in my absence and insisted

that it should be held. Now you want to back out" Well, I

can't understand these childish ways. lf you want to rnaintain

the Public life of the community you all must take your

responsibilities more seriously than you appear to do. lfthe support is so half-hearted I am afraid I will sit at home

and attend to my own affairs. Don't think it is only a threat.I mean it. So you better come to Kampte whatever be your

other commitments, and carry through the Conference

which you set forth. I am sorry to have used strong language.

But you will realize from that how heavily I feel the weight

of my responsibilities.

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar.

Bhimao R. Ambedkar, Damodar Hall

M.A. Ph.D., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law Parel, Bombay- l.t

Member, LegislativeCouncil, Bombay 25-5-7932.

Fellow, University of Bombay.

My dear Kannan,

I am surprised to find you and Mr

Muniswamy dead silent since your returned frotrr

Kampte. Since my return to Bombay I have been on tottt

mC returned to Bombay only to-day. All the samc, I

managed to write a letter to Mr. Muniswamy. But thcrr'

has been no reply. I do not understand the reason.

You will be surprised to read that lam leavirrg

for London to-morrow by the Lloyed Tristend Line. I lrr'

reason for my leaving so abruptly is the somewh,tl

disquieting news I have had regarding the commurt,tl

settlement which the Prime Minister is going to givc lrr

the course of the next month. I hear they proposc lu

give separate electorates for Madras, Bombay arrrl

Central Provinces and Joint Electorates foi the rest ',r,

far as the Depressed Classes concerned. This would lrr

disastrous not only to the Depressed Classes of tho',r'

Provinces but to the unity of the Depressed Classlr

movement as a whole. I think I ought to make a fltr,rl

effort to save the situation although it is going to cost

me money and time. lwill be back in the first week ofJuly.

I wanted to begin at once the work oforganizing the Federation. lt must now wait till return.

I hope to reach London on or about the Sth

of June. By that time send a wire in the name of therepresentative Committee of the All-lndia Depressed

Classes Federation that the Depressed Classes insist on

separate electorates and seats according to theMinorities Pact. lgive my London address below in case

you want to write to me.

Yours sincerely,

B.R.Ambedkar

Address :

Thomas Cook and Sons,

Berkley St., London W.

RoYal Hott'1,

Russel Squar,'

London, W.(.1

t4-6-19 | )

My dear Kannan,

I have been in London for the last week tu

see that we get the best out of the commun'rl

settlement. I have seen every man of importance herr'

The Government are not giving an inkling of what r"

glgring. But I am told that they are prepared to giv''

Separate electorates for the Depressed Classes rrr

Madras, Bombay and central Provinces. Elsewhere thcy

are thinking of joint Electorates in all provinces I wrol,'

out a statement of our case and have submitted it t,r

the Prime Minister. I am sending you a copy' Plea""

make more copies of it and send them to all provinr t,rl

Branches of our federation. Of courses the docum(.trl

should be kept confidential.

My work is really finished. But I am asklrl

by friends to be on the spot it need be. 3'o I am stayittll

although it means a great sacrifice to me, but not molr'

than a month. But I am going to spend the month itt 't

sanitorium in Dressed in Germany which is near enortglr

to permit me to come to London if I am wanted' ln ('r"t'

you wish to write you must write to me by Air Mail to

my German address which I give below.

I read in todays English papers that Mr. Raja

is comingto England with Dr. Moonje evidentlyto press

joint electorates. He can't get any respectable hearing

here.

How is it that Mr. Muniswamy seldom cares

to reply.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar.

Address.

C/o. Dr. Moller's Sanitorium,

LOSQHWITZ

DRESDEN _ GERMANY.

DEPRESSED CLASSES INSTITUTE

Damodar Hall tl I

Parel, Bombay -12

23'd August 1932.

My dear Kannan,

I am back. We must hold a meeting of the I

Working Committee of the Federation either in Nagpur

or in Allahabad. Move quickly in the matter.

\ With a view to avoid any conflict of opinion

I am forwarding herewith for your information a copy

of the statement issued by me to the Press on the i' I

Communal Award so that you may be able to form your

opinion on the same.

Yours sincerely,

B.R.Ambedkara'

-,

The Statement

Depressed Classes and the Communal Award.

No one expected the Communal Award be

everything to everybody and I myself was prepared for

some variations in the proposal made by me and my

colleague, Rao Bahadur Srinivasan at the Round Table

Conference on behalf of the Depressed Classes. But the

Communal Award has ruthlessly scaled down their

representations in the provincial Legislatures to quite

insignificant proportions. The result is that the

Communal Award creates a positive grievance by

refusing to them adequate representation I see no

justification for this enormity. What has however

shocked me most is denia!; of right to representation to

the Depressed Classes of Punjab. Knowing as I do the

condition of the Depressed Classes in That Province l

have no hesitation in saying that comparatively speaking

their social condition is really worse than that of their

fellows in other Province in Northern lndia. Their case

for special representation was the strongest. What

reasons his Majesty's Government had for depriving the

most deserving classes of their seats I am unable to

understand unless it be to satisfy the claims of the most

@

turbulent and vociferorr r.ttions in that Province. Such

injustice becomes more flagrant when it is realized thatthe lndian Christians and Anglo-lndians without a titheof the population of the Depressed Classes and withoutany shadow of social grievances have been provided

for the latter. These injustices will, I fear, make the All

lndia Depressed Classes Federation which is to consider

the question averse to the acceptance of the Award.

\h

_l

Bhimrao R" Ambedkar;

M.A., Ph.D, D.Sc, Bar-at-Law

Member, Legislative Council, Bombay

Fellow, University of Bombay.

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay

L7-9-L932"

My dear Kannan,

I was glad to have your letter after such a long time.

I was sorry to read of your ailment. I hope you will be all right

soon. I am thankful to you for your confidence in me and your

determination to stand firm to the last. I am going to be firm.

We must meet somewhere to plan out a concerted action to

meet the attempt to defeat our claims. Do not seek for any

conference. ln fact I am saying that there is no necessity for a

conference. The conference will be a trap. We must insist on

Mr. Gandhi disclosing his proposals first. They are so absurd

that even Mr. Rajah and his party will revolt,

I have suggested to Mr. Biswas that we must meet

on the 2nd October. I am willing to come to any place that may

be fixed for the meeting. Will you hurry up in the matter? I am

going out of Bombay today and will be back in a week. I expect

your reply on my return.

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

Bhimrao R" Qmbedkar,

M.A., Ph.D, D.Sc, Bar-at-Law

Damodar Hall

Parel, Bombay

rB-9-1932.

My dear Kannan,

I could not go out of Bombay. The programme is

dropped. Since writing to you last morning I am almost mobbed

by friends urging me that we would avert Mr'Gandhi's proposed

fast on the 24th" They want that we must act quickly. Whatever

be the urgency as they see it I cannot decide anything without

consulting our Working Committee. I am therefore asking you

to arrange that we should meet in Alhabad on the 24th.

\ Although you are not in good health I hope you

willUe good enough to handle the matter yourself. I want you

to run up to Allahabad if you can, after giving a message by wire

to every member asking him to attend the meeting positively.

You must be in constant touch with them as I fear we may have

to face unexpected difficulties as events roll on. But in spite of

all difficulties and anxieties, we must be firm as the fast is coming

as the greatest challenge not only to our rising into a political

force in the country but also to our very political existence. You

will see my statement pointing out the unreasonableness of this

fast. But it will not be all who will understand it at this crisis.

But even then, we must fight in spite of all handicaps and we

willfight.

I do not know how all our friends have taken this

threat. I have no time to write to any of them. That is one reason

why I want you to get everyone of them for the meeting. Tell

them that this is perhaps the greatest trial of our life. lf we

survive now it will bring some consolation to our poor people.

lf we fall then the agony of our live will continue for generations.

Therefore I ask you to act quickly and let me know.

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

Telgra m f rom D r. B. R. Am bed ka r f rom Bom bay o n

19-09-1932 at 11.30 hrs.

Kannan-Calicut-Malabar-Accept 24th Allahabad -Ask every member attend - urgent.

Ambedkar

Telegram from Dr. B.R.Ambedkar from Bombay on 2L-09-L932

at 13 hrs.

Bombay Q 21- 13

Kannan-Calicut-Malabar

Allahabad meeting cancelled - Come Bombay at once.

Ambedkar.

Bhimrao R. Ambedkar, ' Damodar Hall

M.A., Ph.D, D.Sc, Bar-at-Law Parel, Bombay

Member, Legislative Council, Bombay

Fellow, University of Bombay.

My dear Kannan,

I have received your letters. I am glad to

know that you have been returned to the Malabar

District Board unopposed. lf as you say, it is an act of

magnanimity of the leaders of the Constituency it should

be something gratifying.

\ But what one has to rejoice in Yourunanilrous etection to the District Board is married by

the behavior of the Caste Hindus who conducted ugly

propaganda againstyou in theTaluk Board Constituency.

Your failure in this election where there was a contest

is significant. lt was good that you wrote to Mr. Gandhi

about it. lt is easy for him to explain it away saying that

it is only an individual case of hardship. But

unfortunately there is too many an individual case of

this nature in this country. lt is always the game of a

Caste Hindu Electorate that when confronted with the

inescapable necessity of electing a member of the

Depressed Classes to some public body they make it a

@

point either not to vote at all in the election or to vote

down the most efficient candidate, it is also significant

that the caste Hindus of your place have found you

unworthy of representing them on the Taluk Board even

when they knew that you have already become a

member of the Dt.Board. I rejoice in this defeat of yours

in the circumstances in which it has happened because

it is only a vindication of the stand we took and I hope

to make use of this defeat when necessity for it should

occur.

Now that you have got some relapse I wantyou to take a little rest in order to get prepared for the

execution of the plans we discussed in relation totemples.

Please write to me how you fare as a

member of the Dt. Board.

Wlth my warmest regards.

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar.

.-.

Yerwada Central Prison

29th December 1932.

Dear friend,

I do not mind your long letter. On thecontrary I thank you for it. My only difficulty is that I

cannot overtake individualcases of hardship, lcan onlysuggest to you that you should see the local leaders and

understand from them their reasons and, in spite of all

the efforts individual cases of hardships are bound tooccur. I still retain the conviction that the Yerwada Pact

is in every way, much betterthan the Premier's Scheme.

Time will show the truth of this proposition.

\ I am forwarding yourMadhavan Nair of Calicut.

M.K. Gandhi.

Sjt.K.Kannan

Office of the Joint Secretary

All lndia Depressed Classes Federation

Calicut.

letter to Sjt"K.

Yours sincerely,

Palace Hotel

Bloomsbury St.

London WC.l12-1,0-1933.

My dear Kannan,

I have recclvorl your lrrlllr ol lltc 29th September I

was all along blamingyott for nll wrlllnll lo rrrc. Inow realizethat the fault was mine antl I w,rr urrrl,,r llrr, rrri,,taken belief thatI had replied to your lettrrr,

I cannot rcrply lo yuut rlur,,,llon ,ls to when theConstitution will come lnto opnrrrlllrr ll nr,ry (.ome into beingin 1936 or it may never conlrr

The fears of Illtwnr rrto lrl,lr,rlrly r,x,r1;gerated. Butyou can be rest assured tlt,rl lwlll nll ,rllrrw lltr,opportunitytoslip through, As to my rlr,ptttfllllrr ll llrr, llr,;rrcssed Classes

coming over here it is qulto lnrplrtllrll ,,wlnH lo thc fact that itwould be too late and nlro lrrtr,lr\r tl l',, lrr rrry opinion quiteunnecessary.

lcan't blnd lrryloll lr ,l1llrl llrr. l'rr,sirlcnt ship ofthe Jathinasini Sabha Conlpl nrrr r rrlllr,,l1slr I worrlrl be delightedto do so. I hope to returtt lrr lttrll,t lrr l,lrrr,rry rrcxt and, if youwrite to me then, I sh,tll lilrrl rynr;r,rllrr,llr ,rlly ronsider thematter.

I shall wrlto lrt yrtt lttrmr ll rrry rrr.xl

Yor rr ,, sincerely,

ll l( Arrrbcdkar"

Palace Hotel

Bloomsbury St.

London W.C.

23-1,L-t933.

My dear Kannan,

I have received your letter of the 29th October.

I am not at all surprised when you say that theHarijan movement has cooled down. lt was a politicalmovement. lt could never sustain itself and I never expected itto do.

I believe I was a bit hasty when I said that we shallgain our point inspite of the Hindu Maha Sabha. Later eventshave shown that there is a landslide I am trying to stem it.

Sir Akbar Hydari had gone long before I receivedthe enclosed application of your friend. I cannot do anythingexcept to forward it to him which I am doing.

I hope to sail from Geneva on the 28th Decemberand be in Bombay on the 5th January !934. As your reply willnot reach me before I leave London it will be better if you writeto me to my Bombay address which I give below.

Yours sincerely,

B.R.Ambedkar

Address:

Rajagraha

Hindu Colony, Dadar, Bombay -L4.

.l

l.

A

Bhimrao R. Ambedkar,

M.A., Ph.D, D.Sc, Bar-at-Law

J.P.,M.L.C.

Rajagraha

Dada r

Bombay L4

6-1-1935.

My dear Kannan,

I have had no communication from you for

a very long time. I am not blaming you for it because I

myself am guilty of the same offence' On my side I can

plead the excuse of ill-health. But I hope your excuse is

other than ill-health.

I have been asked from all sides why I have

said nothing aboutthe Report of the Joint Parliamentary

Committee. As you know I do not like to make any

pronouncement on any important matter affecting the

Depressed classes on my own authority. I attach great

importance to the Depressed classes speaking with one

voice. I am, therefore, writing to enquire if you agree in

making a joint pronouncement on the Report' There

are two ways by which we can carry out this project'

Either we should draft a statement on behalf of the All-

lndia Depressed classes Federation and circulate it to

the various Provincial Branches of the Federation and

then issue it in its approved form, or we ask the Branches

of the Federation to send their delegates to meet at

some place and after discussion issue their statement.

The first method may have to go backwards and

forwards many times before it is finally settled. Thesecond method is more expeditious but is not withoutits difficulties. The first difficulty is to decide upon ameeting place and second is to ensure that every )'province will be represented.

I should, therefore, like to know your viewson the following two points:-

1)Should a statement be issued on behalfof the Federation?

2) Should we adopt the method of circulatinga draft statement and inviting opinionson it or should we call for a meeting ofthe delegates of the different branches !,of the Federation for exchange of viewsbefore any statement is issued?

Regarding my own views on the report,frankly speaking I am greatly dissatisfied with it. Leavingaside the question whether it is an advance over thepresent position and taking into consideration theposition of the Depressed Classes, the proposal of theJoint Parliamentary Committee for second chambershave destroyed the whole effect of the Poona pact

especially as they do not provide for any representationfor them in these Second Chambers.

The proposals of the Committee with regard

to the Constitution of the Federal Upper House have

destroyed every chance of the Depressed Classes having

any representation therein. I do not know if you are

aware of these changes made by the Joint Parliamentary

Committee. lf you are. I am sure you will share my

feelings in this matter.

So far I have seen a statement by Rao

Bahadar Raja and I confess I was surprised to read thatin his view the Depressed Classes have nothing tocomplain against the report of the Joint Parliamentary

Committee. We must correct the impression which such

a view is bound to create on the general public, our ownpeople and the Government here and in London. The

matter is urgent for if speaking on the Congress

Resolution which is sure to be moved in the newAssembly Mr.Raja repeats his assertion it would create

most unfortunate situation for all of us. l, therefore,earnestly solicit for an early reply.

Yours sincerely,

B.R. Ambedkar

C. Rajagopalachari 50 Bazhulla Road

Thyagarajanagar

Madras - 17

Dear Kannan,

Thankyou foryour heartwarming letter. Yes,

it is the SilverJubilee of the Poona Pact. This dayTwenty

five years ago was one of the most anxious days in the

history of lndia. I am glad you atleast remember it. I

have just written the story of that week for the All lndia

Radio as the Delhi Broadcast Department asked me forit. I suppose it will be broadcasted on 2nd October

sometime. You know and remember everything So there

is nothing new in it for you.

My best wishes, God bless you,

Yours sincerely,

C.Rajagopa lachari.

a

No.334-G(C)s7

President's Camp

lndia

Poona, 26th SePtember 1957.

Dear Shri. Kannan

I have received your letter dated the 20th

September 1957 regarding the Silver Jubilee of the

Poona Pact. I recollect the very anxious times that we

had to go through and the ultimate triumph of Mahatma

Gandhi's Tapasya. There is no doubt that while

untouchability has become a social crime there are still

many things which need to be done to raise the normal

stature and economic position of the Harijans. The

Governments in various states are doing their bit in this

respect and it is a happy idea to celebrate this Jubilee

of the Poona Pact as it stands out as a land mark in our

road to social progress.

Yours sincerely,

Rajendra Prasad

Shri.E.Kannan, Ex. MLA

Kozhikode-5.

Member of Viceroy's Executive Council New Delhi

(Labour) 23'd December 1942'

My dear Kannan,

I have your letter of the Bth , which came to me

only yesterday" I had also received your previous letter addressed

toBombay.lhadthoughtofwritingtoyouevenbeforelgotyour letter, but somehow in the hustle and bustle of things I

lost sight of the matter.

I am happy to read the very kind sentiments you

have expressed therein about myself. I had no doubt of your

love and affection for me. This is however, a very small matter-

gratifyingasitistomepersonality.Themoreimportantthing

which has been worrying me is the conduct of those of you who

have joined the Congress. When are you people who have joined

theCongressgoingtoopenyoureyes?Thisisaquestionwhich

Ithink, I must putto allof you and lwantyour categoricalanswer

to it. I think you must have by now realized that your entry into

theCongresshasdonenogoodtotheDepressedclassesand

that it has done positive harm to them. As to the first you have

not been able to force the congress while it was in office to do

anything of substantial benefit to the Depressed classes during

the two years and seven months of congress Government.

secondly you know that the congress and Mr. Gandhi are trying

to make a settlement with the Muslim League and to grant them

all that the Muslim League wants for the protection of the

Muslims. Has the Congress ever cared to come to a settlement

with the Depressed Classes' Two things you must know as well

as I do. First the Congress does not accept that there is any

necessityforasettlementwiththeDepressedClassesandMr.Gandhiisdefinitelyopposedtoanysuchsettlement.You

must have read in the Harijan of a very recent date a statement

made by Mr.Gandhi in reply to a question from some Depressed

Classes correspondent to the effect that he was opposed to the

DepressedClassesbeingrecognizedasaseparatepoliticalentity

entitledtoseparatepoliticalright.ltisastatementonwhichevery one of you who have joined the Congress ought to ponder

deeply'ThatMr.GandhiwasopposedtotheDepressedClasses

demand political rights I never had any doubt' But somehow

you people had faith in him that he will do justice to the

DepressedClasses.lthereforefeelverymuchobligedtoMr.Gandhi for making his position so clear. lt is for you now to

consider whether you believe in the Depressed classes obtaining

the same political rights as the Muslims are demanding'

lhavecometosomeverydefiniteconclusionasto

the action we must take if we are not to be a party to the

submergenceoftheDepressedClasses'Butbeforeldothatl

thought it would be better to know whether you people are

prepared to renounce the party advantages that you have

secured by way of an easy election to the Legislative Assembly

forthe sake of conservingthe good of the people which allof us

must have at heart. After I have an answer from you I may be in

apositiontotellyouthenatureoftheactionlproposetotake

@

and the manner in which propose to give effect to it. I shall,

therefore, be awaiting your answer without delay'

I am sorry I have not got the books written by me

on various subjects which you want. Some of them are out of

print, some of them I have no copies with me and the copies of

the rest are in my house in Bombay. I shall get them and send

you copies of the same.

With best regards,

Yours sincerelY,

B.R. Ambedkar.

M.R.Ry.E.Kannan Avl.MLA

Pudiyangadi Post

Calicut

Madras PresidencY

ALL INDIA CONGRESS COMMITTEE

SWARAJ B HAVAN, ALLAHABAD

President : Telegrams: "Congress"

Vallabhai Patel Telephone: 350

Treasurer: Ref. G. 133/1535

Jamnalal Bajaj July 2nd, 1931.

General Secretaries:-

Syed Muhmud

Jairamdas Doulatram

Jawaharlal Nehru.

Sjt.E.Kannan

GeneralSecretary

All-lndia Depressed Classes Congress

Calicut.

Dear Friend,

You will forgive me for the great delay in

answering your letter. You ask me a number of questions

about the future. As I told you when we met that I am

not a prophet and I cannot guarantee anything for the

future. I know this, however, that ! want every kind ofsocial exploitation, humiliation and tyranny to be put

down and stamped out and I propose to fight for this

till I succeed. I also know that the Congress today stands

for this social freedom. I presume it will continue to

fight for it. lndeed I might say that I am almost sure of it

because the congress today is an organ of the masses. ,,,

But I cannot guarantee the future. I do not know why ''r-

you think that the Congress does not attach enough

importance to untouchability and the like' As a matter

of fact it has always been in the fore front of the congress

programme.

lf you have any other point to discuss with

me I will be too glad to have them.

Yours sincerelY,

Jawaharlal Nehru.

Dr: Arnbedkar Fellowship

Ibc"c. KUNJAN. BA, LLB

Commissioner for

Advancement of

Backward Communities

First Director

Hrrijan Welfare

Kernla State

78, Bhodesworam Road

N*ndavnnam, Trivandrum -33

&;*nt ooqindl'|" fiismora'lal tndlffitlJo'

00oo orqtporrmt+ L,

lllr l{l\,r

.'il.il.$lll["a*cd ttc lntsnaiht'communitY io ieltlt coittl.rthelt{rno t.r,oridr

E!!$t!!.t'\

R( )\ 1.P( )l' I I(..\l s

rirhbl*rt}laopy tlishu

l'lx n' u lll ht' nrr isrrre,,1 l'hr llindu

(l{le(l Irr {.llll:irrr herirlu

ll, ,de n ern tr.l*I lr,. onllr(' rrlllirrn r)f

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II ---Pnnted.l ( h.n,r., r ,,rrh.l! ,, lknsdluru Ilydetrb.d IlrJrrrr \,,r,lr \

BABASAHEE'S BIRTH At{NIVERSARY t r',rttt.a a -ComPt'titiotl <ln

to:lgrgrrtpriittehis legacvJrltn (iJrrdlrl

ttt Dttll: lrr li R \nrlxdkat s l:{th l'rr!lr .rIr\i rs.rnon ltrrrtl.rr l\,,rllt rn '{(.rilolr lrtr lnlltl( il l).nlts "l lllhucr to le1 (l{lrrr l,' hls l(8Jc}snd, ln.lLci r(r(h,rul to l)alit vottri I ht ( nlhurllsDr (rl

thr prrtter lo luunr h \r'ar l(rnlcelcbratt,'rrr wltrrt.l t,' hrvtbccn sPurretl hr lht fatl thatDrlttr hrd [,'l r'{t(l rrnltelong.arlt lllr.. rtr tlri 20l4I ^t c,tt".1., trrni

I

I, Qur*il !-rt.h. t "+r. IN,il $*rb t. ]-{&. I

a \ rrcel l(rnre,,n "",I"

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..rrh'l'r!n'rr,' ii ru\.,r.,rltlril,urem i.,.lri \': rlrt.,rr't.

t-fif

gam'tn P.ln.. rdrlrtsstd h1

psrt:v prr.r(lrnl \nttl Shuh andllinrt \l,rrrrtIr l(.Urr.,th StnSh

l ht ( ort{r,.: lrrrrrr htrl !ht

I..-

idenl Home Minister Ruyutlh llnlngh o esident Sonio Gundfu tt' Delh Ptsoro s^NoEEP saxEi^

mer Home Minister and Dalitleader, Suhil Xumu Shinde

''llrsfaith indctrr,",rt'ht sharcd wrt t' tl,'Gandhi. .lasehrr trlSarrlar pater anrt ,[ llr\:rrl( 'l tllr lt,, Xlrrl( Irl l: rls( 'rr, I lr, ,

i, rl.r.lt\ tO oUI ,, ,ll

I ltmtlBnllr'-I mllItlllorlll ,

hrs follou'ers in Ia56A numbcr of ProSrammts

were held all over the t outtlntr) msk the occaston tnclutlrng in Parliament It u'a$ i!trnded h\ ( 0n(ress l)resldcntStrnia Candht rnd f,'rnr, 'l'rime Ilrnlster \lanmL,harrS:rgh \l' (iifr(lhr later issu€d., \\rtl'(it \l.tlrlrl(lrl .r\lll(

lr

Flipkart does [- -trDgCldgSagAlnst lr,1 bl,usrnL,,!\,1'\r'. 'r rirtrrts ID',Ll( rnk\ur '

,\,Now th& both Congress and BJP aibin qornest to celebrute I25th Birth

Annivenary it is onlY in thefitness

of things tha ookfonn

. I c.c. KUNJAN BABL

i t First Direclor ol Hariian Welfare

Kerola Slote.

Sponsored by: D.P, Konchirom, Koltamuri, Chongonasserry ' . .'C. B ho rat ha n, E lenj ical, Kozhikkod u