4 
IN SUB-COMMITTEE No. III (MINORITIES) 
Second Sitting—31st December 1930  † Dr. Ambedkar:   Mr. Chairman, I am sure you will readily agree that the task which has fallen upon me to represent the case of the Depressed Classes is a heavy one. I think it is for the first time that the case of the Depressed Classes from the political point of view has come to be considered. The disabilities of the Depressed Classes were mentioned in almost every despatch   that   was   recorded   by   the   Government   of   India   in   connection with   the   political   advancement   of   the   country;   but   the   despatches   only mentioned the difficulties and never attempted to give any solution of those difficulties. The problem was just allowed to   rest there. In view of that, and in view of other matters, namely, that in a Committee consisting of so many members we are only two to voice the grievances of 43 millions of people, and grievances which the Committee will agree are unparallel by the case of any other community that exists in India, I submit that the task is really an enormous one, and I should have expected more latitude in the matter of time allowed to me for presenting this case. But I anticipated that probably such would be the fate that would befall me, as it did, of course, at the Plenary Session ; and, in anticipation of that, I and my colleague, Rao Bahadur Srinivasan, thought it advisable to submit to this Conference a written memorandum‡ giving in clear-cut language what the Depressed Classes desire by way of political safeguards in the future constitution of India. That memorandum has already been submitted and circulated among the members of this Committee, and I hope everyone of them has received it. In view of this fact, that the case of the Depressed Classes is in the possession of the members of this Committee, I do not wish to ask indulgence from the Chairman for a larger period to present the case. I will therefore summarise, only   to   emphasize,   what   I   have   stated   in   the   memorandum   which   is  †   Proceedings   of   the   Sub-Committee   No.   III   (Minorities),   Government   of   India,   Central Publication Branch, Calcutta, 1931, pp. 73-80. 
The terms of reference to the Sub-Committee were as under:— 
“The provision to be made to secure the willing co-operation of the minorities and the special interests.” 
‡ The memorandum is appended at the end of this chapter as Appendix I, pp. 546-54.