418 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
school, the children were even beaten severely and in a merciless manner.
We submitted an application detailing the above facts to yourself but we are sorry that no action has been taken as yet.
It is also for your kind consideration that the Inspector of Police and Tehsildar of Rohtak, whom we approached in this connection, made a careless investigation and in our opinion, no attention was paid to redress the difficulties of the poor and innocent persons.
We, therefore, request your good self to consider over the matter and make some arrangement to stop the merciless treatment and threats which the Jats give us in different ways. We have no other approach except to knock at your kind door and hope your honour will take immediate steps to enable us to lead an honourable and peaceful life which is humanity’s birth-right.
We beg to remain,
Sir,
Your most obedient servants,
Scheduled Caste People (Chamars),
of Village Kheri Jessore,
Tehsil and District Rohtak.
Thumb Impressions.
Copy forwarded to the Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar,
Western Court, New Delhi.
Received on 1st February 1947.”
This shows that what was true in 1928 is true even today. What is true of Bombay is true of the whole of India. For evidence of the general use of boycott by the Hindus against the Untouchables one has only to refer to the events that occurred all over India in the last elections to the Provincial Legislatures. Only when boycott is made criminal will the Untouchables be free from being the slaves of the Hindus.
The weapon of boycott is nowadays used against other communities besides the Scheduled Castes. It is therefore in the interests of all minor communities to have this protection.
The provisions relating to boycott are taken bodily from the Burma AntiBoycott Act, 1922.
Clause 4
Such a provision already exists in Section 150 of the Government of India Act, 1935.