z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-06.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 456
456 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
which throws much light on what the Maharashtra Conference did. “While speaking to me the other day,” says the writer about the Samata Sangha (Social Equality Society) of Poona, “a friend of mine said : ‘Because people like you join them, these Chambhardas and Mahardas (contemptible Chamars and Mahars) become insolent’ ……. . From this utterance one can realise what a terrible hatred of the Untouchable classes still exists among the upper classes.”
RESOLUTIONS AND ACTS
The sad reformer continues : “Mahatmaji issued a proclamation that untouchability was a blot on Hindu dharma; Swamy Shraddhanand and Lala Lajpatrai have said all along that we shall never be able to win Swaraj if untouchability is not removed from Hindu Society ; during the last seven years resolutions for its removal are being adopted by the Congress; but what is the actual result of all these activities ? Utterances like the one given above are still coming out of the mouths of highly educated persons ! We pass resolutions in the Congress and the Hindu Sabha advocating temple entry of Untouchables and urging that public tanks, wells, etc., should be thrown open to them. But when the time for putting them into practice comes, we contemn the Untouchables, nay, we assault them and then proceed legally against them and send them to jail.”
Item No. 11
RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE DEPRESSED CLASSES
CONFERENCE HELD AT DAPOLI (District Ratnagiri)
- (a) This Conference express indignation at the campaign of persecution carried on by the so-called high caste Hindus in this district against the depressed classes for the refusal on the latter’s part to eat the meat of dead animals.
( b ) This Conference is extremely grieved to find that the Police officers and Magistrates in the district systematically abuse the depressed class people instead of giving them protection against the tyranny and injustice to which they are being subjected by the so-called high caste Hindus through impounding the cattle of the former, committing assaults on them and making it impossible for them to obtain the necessaries of life in the bazars by observing a strict social bycott against them.
( c ) This Conference appeals to the Government to take steps for having the usual baluta remuneration paid to the Watandar Mahars who have been deprived of the same by the high caste Hindu villagers owing to the former’s refusal to eat the carrion and carry dead animals, beg alms and do other unclean things.
- ( a ) Having come to know that in a number of villages it is the Police Patel who countenances the campaign of persecution against the depressed class people, this Conference requests the Government to take proper steps against such Police Patels.