z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-06.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 473
EVIDENCE BEFORE SIMON COMMISSION 473
another—say the weaving department—by Mahomedans and caste Hindus.
- Do they take part in the trade unions ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Yes, they are beginning to do so.
- With members of the classes above the depressed classes ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Yes.
- I wanted to get this point from you. You put forward a claim for representation of the depressed classes on the basis of numbers. Now, we have claims put forward on a different basis altogether; on, say, the labour basis. You get a cross-division in that way, because a man can be a depressed class man and he can also be a labourer ?
Dr. Ambedkar: He is usually, if not always, a labourer.
- That is rather a play on words, is not it ? I am speaking of capital and labour, of labour in big- industries, not of the ordinary un-organised labour. I am speaking of organised labour. How are you going to get over the difficulty ? If you are going to have representation by social status in one case and by industry in another, you are going to get a cross-division. How will you get over that ?
Dr. Ambedkar: There will be some provision for organised labour, and the majority of the depressed classes are labourers.
- Mr. Hartshorn: I think, Dr. Ambedkar, you have made it pretty clear that you are in favour of adult suffrage. You say on page 41 of your memorandum, however, “The Sabha would, however, be content if the franchise for the Legislative Council is fixed at the same level as that for the Taluka Local Board in the rural parts and Rs. 3 rental per month in the urban parts of the Presidency.” Have you formed any opinion, or are any statistics available to enable us to know to what extent the franchise would be extended on that qualification ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I may tell you that I am myself shaky about that statement. I do not mind admitting that. Such information as I have been able to gather from the depressed classes in the mofussils, however, leads me to believe that the existing taluka local franchise does produce a certain number of voters from the depressed classes.
- I was not quite thinking of that. Could you tell us the increase in the number of persons who would become voters in the Bombay Presidency if this qualification rather than the present one were adopted ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I do not think I can give you any very definite information on this point.
- May I revert to a question put to you by Major Attlee ? I gather the depressed classes work in the factories in isolation ?
Dr. Ambedkar: In isolation, yes.
- They have their own shed and their own department ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Their own department; there are no sheds.
- Whatever it is, they are separated from the other workers in the factory ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I would rather put it in this way, that certain