z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-06.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 478
478 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- Then by what law would you be governed ?
Dr. Ambedkar: We are governed by the Hindu law, just as, for instance, the Khojas, who are Mahomedans, prefer to be governed by Hindu law so far as the devolution of property is concerned.
- And you are under the Act 30 of 1923 ; you are under Hindu law ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I do not know what the depressed classes would think about marriage.
- Would you kindly turn to your memorandum ? You say at page 39, and you also repeated it today in answer to my friend Mr. Kikabhai, “the standing of the community must mean its power to protect itself in the social struggle. That power would obviously depend upon the educational and economic status of the community.”
Dr. Ambedkar: Quite.
- It follows from the recognition of the principle that the lower the standing of a community, the greater electoral advantage it must get over the rest. Do you adduce this last sentence as a logical deduction from the premises, from the previous two sentences ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Yes.
- You regard that as a logical deduction ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Yes, quite.
- ...... I wish to draw your attention to the fact that you say :
“In addition to the demand for adequate representation, the Sabha feels that it must also demand the inclusion of clauses in the constitution of the country.” Now, amongst these clauses you find things like this mentioned:
“the right of every depressed class to the appointment of a special inspector of police from amongst themselves” ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Yes.
- Do you expect that an Act of Parliament should contain a clause to this effect, that the depressed classes in India shall have an inspector of police in every district from amongst themselves ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I really do not see anything strange in that
- Supposing there was a provision to that effect relating to all communities (because if you have got certain constitutional guarantees it follows by necessary implication that other communities have an equal right), then you parcel out all the official posts and you parcel out all the other things amongst the various communities, and that is the constitution that you foresee for India ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I do not know that. I am only speaking for the depressed classes. May I just make one thing clear ?
- May I just complete my sentence ? That is a contingency that does not arouse any apprehension in your mind ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Just let me explain before you go further. I think we must be very careful in using the word “minority”. I do not think simply because a community happens to be a community composed of small numbers it is therefore necessarily a minority for political purposes.