z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-06.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 494
494 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
towards untouchables in what is deemed to be an inhuman way of behaviour he does so more from the sense of observing his religion than from any motive of deliberate cruelty. Based on religion the ordinary Hindu only relaxes the rules of untouchability where he cannot observe them. He never abandons them. For abandonment of untouchability to him involves a total abandonment of the basic religious tenets of Hinduism as understood by him and the mass of Hindus. Based on religion untouchability will persist as all religious notions have done. Indian history records the attempts of many a Mahatma to uproot untouchability from the Indian soil. They include such great men as Buddha, Ramanuja and the Vaishnava saints of modern times. It would be hazardous to assume that a system which has withstood all this onslaught will collapse. The Hindu looks upon the observance of untouchability as an act of religious merit, and non-observance of it as sin. My view therefore is that so long as this notion prevails untouchability will prevail.
Having explained my views on general questions regarding interpretations and connotations of the system of untouchability, I proceed to offer some remarks on the question of the population of depressed classes in the three Provinces in which there is no unanimity of opinion.
II. Depressed Classes in United Provinces
- Regarding the population of the depressed classes in the United Provinces five different estimates have been given to the Committee—
(1) estimate of the United Provinces Provincial Franchise Committee ;
(2) estimate given by Mr. Blunt in his note ;
(3) estimate given by the Census Commissioner;
(4) two estimates given by the Government of the United Provinces.
I make the following observations on these estimates :
- I agree that Mr. Blunt’s note carries great authority with it. It is based on the facts which came into his possession as a Census Superintendent for United Provinces in 1911. It has the added weight of the opinion of an informal Committee of non-official Hindus which I am told was appointed by the United Provinces Government to examine the correctness of the lists of untouchable castes in United Provinces drawn up by Mr. Blunt in his first draft. All the same I differ from Mr. Blunt in the following particulars :
( i ) One is that Mr. Blunt has divided the three following single communities into two dichotomous sections, one touchable and the other untouchable :
Touchable Untouchable
(1) Bhoksa group .. 30,000 19,028
(2) Kori group .. 154,867 775,839
(3) Chamar group .. 2,000,000 4,187,770
( ii ) The second point of difference is that he treats the Arakh group whose population is 110,032 as touchable when as a matter of fact that group forms a part of the Pasi community which is undoubtedly an untouchable community.