z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-07.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 536
536 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
exercise”. You cannot secure the equal exercise, because equal is an attribute of the individual who uses the rights.
Raja Narendra Nath: I mean equality in rights; equal rights.
Mr. Chintamani: I do not see the particular propriety of that objective “equal”.
Raja Narendra Nath: It is used in Dr. Ambedkar’s draft.
Chairman: You can secure to each individual the Free exercise of his rights, but if he does not exercise them in terms of equality that is his lookout, not the Government’s.
Raja Narendra Nath: Very well.
Chairman: “his or her” can come out, I think.
Dr. Ambedkar: After the word “rights” at the end of the paragraph I should like the words “without discrimination” added.
Chairman: It says already “without distinction of race, caste, creed or sex”.
Dr. Ambedkar: I should like the word “untouchability”. You included there !
Chairman : ...... “untouchability ! ” you already have race and caste.
Dr. Moonje: I think it is all right.
Dr. Ambedkar: In order to explain things better I think that word might be included.
Chairman : Do not let us produce a document which people will laugh at on account of the way it is worded.
Dr. Ambedkar: I think we ought to make a distinction between caste and untouchability. Many people who have caste do not suffer from the difficulties of untouchability.
Raja Narendra Nath: Even the Muslims have caste.
Diwan Bahadur Ramachandra Rao: There is caste among the untouchables. “Caste” is a wider expression.
Mr. Foot: Unless an alteration which is substantial is proposed, I understand it is rather late to make an alteration at this stage.
Dr. Ambedkar: I should like to say “social and civil rights on account of untouchability or otherwise”.
Chairman : Untouchability is a violation of social rights, and if you pile on words instead of making it more precise it has, as a matter of fact, an exclusive tendency ; it narrows the thing if you give a specific application to a general principle. If you keep your general principle sound you are much safer so far as its application is concerned than if you quote it as applying to the one particular grievance.
Dr. Ambedkar: That is true, but I do maintain that the question of interpretation will come in, and I should like whoever is going to handle this Report to understand that the Sub-Committee did mean not to impose any disability on account of untouchability.