z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-08.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 669
IN THE MINORITIES COMMITTEE 669
Explanatory Memorandum to Appendix I
The suggested details for community representation have not been agreed by the Hindus or the Sikhs, but the full representation claimed by the latter in the Central Legislature is provided for.
The proposed distribution of seats for the different minorities constitutes a whole scheme and the detailed proposals cannot be separated one from another.
This distribution of seats follows the principle that in no case is the majority community to be reduced to the position of a minority of even equality.
No representation is provided for Commerce, Landlords, Industry, Labour, etc. It being assumed that these seats are ultimately communal and that communities desiring special representation for these interests may do so out of the communal quota.
The allowance of 33½ per cent. representation to Muslims in the Central Legislature is based on the assumption that 26 per cent. shall be from British India and at least 7 per cent. by convention out of the quota assigned to the Indian States.
In the Punjab the suggested common sacrifice by the Muslims, CasteHindus and the Depressed Classes, would permit of a weightage of 54 per cent. being given to the Sikhs, giving them representation of 20 per cent. in the Legislature.
The proposals may be taken as being acceptable to well over 115 millions of people, or about 46 per cent. of the population of India.
APPENDIX II*
SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM ON THE CLAIMS OF THE DEPRESSED CLASSES FOR SPECIAL REPRESENTATION
By Dr. Bhimrao R. Ambedkar and Rao Bahadur R. Srinivasan
In the memorandum that was submitted by us last year dealing with the question of political safeguards for the protection of the Depressed Classes in the constitution for a self-governing India, and which forms Appendix III to the printed volume of Proceedings of the Minorities Subcommittee, we had demanded that special representation of the Depressed Classes must form one of such safeguards. But we did not then define the details of the special representation we claimed as being necessary for them. The reason was that the proceedings of the Minorities Sub-Committee came to an end before the question was reached. We now propose to make good the omission by this supplementary memorandum so that the Minorities
*For previous memorandum see Appendix to Proceedings of the Minorities Sub-Committee of the First Session of the Conference. This Supplementary Memorandum, dated 4th November
1931 is printed as Appendix VII in the original proceedings at pp. 1409-11.