z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-09.indd MK SJ+DK 21-9-2013 711
DISCUSSION ON POONA PACT 711
As I have to leave England very soon, any acknowledgment of, or reply to this representation may be kindly directed to be forwarded to —
Mr. Narendra Kumar Basu, M.L.C.,
Bar Association, High Court, Calcutta.
Yours truly,
(Signed) N. N. S IRCAR,
Member,
Indian Round Table Conference.
CABLEGRAM FROM SIR RABINDRANATH TAGORE
Dated 27th July, 1933
To Sir N. N. Sircar,
I remember to have sent a cable to the Prime Minister requesting him not to delay in accepting the proposal about Communal Award submitted to him by Mahatmaji. At that moment a situation had been created which was extremely painful not affording us the least time or peace of mind to enable us to think quietly about the possible consequences of the Poona Pact which had been effected before my arrival when Sapru and Jayakar had already left with the help of members among whom there was not a single responsible representative from Bengal. Upon the immediate settlement of this question Mahatmaji’s life depended and the intolerable anxiety caused by such a crisis drove me precipitately to a commitment which I now realise as a wrong done against our country’s permanent interest Never having experience in political dealings while entertaining a great love for Mahatmaji and a complete faith in his wisdom in Indian politics I dared not wait for further consideration not heeding that justice had been sacrificed in case of Bengal. I have not the least doubt now that such an injustice will continue to cause mischief for all parties concerned keeping alive the spirit of communal conflict in our Province in an intense form making peaceful government perpetually difficult.
— R ABINDRANATH T AGORE
LETTER AND ENCLOSURES FROM D R . AMBEDKAR TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London, W.C.I.
5th January, 1933
My Dear Prime Minister,
Sir N. N. Sirkar has been good enough to send me a copy of the letter, dated 19th December, 1932, which he addressed to you just before his departure for India, in which he has laid before you for your consideration certain telegrams received by him from the Caste Hindus of Bengal protesting against the application of the terms of the Poona Settlement between the Caste Hindus and the Depressed Classes of Bengal on the ground that the Bengal Caste Hindus were not represented at the Settlement.