z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-09.indd MK SJ+DK 21-9-2013 716
716 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : And also a very prominent member of the Hindu Mahasabha ?
Dr. Moonie : Yes.
Mr. J. Bannerjee : May I explain that he is not a caste-Hindu at all ; he is a non-caste-Hindu ; he is a Brahmo.
- Marquess of Zetland : I saw there was a misprint in the evidence before ; it is a very natural mistake. Sir Rabindranath Tagore was described as a “Brahmo” which is a very different thing from a caste-Hindu. In the evidence the word “Brahmo” became “Brahmin”, which is one of the highest castes of Hindus there is. The same thing applies to Mr. Ramanand Chatterjee ; he is a Brahmo, not a Brahmin. Is that not so ?
Mr. J. Bannerjee : Yes.
- Mr. Zafrulla Khan : We on this side, who really do not know the details of this wish to understand it. Is it Brahmin or non-Brahmin, a question of birth, a question who is born a Brahmin ? Dr. Moonje is a Brahmin by caste, although he might give us his convictions so far as caste is concerned ?
Mr. J. Bannerjee : If he adopts a different religion, he ceases to be a Hindu.
- Mr. M. R. Jaykar : May I ask a question on this point ? You do not mean to suggest that because a man is a Brahmo, he ceases to be Hindu?
Mr. J. Bannerjee : He certainly ceases to be a Hindu by religion ; he is a non-Hindu. When he marries he has to describe himself as a non-Hindu.
- Mr. M. R. Jaykar : I am not speaking of the matter in connection with the law of marriage or anything of that kind, but do you say, as a Hindu, that if a Brahmin becomes a Brahmo in religion he ceases to be a Hindu or a Brahmin ?
Mr. J. Bannerjee : He ceases to be a Brahmin, certainly.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Dr. Moonje, apart from the question of whether Mr. Ramanand Chatterjee is a Brahmo or Hindu, he has been taking a very active part in the movement of the Hindu Mahasabha ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : He has been protagonist of the Hindu interest ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Raja Narendranath comes from the Punjab ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : He is the President of the local Hindu Mahasabha ?
Dr. Moonje : He is President of the Hindu Mahasabha too. May I explain, my Lord Chairman ?
- Chairman : If you please ?
Dr. Moonje : I was called to the meeting in Bombay by Pandit