310 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(2) Right to elect their own men as their representatives,
(a) by adult suffrage and
(b) by separate electorates for the first ten years and thereafter by joint electorates and reserved seats, it being understood that joint electorates shall not be forced upon the Depressed Classes against their will unless such joint electorates are accompanied by adult suffrage.”
It is this particular demand by the Depressed Classes which raised such a storm and which became so serious ar issue that the solution of it almost shook the foundation of Indian politics and of Hindu Society.
This demand of the Depressed Classes was founded on the recommendation of the Simon Commission. After a careful survey of the problem of the Depressed Classes, the Simon Commission had reported to the following effect regarding their place under the new Constitution :
“It is clear that even with a considerable lowering of the franchize ….. there would be no hope of the Depressed Classes getting their own representatives elected in general constituencies without special provision being made to secure it ….. Ultimately we should hope to see them maintaining their ground in joint electorates without special protection….. They will make no headway, however, in this direction as long as they are represented solely by nomination, for nomination provides no opportunities for training them in politics. There are, even with the present restricted franchise, a sufficient number of Depressed Class voters to make methods of election possible …..
Our object, therefore, is to make a beginning which will bring the Depressed Classes within the circle of elected representation. How is this to be done ? Most of the Depressed Class associations which appeared before us favoured separate electorates, with seats allocated on the basis of population ….. separate electorates would no doubt be the safest method of securing the return of an adequate number of persons who enjoy the confidence of the Depressed Classes; but we are averse from stereotyping the difference between the Depressed Classes and the remainder of the Hindus by such a step, which we consider would introduce a new and serious bar to their ultimate political amalgamation with others …..
Our proposal, therefore, is that in all the eight Provinces there should be some reservation of seats for the Depressed Classes….. The result of our Scheme would be that spokesmen of the Depressed Classes would be returned as elected members in each of