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268 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The difference between the two proposals is clear. “Joint electorates, if accompanied by statutory majority. If statutory majority was refused, then a minority of seats with separate electorates.” The British Government took statutory majority from the first demand and separate electorates from the second demand and gave the Muslims both when they had not asked for both.
The second thing that is noticeable among the Muslims is the spirit of exploiting the weaknesses of the Hindus. If the Hindus object to anything, the Muslim policy seems to be to insist upon it and give it up only when the Hindus show themselves ready to offer a price for it by giving the Muslims some other concessions. As an illustration of this, one can refer to the question of separate and joint electorates. The Hindus have been to my mind utterly foolish in fighting over joint electorates especially in Provinces in which the Muslims are in a minority. Joint electorates can never suffice for a basis for nationalism. Nationalism is not a matter of political nexus or cash nexus, for the simple reason that union cannot be the result of calculation of mere externals. Where two communities live a life which is exclusive and self-inclosed for five years, they will not be one, because, they are made to come together on one day in five years for the purposes of voting in an election. Joint electorates may produce the enslavement of the minor community by the major community : but by themselves they cannot produce nationalism. Be that as it may, because the Hindus have been insisting upon joint electorates the Muslims have been insisting upon separate electorates. That this insistence is a matter of bargain only can be seen from Mr. Jinnah’s 14 points* and the resolution† passed in the Calcutta session of the All-India Muslim League held on 30th December 1927. Therein it was stipulated that only when the Hindus agreed to the separation of Sind and to the raising of the N.-W. F. P. to the status of a selfgoverning Province the Musalmans would consent to give up
- See point No. 15 in Mr. Jinnah’s points.
† For the resolution and the speech of Mr. Barkat Ali thereon, see the Indian Quarterly Register, 1927. Vol. II. pp. 447-48.