418
DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
particularly of high Caste Hindus. By reason of Untouchability the Untouchables are denied the opportunity for Education. By reason of their poverty higher education necessary for higher posts in the public service–and higher posts in the public service are the only things that matter becauese they have a strategic value–is not within their reach. The State will not take the financial responsibility of giving them higher education–they are demanding it by their resolution–and the Hindus will not extend the benefit of their charities to the Untouchables–Hindu Charity being shamefully communal–so that to ask the Untouchables to rely upon the results of competitive examination for entry into the public services is to practise a fraud upon them. The position taken up by the Untouchables is in no sense unreasonable. They admit the necessity for maintaining efficiency. That is why in their resolution they themselves say that their demand shall be subject to the rule of miniumum qualification. In other words what the Untouchables demand is that a minimum qualification should be prescribed for every post in the public service and if two persons apply for such a post and the Untouchables has the minimum qualification he should be preferred to a Hindu even though the Hindu may have a qualification higher than the minimum qualification. It, of course, does mean that the basis for appointment should be minimum qualification and not the highest qualification. This may sound queer to those who do not mind if their test of efficiency gives certain communities a monopoly of public service. But did not Campbell-Bannerman say that selfgovernment was better than good government ? What else are the Untouchables demanding? They are prepared to recognize the need of having an efficient Government. That is why they are ready to accept the requirement of minimum qualifications for entry in the public services of the country. What the untouchables are not prepared to do is to forego self-government for good government. Good Government based on highest qualification will be a communal government, for the Hindus alone can claim qualifications higher than minimum qualifications. This is what they do not want. What they say is that minumum qualifications are enough for efficient government and since it makes selfgovernment possible, minimum qualification should be the rule for entry in Public Service. It ensures self-government as well as efficient government.
��