16 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“(2) That this meeting cannot give its support to the Congress-League Scheme in spite of its having been declared to have been passed at the meeting of 11th November 1917 by an overwhelming majority.”
“(3) That it is the sense of this meeting that the administration of India should be largely under the control of the British till all classes and specially the Depressed Classes, rise up to a condition to effectually participate in the administration of the country.”
“(4) That if the British Government have decided to give political concession to the Indian Public, this meeting prays that Government should grant the Untouchables their own representatives in the various legislative bodies to ensure to them their civil and political rights.”
“(5) That this meeting approves of the objects of the Bahiskrit Bharat Samaj (Depressed India Association) and supports the deputation to be sent on its behalf to Mr. Montagu.”
“(6) That this meeting prays that Government looking to the special needs of the Depressed Classes, should make primary education both free and compulsory. That the meeting also requests the Government to give special facilities by way of scholarships to the students of the Depressed Classes.”
“(7) That the meeting authorises the President to forward the above resolutions to the Viceroy and the Government of Bombay.”
It is obvious that there is a close inter-connection between the resolution passed by the Depressed Classes at their meeting in Bombay under the chairmanship of Sir Narayan Chandavarkar and the Congress resolution of 1917 on the elevation of the Depressed Classes. This inter-connection will be easily understood by adverting to the political events of the year 1917. It will be recalled that it was in 1917 or to be precise, on the 20th August 1917 the late Mr. Montagu the then Secretary of State for India announced in the House of Commons the new policy of His Majesty’s Government towards India, namely, the policy of “gradual development of selfgoverning institutions with a view to progressive realization of responsible government in India as an integral part of the British Empire.” Leading Indian politicians were expecting some such declaration of policy on the part of His Majesty’s Government and were preparing schemes for changes in the constitutional structure of India in anticipation of such a policy. Of the many schemes