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26 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
for the sake of their kingdom.
I
Performing sacrifices is the duty of the Brahmins, fighting is the duty of the Kshatriyas, trading is the duty of the Vaishas and service is the duty of the Shudras. There is merit in each class forming its duty. Such is the injunction of our Shastras.
Siddharth replied : “Dharma, as I understand it, consists in recognising that enmity does not disappear by enmity. It can be conquered by love only.”
The Senapati, getting impatient, said : “It is unnecessary to enter upon this philosophical disquisition. The point is that Siddharth is opposed to my resolution. Let us ascertain what the Sangh has to say about it by putting it to vote.”
Accordingly the Senapati put his resolution to vote. It was declared carried by an overwhelming majority.
§ 15. Offer of Exile
Next day the Senapati called another meeting of the Sakya Sangh to have his plan of mobilisation considered by the Sangh.
When the Sangh met, he proposed that he be permitted to proclaim an order calling to arms for the war against the Koliyas every Sakya between the ages of 20 and 50.
The meeting was attended by both sides— those who at the previous meeting of the Sangh had voted in favour of a declaration of war as well as those who had voted against it.
For those who had voted in favour there was no difficulty in accepting the proposal of the Senapati. It was a natural consequence of their earlier decision.
But the minority who had voted against it had a problem to face. Their problem was—to submit or not to submit to the decision of the majority.
The minority was determined not to submit to the majority. That is the reason why they had