RESOLUTION REGARDING AIMS AND OBJECTS 7
free and democratic Sovereign State ; but with a view to securing, in the shaping of such a constitution, the co-operation of the Muslim League and the Indian States, and thereby intensifying the firmness of this resolve, this Assembly postpones the further consideration of this question to a later date, to enable the representatives of these two bodies to participate, if they so choose, in the deliberations of this Assembly.”
In substance, my amendment means that the further consideration of this Resolution should be postponed to a later stage,—the stage of Union constitution-making at which, I take it, the Indian States and the Muslim League are expected to be present……..
[ Dr. M. R. Jayakar objected to the timing of the resolution. He moved an amendment, seeking postponement of the passing of the resolution, as he wanted the Muslim League to join the task of laying down the fundamentals of the Constitution. This resolution created a tense atmosphere in the House. Amidst this tense situation Dr. Ambedkar was invited by the President Dr. Rajendra Prasad unexpectedly to have his say on 17th December 1946. When Dr. Ambedkar started, the House was all attention.
Dr. Dhananjay Keer writes, “ Everybody thought that Dr. Ambedkar by playing such dangerous role would go under with the mover of the amendment to rise against the will and the objections of the Congress bosses, who were the nation’s most powerful leaders, was to meet one’s Waterloo. The Congress members were ready with their hands raised to cripple their avowed enemy and throw him down". This historic speech changed the course of Dr. Ambedkar’s political career. The speech drew the longest and the most vociferous applause. As Mr. N. V. Gadgil, an eye-witness to this event observed “His speech was so statesmanlike, so devoid of bitterness and so earnestly challenging that the whole of Assembly listened to it in rapt silence. The speech was greeted with tremendous ovation and he was smothered with congratulations in the lobby”. The speech had its ultimate effect and the Constituent Assembly postponed the considertion of the objective resolution till the next session. The said speech of Dr. Ambedkar is as under. —Ed.]
*Mr. Chairman : Dr. Ambedkar.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : (Bengal : General) : Mr. Chairman, I am indeed very grateful to you for having called me to speak on the Resolution. I must however confess that your invitation has come to me as a surprise. I thought that as there were some 20 or 22 people ahead of me, my turn, if it did come at all, would come tomorrow.
*CAD, Vol. I, 17th December 1946, pp. 99-103.