968 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: The hon. Member is right. Mr. Rajagopalachari had long been expressing this fear that this Union will break down.
Hon. Members: No.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : There are plenty of slaves who keep it up.
Shri R. U. Agnibhoj (Madhya Pradesh) : Independence is kept by the united people, not by slaves. Therefore this country will have its independence through unity and not through slavery.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I am very glad to have your assurance.
Shri R. U. Agnibhoj : Thank you.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Now there are plenty of things one can imagine on which the issue may be between the north and the south and if that happens and if the matter is taken to bloody conclusions, well, all the efforts that we have made in order to bring about unity will have been in vain. I therefore suggest that the United Provinces should be cut down into three provinces, Bihar should be cut down into two and Madhya Pradesh also should be cut down into two.
Shri R. U. Agnibhoj : You should have 600 States.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Nothing is lost. It does not affect the linguistic principle at all. They all have the same language. What does it matter if U. P. is divided into three States, or if Madhya Pradesh is divided into two ? I see no difference at all. My friend Mr. Pant, I remember to have read once his statement, had stated that he would have no objection to dividing the U. P. but he has never said a word about it in the course of the debate nor has he voluntarily suggested this self-sacrifice on his part. But I give a warning, I know the house is not going to listen to me, but it is my duty to say what I feel. With regard to Marathwada, I have very strong feelings and I very vehemently resist the United Maharashtra. I can speak more authoritatively about the Maharashtra than I can speak about other areas. What has