104 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
The Minority Problem
“The most important problem is, of course, the minority problem. Without a solution of this problem there can be no liberty for India. Unfortunately the Conference failed to solve this problem. But a solution must be found before any further steps can be taken in the direction of political reform. He does not seem to have been realised in India that the Conference has virtually made the grant of political power dependent upon an agreed solution of the majority problem. Regarding the question of the Depressed Classes whom Mr. R. M. Srinivasan and myself represented at the Conference, I am glad their place in the future Constitution of India is secure and their disabilities will be non-existent” [1] .
“Just at this time the names of the delegates to the second session of the Round Table Conference were announced in the third week of July. Dr. Ambedkar, Sastri, Saprti, Jayakar, Setalvad, Malaviya, Sarojini Naidu, Gandhi, Mirza Ismail, Jinnah, Ramaswami Mudaliar and others were invited to attend the Conference in London. Dr. Ambedkar was purposely dropped out from the Federal Structure Committee at the first session of the Round Table Conference. His patriotic mind and his fearless advocacy for the common man and democracy had given the Britishers an offence. But this time he was selected on the Federal Structure Committee, which was vitally connected with the drafting of the new Constitution for India.
Congratulations were showered from all quarters of India and even from England on Dr. Ambedkar. Newspapers from the opposite camp also began to appreciate his patriotism, his love for democracy and his anxiety for the welfare of the common man. The Kolaba Samachar, a district paper of note, which was hostile to him in matters of social reforms, expressed a debt of gratitude to Dr. Ambedkar for the patriotic service he had rendered to the country in the Chirner Trial. It recalled his services at the time of the visit of the Simon Commission and at the first session of the Round Table Conference ; and it added that Dr. Ambedkar was a true patriot and would fight to break the shackles of the country and help Others do so at the second session of the Round Table Conference.” [2] .
1 : The Times of India, dated 28th February 1931.
2 : Keen P. 163.