126 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
gave to the News Chronicle on this subject, you would be quite convinced that Gandhi, while expressing his desire for the immediate establishment of ‘independence’—which amounts of course to partnership with Britain and the maintenance of the imperialistic link with India, he practically gives himself away by admitting-though more by implication than explicity in so many words-the substantial difficulties in the immediate inauguration of a Federal Constitution in India.” [1]
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar left London, and embarking at Marseilles, on January 15, 1932, reached Bombay on January 29.
“Dr. B. R. Ambedkar has prepared a set of answers to the questionnaire issued by the Franchise Committee and copies of the same are being circulated among various individual members and mushroom associations of the Depressed Classes community. Space has been left at the beginning of every paragraph to fill up the blanks with the names of the Association, or individuals.
Stereotyped Replies
The hundreds of the Stereotyped replies to the questionnaire circulated repeat.
“The .................... (the blank space is to be filled up by the name of the Association) is of opinion that the Depressed Classes cannot secure representation in the general electorates. Much less can they secure representatives of their own choice. Even if there was adult suffrage. The reasons are as follows :—
“(a) In every territorial constituency the Depressed Classes are in minority of the population and will be a minority of voters in the electorate much too small to win a seat for themselves.”
“(b) Owing to social prejudices no voter of the Higher Caste will vote for the Depressed Classes candidates.”
“(c) On the other hand owing to economic dependence on the higher castes and the religious and social influence of the Higher Classes voters may be led to vote for a high caste
1 : Ganvir, Ambedkar Gandhi : Teen Mulakhati, Pp. 22-23.