ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY 127
candidates as against a candidate of his own Class. No Depressed Class man has ever been elected to the Council, on the support of High Castes.” [1]
“Dr. Ambedkar immediately left for Delhi to take part in the proceedings of the Franchise Committee headed by Lord Lothian. On his way to Delhi, he was enthusiastically received at every station by the Depressed classes; especially the functions held at Nasik, Igatpuri, Deolali, Manmad, Bhusaval and Jhansi stations were colourful and imposing.
In the early days of February the Franchise Committee visited Bihar. The Depressed Classes greeted Dr. Ambedkar with great enthusiasm at every place. The Committee then moved to Calcutta via Patna. Depressed Class leaders of his persuasion, while giving evidence before the Franchise Committee, supported the scheme of separate electorates as they feared that in the System of Joint Electorates with reserved seats the candidates of the Depressed Classes would be at the mercy of the majority of electorates, and in order to win their votes they would have to ponder to their prejudices, or there would be every possibility of the seats being occupied by the stooges of the majority community. It was observed by many leaders of the Depressed Classes that if the Joint Electorates were to work successfully, that pre-supposed broad-mindedness on the part of the majority community. It was their view that such a favourable atmosphere did not exist then.” [2]
“ Letter to Mr. Gavai
In the mean time, in this regard Dr. B. R. Ambedkar wrote a letter to Mr. G. A. Gavai, M.L.C.. General Secretary, AllIndia Depressed Classes Association. The letter is as follow—
Patna, February 13
I was expecting you at Lucknow and also at Patna and was wondering why you had not turned up at either of these places till I got your letter. I am sorry to read that your illness preventing you from making the trip.
1 : The Bombay Chronicle, 23rd February 1932.
2 : Keer, Pp. 194-195.