ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY 141
taken the decision to go on a fast unto death. The said letter was sent to the press for publication on 21st March 1932. In the said letter he said;
“My fast has a narrow application. The Depressed Classes question being predominently a religious matter, I regard it as specially my own by reason of life-long concentration on it. It is a sacred personal trust which I may not shirk.” [1]
In this regard Dr. Ambedkar, clarifying his position, wrote a letter to The Times of India, the letter is as follows—
To the Editor of “The Times of India”,
Sir,
I am surprised to read in to-day’s newspaper that some eight public meetings are to be held under the auspices of the Emergency Committee in different parts of the City to pass a resolution asking the public to compel the British Government to change their policy regarding the Communal Award in so far as it affects the Depressed Classes. The obvious object of this resolution is to mobilise public opinion against the special arrangement provided in the Premier’s Award for the representation of the D. C.
Since Mahatma Gandhi declared his resolve of selfimmolation over this question, negotiations have been going on between some prominent Hindu leaders and myself, I was invited to attend a meeting of the Emergency Committee yesterday evening which I did. During the time I was at the meeting no reference was made to any such programme or any such resolution having been contemplated to be placed at public meeting. Had the draft resolution been brought to my notice at yesterday’s meeting, I would have certainly objected not only to the wording of the resolution but also to the very idea of holding any public meetings pending the outcome of the negotiations that are proceeding. In fact, it was understood that no propaganda of any kind was to be carried on by either party. This consideration prevented me from holding meetings or starting propaganda in favour of the Communal Award, in spite of a lot of pressure from the members of my party.
1 : Khairmode, Vol.5, P. 26