ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY 151
Hirachand Walchand, Sir Setalwad, Sir Madgaonkar, Sir Purushottamdas, Shri Deodhar, Mr. Natrajan, Rao Bahadur Vaidya, Dr. Deshmukh, Dalvi, Subhedar, Seth Birla, Mr. Karandikar, Dr. Savarkar, Shivatarkar, P Balu, Nikalje, Kamaia Nehru, Perani Captain, Moshon Captain, Sau. Awantikabai Gokhale, Mrs. Annapurnabai Deshmukh, Ratanben Mehta, Miss Natrajan.
In order to save the life of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the President of the meeting suggested that a solution acceptable to both the sides should be found out.
On the request of Pandit Malviya, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar rose to speak. He stated his views in a candid manner. He said,
“Looking at the objective of this Conference, I do not feel the need of calling such a Conference. In order to oppose our demands, Mahatma Gandhi has started fast unto death. It is natural that everybody would like to save the valuable life of Mahatma Gandhi. But Gandhiji should have put some concrete alternative proposal before staking his life. Having considered the present situation, I feel that without any clear alternative proposal from Gandhiji, all efforts towards negotiations would be in vain. And to be frank, there is nothing left to be decided. Unless we know what really is in the mind of Gandhiji, all the repeatative deliberations of this Conference are not going to yield any result. To whatever length this Conference may deliberate I am not in a position to find any solution before I know what really is in the mind of Gandhiji and I tell you bluntly that I am not at all bound to proposals coming from the convenors of this conference or any of the leaders, I shall consider the opinion only of Mahatma Gandhi. Unless I know his proposal how can I give my opinion ? Bring his proposal first and then I shall think over it. And I make it clear in the beginning itself that any proposal from Gandhiji should be brought by the representatives of the caste Hindus from among you and that I shall not accept any proposal brought forward by an Untouchable leader on behalf of Gandhiji. I shall not sacrifice the rightful demands of my people just in order to save the life of Mahatma Gandhi.” [1]
Here, this Conference adjourned for the day.
1 : Janata, dated 24th September 1932.