194 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
that respectably dressed Christians and Mahomedans have been allowed to cross the Sandhwa. But this evidence is not strictly relevent to the present case which is concerned with the rights of Untouchable Hindus. It has not been proved that Hindu Untouchables have any right to use this Sandhwa.’ [1]
When the Temple-Entry-Satyagraha was going on a move was forced to get the temple-entry legalised by the Government. The background of the issue is as follows :
The Temple-entry movement in India received a setback when the Courts of law held that entry in the temples by the Untouchables was illegal being against the established custom. Such judicial pronouncements turned out to be stumbling blocks in the way of social reform undertaken by Mahatma Gandhs. Against this backdrop efforts were afoot to bring about legislation to overcome that barrier. Therefore, several Bills were intended to be introduced in the Central Legislature as well as the Provincial Legislatures. Of the bills mentioned above, the most important were those of Dr. Subbaroyan’s Temple-Entry Bill and Ranga Iyer’s Untouchability Abolition Bill.
Dr. Subbaroyan’s Temple-Entry Bill was intended to undo the wrong done by the Courts of Law and sought to amend the Madras Religious Endowments Act. The Bill, however, was approved by the Sanatoria Hindus prominent of them being Pandit Madan Malaviya, Konda Venkatappaiah and S.T. Ramanuja Iyengar, Srinivasa Iyengar. However, Dr. Subbaroyan’s Temple-Entry Bill in the Madras Council was refused permission on the ground that it was far-reaching in implication for enactment by a Provincial Legislature. Afterwards Ranga Iyer drafted a second Bill based on Dr. Subbaroyan’s which the Viceroy permitted to introduce it in the Central Assembly, subject to the same qualification as in the case of his forerun Bill.
His Excellency Lord Wellington the Viceroy, for its introduction in the Central Legislative Assembly subject to the condition that the Government of India did not commit themselves to accepting its principles and that the fullest opportunity would be given to every section of the Hindu Community to express an
1 : The Times of India. 7-6-1932, Reprinted, Khairmode, Vol. 3; Pp. 351-352.