RIGHTS NOT...................CONVERSION 247
The next important point made by Dr. Ambedkar is that religion has nothing to do with the political adjustments contemplated in the Communal Award, the Poona Pact and the Government of India Act of 1935, The Europeans constituency included Europeans, whatever their religious persuasion; so also the Anglo-Indians. It is only in regard to the Muslim Community that the political classification follows the religious grouping. Within the general constituency itself, there is no commonness of religious faith serving as the basis of the enjoyment of the political rights conferred on those who come under that electoral category.
Franchise Adjustments
In other words, franchise adjustments have been based on the membership of a community rather than adherence to any religious persuasion. The original classification of “Depressed Classes” has now been changed into “Scheduled Castes” and it refers only to a branch of a community, viewed socially and economically, not from the religious standpoint.
Assuming for argument’s sake that there is an element of religion in these classification, renunciation of religion or declaration of loss or lack of faith in a set of tenets does not miliate against the enjoyment of any attendant political right, says Dr. Ambedkar.
It may be a different matter if a member of the Depressed Classes gave up Hinduism and actually embraced another religion, say, Islam or Christianity.
Then, and only after such conversion, will he come under the political group assigned to the adherents of such a religion; then and then only can he be compelled to forfeit the rights attaching to the membership of the Hindu Community.
What if a Hindu is not an ardent believer in the Vedas ? asks Dr. Ambedkar. There are many Hindus in India today who are only Hindus in name and who do not observe the countless religious rites and formalities which go to make a Hindu. Do they cease to be Hindus on that account ? And; what is the standard by which one is to measure the extent of a Hindu’s faith in his religion ?