350 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
to soap and pray, and pray and soap, and soap and pray, so that the filth of Dr. Ambedkar (M. A. London)* the shame of Dr. Ambedkar (high honours at Columbia University) the plague and scourge of Dr. Ambedkar (special distinction at Heidelberg) should be washed for ever from their immaculate and immortal souls.’ (P. 30)
Dr. Ambedkar said to me : ‘The keynote of my policy is that we are not a sub-continent of the Hindus but a separate element in the national life.’
‘Gandhi says to us ‘Trust us-trust the Caste Hindus !’ I reply ‘We will not trust you, for you are our hereditary enemies.’
‘In every village there is a tiny minority of Untouchables. I want to gather those minorities together and make them into majorities. This means a tremendous work of organisationtransferring populations, building new villages. But we can do it, if only we are allowed.’ (P. 40.)
‘We are as staunchly nationalist as any of the Congress. But we do not want the British to quit India till our rights are safeguarded. If they do, our fate will be mere terrible than the fate of any of the oppressed people of Europe.’
(Verdict on India, P. 41) [1]
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*Dr. Ambedkar obtained degrees of M. A. and Ph. D. from the Columbia University and not from London, but he obtained his degree of D.Sc. from London University.—Editors.
1 : Quoted : Khairmode, Vol. 8, Pp. 36-39.