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HINDUS ALWAYS REGARDED SCHEDULED CASTES AS ‘OUTSIDE THE PALE’ OF HINDU SOCIETY
“In an exclusive interview given to ‘Globe’ at Bombay on
20th November 1946, shortly after his return from England where he had been representing the case of India’s 50,000,000 Untouchables, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar said he had found no reason to modify his statement made in London when he drew a gloomy picture of the Indian political scene and forecast a dismal future of the country until they were laid by a real coalition representing all important elements of their national life.
Asked if he considered it advisable in view of Mr. Jinnah’s latest statement and the unsatisfactory state of the country to postpone the meeting of the Constituent Assembly which is fixed for December 9, Dr. Ambedkar said, “The question to my mind is whether the Constituent Assembly would have any moral authority behind it if the Muslims absent themselves from the Constituent Assembly. If the Muslims decide to absent themeselves, I don’t know that the Constituent Assembly could do anything if it met on the 9th or any other subsequent date.
WOULD CARRY NO WEIGHT
“Unless the Hindus presume that the Constitution framed by themselves is likely to be accepted by the British Government merely because the session in which they met was called the Constituent Assembly,” he continued, “I don’t see any hope that the formulations by a Constituent Assembly, which consists of Hindus only, would carry any weight.”
To the question, “Do you envisage any concrete fundamental basis on which a settlement can be brought about between the major political parties, including the Scheduled Castes, as represented by the Scheduled Castes Federation ?” Dr. Ambedkar replied, “The basis for a settlement between the Scheduled Castes and the other major political parties — that
Jaibhim (Weekly), Madras, 25th December 1946.