A SOCIAL . . . . . . . . . IN BOMBAY 453
of Bombay are fully alive to this aspect of their movement. They have already come forward to raise a fund for the building up of the Social Centre by per capita subscription. Every man and woman is prepared to make a contribution to this great cause. Some have already paid and many more will do so before long. But it is equally true that left to their own resources the Untouchables will not be able to raise the whole sum. It will be cruel to ask them to depend upon themselves. The task of building up the Centre cannot succeed without the help of the Princes and People of India. To tell the Untouchables to bear their-own burden may be correct. But will that be considerate ? Have the Princes and People of India no responsibility for the miserable lot of the Untouchables ? If they have is it right that they should refuse to help the Untouchables on the ground that the Untouchables desire to take up the work of their salvation upon themselves ? I am sure that the Princes and People of India have a better regard for the spirit of self-respect shown by the Untouchables than such an attitude would indicate. I am sure there is in them a more acute sense of righteous indignation against the inequities heaped upon the Untouchables and a keener desire to give them the means to enable them to overcome these inequities.
The uplift of the Untouchables must be a joint undertaking in which the Untouchables will supply the resolution and the inspiration for the movement, the sweat and the toil for the movement, and the Indian community must supply the money required for the movement. It is for this reason that I appeal to the Princes and People of India for financial help for the movement.
The Princes and People of India will not, I am sure, fail to realise what tremendous and irresistible force the elevation of the Untouchables will supply to the national regeneration and reconstruction of India. The Social Centre will of course so organise the Untouchables that they will be able to rise socially and culturally above their present level, attain the status of human beings and live on terms of social equality with the rest of the Indian Community. But I am sure that will not be the only benefit arising from the activities of the Social Centre. The Centre will make them active, true and patriotic citizens ready to stand by the cause of the country.