98 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“Lastly, I am convinced, change of faith by him and those who passed the resolution would not serve the cause which they have at heart for millions of unsophisticated illiterate Harijans would not listen to him and them when they have disowned their ancestral faith, especially when it is remembered that their lives for good or evil are intertwined with those of caste Hindus.” — A.P.” [1] *
Dr. Ambedkar’s views on Gandhiji’s reaction :
“Bombay, October 15,
“ What religion we shall belong to have is not decided ; what ways and means we shall adopt, we have not thought out; but we have decided one thing, and that after due deliberations and with deep conviction, that Hindu religion is not good for us,” declared Dr. Ambedkar when shown by the Associated Press representative Gandhiji’s comment on his Nasik speech.
“Inequality” he said, “is the very basis of it, and its ethics is such that the Depressed Classes can never acquire their full manhood. Let none think I have done this in a huff or as a matter of wrath against the treatment meted out to the Depressed Classes at Kavitha village or any other place. It is a deeply deliberated decision. I agree with Gandhiji that religion is necessary, but I do not agree that man should have his ancestral religion if he finds that, that religion is repugnant to his notions of the sort of religion he needs as a standard for the regulation of his own conduct and as a source of inspiration for his advancement and well-being.”
Asked when he proposed to get himself converted and whether it would be an individual action or mass action Dr. Ambedkar said, “I have made up my mind to change my religion. I do
1 : The Bombay Chronicle, dated 16th October 1935.
- Gandhiji published his articles in connection with the conversion issue. See Appendix 1.