TRADE UNIONS............INTERESTS 175
arranged. Special arrangements for women, members of Reception Committee and special invitees were made. On Saturday evening Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was welcomed in ‘Dalit Kamgar Nagar’ with the band and loud cheers of ‘long live Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’, ‘workers victory’ etc. till he occupied the dais.
Initially few songs were sung by young boys and girls. Mr. Shankarrao Salve took lot of efforts for the success of this programme. Mr. P. N. Bankar read his welcome speech. Mr. Ramchandra Pawar welcomed the delegates and invitees. He read, on this occasion, the various messages, specially sent by Subhedar Vishram Gangaram Sawadkar and Bhai Anantrao Chitre from Mahad.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was elected as Chairperson for the Conference, on Satuarday 12th February 1938. His election as a Chairperson was acclaimed by loud clapping by the audience. After occupying the chairperson’s place and after getting garlanded. Dr. Ambedkar gave an introductory speech.
On the second day, Sunday, 13th February 1938, regular work of the Conference was resumed with some delay. Inspite of the heat of the sun in the ‘Dalit Kamgar Nagar’, huge crowd had assembled to listen to the speech of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. He rose to speak in the midst of the overwhelming clappings of the people....... [1]
In his speech Dr. Ambedkar said,
“Friends !
This is a Conference of the Depressed Classes who are working as Railwaymen on the G.I.P.* Railway. The Depressed Classes have heretofore met in many a conferences in this Province as well as in other Provinces of India and on many occasions. In a certain sense this is not the first Conference. But in another sense it is the first of its kind. The Depressed Classes have hitherto agitated principally for the removal of social grievances. They have not taken up the work of the removal of their economic grievances. This is the first time when they
1 : Janta, dated 8 may; 25th December 1937 and 22nd January, 5th February 1938.
*Great Indian Peninsula Railway