WATANDARI...............TO MAHARS 229
Whatever happens we will see to it that the Government climb down. There is no going back on our decision, no faltering in the execution of the decision.
After the Presidential address two resolutions were passed one supporting the memorandum* sent to the Governor by Dr. Ambedkar on the question of Mahar watandari and the other calling upon the watandars to resist collection of the additional “ Judi ” by every means within their powers.
Among the speakers on the resolutions were Messrs R. R. Bhole, B. H. Varade, J. S. Aindale, P. J. Roham, D. G. Jadhav, B. K. Gaikwad and A. V. Chitre, all members of the Bombay Legislative Assembly representing Poona, Belgaum, Sholapur, Ahmednagar, Khandesh, Nasik and Kolaba districts respectively.
Each of them offered the fullest possible support of the Mahars from their district to any movement that the Nasik district might start and if necessary, to start Satyagraha on their own districts if the authorities did not yield in time.
In his concluding speech Dr. Ambedkar corrected the impression created by some of the previous speakers as to the exact date for starting the movement.
“If there are attachments brought tomorrow your resistance begins tomorrow. There is no waiting, no question of receiving instructions” said Dr. Ambedkar.
“This tax has to be resisted right from the moment attempts are made to collect. Let the watandars, therefore, go back with this idea fixed in their minds that the collection of the additional tax has to be resisted from the very first step and at every subsequent step.” [1]
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- See the Memorandum on Pp. 308-338 in part-1 of this Volume—Editors.
1 : The Bombay Chronicle, dated 19th August 1941.