89. 26-8-1944 “Now or Never” is the Question before Scheduled Castes - Page 337

89

“NOW OR NEVER” IS THE QUESTION BEFORE SCHEDULED CASTES

“The question for the Scheduled Castes was “now or never” said Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Labour Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, replying to address of welcome presented by a number of Scheduled Castes organisations at Calcutta last night, the August 26th, 1944.

Dr. Ambedkar explained that the Indian Constitution would make India a Dominion. One of the fundamental implications of a Dominion was that His Majesty’s Government has no right to interfere with the making of an Indian constitution thereafter. Therefore whatever deficiency the Scheduled Castes might have if that deficiency was not made up now, they would never get chance of putting forward any political demands successfully in India. The question, therefore, was “now or never.” He felt that their victory was near and all that he wanted from was unity.

Dr. Ambedkar said that the whole life of Mr. Gandhi, his political activities and political strategy were directed to by-passing the demands of minorities. The Civil Disobedience Movement, the breaking of the Salt Law and all these “ tamashas ” that Mr. Gandhi had been performing had no other purpose. Mr. Gandhi had now come to realise that it was not possible to by-pass the political demands of minorities and that he must make a treaty with Mussalmans and with Sikhs. But he had no desire to recognise the demands of the Scheduled Castes community, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said. The Scheduled Castes were a weak people, but Providence had always been helping them. “You can well imagine what calamity would have happened to us if the Cripps Mission had succeeded. I thank God everyday that it failed.”