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WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT INDIA IS NOT ENSLAVED AGAIN
“ Tremendous mass enthusiasm marked a meeting of the Bombay Scheduled Castes Federation at Nare Park, Parel, on Wednesday evening, the 11th January 1950, when Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the moving spirit behind the drafting of the Indian Union Constitution, was presented with a book-shaped gold casket containing a copy of the monumental document.
The meeting, attended by over two lakhs* men, women and children, was a landmark in the history of the Scheduled Castes’ Federation. The serried ranks of humanity that overflowed from the Park to the main road was the biggest gathering ever seen.
Large processions of Harijans, carrying blue party flags and vociferously shouting victory slogans, converged on the Park from many localities early in the after-noon. The crowd was conducted by volunteers and remarkable discipline was maintained. Enthusiasm reached fever pitch when Dr. Ambedkar climbed the dais to attend his first public reception in the city in five years and shouts of “ Ambedkar Ki Jai” rented the air. About 50 garlands covered the Law Member who was later joined by his wife Dr. Savita Ambedkar. The assemblage gave a rousing ovation to her also.
The large-seized casket was paid for by subscriptions raised by the Federation. Two thousand rupees, which were left over after meeting the cost of the casket, were also presented to Dr. Ambedkar by Mr. J. G. Bhatankar, the Federation’s Secretary.
Speaking immediately after receiving the gift, Dr. Ambedkar referred extensively to the past. He said,
“Because we had been fighting the Congress in all elections, Congressmen were so much against me that some of them openly said they would see any one in the Constituent Assembly but not me. Indeed, because our party’s strength here was not sufficient, I had to seek election to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal.
*Janata, dated 14th January 1950.