416 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
In 1942, I had to face two questions. One was to serve as a High Court Judge and the other was to join the Government of India as a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. Had I joined the High Court, I would have received Rs. 5,000 per mensem as pay and Rs. 1,000 as pension after retirement but I did not do that. I entered politics. I got birth in Achhut community and will die for my community and the cause of my community is supreme to me. I did not join any party or body. I remained independent. While in the Congress Government, I remained true to my people. Many people thought that I had joined the Congress party as I had accepted the Cabinet Minister ship of the Congress Government. The critics pointed out that Dr. Ambedkar had joined Congress and why the Scheduled Castes people should continue to remain in the Scheduled Castes Federation. I explained about it at Lucknow that earth and stone are to different things and they can never mix together. Stone will remain the stone and the earth will remain the earth. I am like a rock (stone) which does not melt but turns the course of rivers. Wherever I may be, in whatever company I may find myself, I would never lose my separate identity. If anybody asks my co-operation, I would gladly give it for a worthy cause. I co-operate with the Congress Government for four years with all my might, and with the sincerity in the service of my mother-land. But during all these years I did not allow myself to merge into the Congress organisation.
We want to join that party which we think has sympathy with the Scheduled Caste people and which will take pains to redress the grievances of our people as we are taking. But there is not a single party which has sympathy with our people, all are selfish.
I have come here in connection with the elections. I may tell you that unless you are united you will not be successful. To be successful, one must be either powerful or rich. One of these is essential for our success. We have neither any money nor we are in majority. Marwadi and Banias do not have power but they have money. So they can purchase anything with that. They can purchase the police, as well as the Courts. Our people have