THE BUDDHA...............THE WORLD 535
have sari and blouse to wear, they do not have food, they do not have fields, when their conditions are so miserable, you tell them to give up an income of Rs. 500 per year from hides, hooves, meat, is it not a loss of your people ?”
I asked, “where shall I reply you ? Shall I reply here in corridor or in meeting ? It is better to answer before the people.” I asked the person, “Is it the only thing or you want to ask anymore ?” He said, “This much to say and answer this only”. I asked that person, “How many children you have and how many people you are ?” He said, “I have five children and my brother has five to seven children”. I said, “It means your family is large. Hence, you and your relatives should carry all the dead animals of that village and earn an income of Rs. 500. You must take this benefit. In addition to this I make an arrangement to give you Rs. 500 annually. What will happen to my people, whether they will get food, clothes or not, I will see it myself. Then, why are you giving up this benefit ? Why don’t you do this ? If we do it, it is beneficial, and if you do it, isn’t beneficial to you ? Carry the dead animals.”
A Brahmin-boy came to me yesterday and said, “you have been given reserved seats in the Parliament and the Assemblies, why are you giving them up ?” I said, “You become Mahar and fill up those seats in the Parliament and the Assemblies. The vacancies in the services are filled up. So many Brahmins and others apply for the posts. Why don’t you Brahmin people fill up these reserved seats by becoming Mahar as you do in services ?”
My question to them is why do you weep for our loss ? In reality self-respect is dearer to human being and not material gain. A woman with virtues and character knows how much beneficial is immoral behaviour. In our Bombay there is a locality of prostitutes. Those women wake up at 8 O’clock and place an order for the breakfast in nearby hotel, (Dr. Ambedkar imitated this in changed voice) “O Suleman, get a plate of mince (Kheema) and bread.” Suleman brings alongwith tea. cake etc. But, my Downtrodden sisters do not get even simple Chutni-Bhakar (mixture of chilli and salt and bread), but they live with dignity and character.