to oppressors. Appendix—VIII : The Bihar Provincial

APPENDIX—VIII

SECRET 1934/34 S. B.

Memo No.

39-Bihar-37* THE BIHAR PROVINCIAL DEPRESSED CLASSES LEAGUE It is learnt confidentially that Jagjiwan Ram, B. Sc. President, Bihar Prov. Depressed Classes League, Patna has sent a letter, dated 8th March 1937 to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Bar-at-Law, Rajgraha, Dadar, Bombay. The contents of which are given below :— “UNITE AND ORGANISE”

Bankipur, Patna, the 8th March 1937.

No. 41 My dear Doctor Saheb, I have your kind letter of the 3rd instant. If your brochure on caste has run out, kindly send one copy of it so that I may commence its translation.

As desired by you, I am sending a list of candidates who contested the election. I must admit that we made a pact with the Congress and as a result of the pact 9 persons of the League have been returned. They have signed the League pledge and also the Congress pledge with certain reservations. Perhaps you know that here in Bihar there is no organised party except the Congress. The minister of Local Self-Government i.e. Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh was trying to have his party but he could not organise it. We made the pact with the Congress at the eleventh hour i.e. on the 29th October 1936 and the nomination papers were to be filed by the 3rd November 1936. We the Depressed Classes have begun our movement very late here and have got little organisation. But the experience we have gained in the recent election goes to show that if we carry on our work for the coming

* BIHAR C I. DEPARTMENT S PECIAL B RANCH, Patna, dated the 10 March 1937. Copy of a Special Officer’s report, dated 9th March 1937.

5 years, we can very well contest independently in the next election and with success.

You know Mr. Baldeo Prasad Jaiswal of Allahabad. He has come to Patna and wants to hold an All-India conference. Here it has been given in papers by him that the conference will be presided over by Diwan Bahadur Srinivasan and that you will attend the conference. I do not know the truth nor can I believe the man. Last year a conference was held at Lucknow and Mr. Jaiswal was the moving figure in convening the conference. I went all the way to Lucknow simply to see you but was greatly disappointed. Now he is seeking my help but openly I cannot help him and cannot give him any help in any way unless I know that you will attend the conference. This conference is to be held on the 9th, 10th and 11th April 1937. No person of Bihar is with him. He has his office located in a Catholic Church here and everything is being manoeuvred by missionaries.

The W. C. of the Depressed Classes League has decided to call a Provincial conference at Patna between 15th April and 15th May 1937 and it has also decided to invite you. But in case you are coming to attend the conference of Mr. Jaiswal, which I doubt, we will fix the date of our conference near about 12th April. Will you let me know as soon as you get this letter whether you will attend the conference convened by Mr. Jaiswal. One thing, he will not be able to have a gathering of more than one hundred Depressed Classes. He can, of course, invite thousands of Muhammamidans and Christians as he did at Lucknow. I take strong objection of this method. We should have genuine Depressed Classes conferences. Let me hear from you very early.

With regards.

Yours sincerely, (Sd.) JAGJIWAN RAM.

List of Candidates who contested the election to Bihar Provincial Legislative Assembly Name and address Ticket Votes polled

1. Jagjiwan Ram, Chandwa Arrah D.C. League Congress Uncontested

2. Rambasawan Rabidas, Gopalganj, Saran ””

3. Balgovind Bhagat, Bettiah, Champaran.

””

4. Sheonandan Ram, V. Mansurpur, Champaran, P. O. Marwan, Dist. Muzaffarpur.

””

5. Dr. Raghunandan,Pd., Sardar Hospital, Monghyr.

””

6. Karu Ram, Teacher, St. Columbus Collegiate, Hazaribagh ””

7. Ram Baras Das (Barsu Chamar) village Belthu, P. O. Shahkund, Dist. Bhagalpur.

” 754

8. Mahabir Das Laluchak, P. O. Mirjanhat.

Ministerial 1,700 9 Bishuncharan Das Rabidas, Cooperative Society, Dist. Manbhum. Purullia League Congress 1,964 Versus Gulu Dhoba, Village Mamurjore Ministerial 2,300

10. Jituram, Village Bansdih, P. O. Leshiganj, Dist Palamau.

League Congress 2,744 Versus Phaguni Ram, Clerk. Dist Board, Daltanganj, Dist Palamau.

Ministerial 532

List of Candidates who contested the election to Bihar Provincial Legislative Assembly —Contd. Name and address Ticket Votes polled

11. Ram Prasad, General Secretary, D.C. League, Patna League Congress 1,473 Versus Kalar Dusadh .. .. Ministerial .. 511

12. Sunder Pasi, Village Kesta, P.O. Dalsingsarai, Dist.

Darbhanga.

Congress Uncontested

13. Keshwar Paswan, Village Bihta, P.O. Benipatty, Dist, Gaya.

””

14. Sukhari Pasi, Chakand P.O. Dist, Gaya ””

15. Bundi Pasi, P.O. Warsaliganj Dist, Gaya ” 3,555 Versus Dalip Dusadh .. .. Ministerial .. 487

16. Jaglal Choudhury, Swaraj Ashram, P.O. Ticcapatty Purnea.

Congress 4,789 Versus Jagtup Masuhar .. .. Ministerial .. 1,769 zz