10. 29-1-1932 Future Generations of Hindus will Appreciate my Services

FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HINDUS WILL APPRECIATE MY SERVICES

On the eve of arrival of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar after attending the Round Table Conference arrangements at Ballard Pier, Bombay were ordered by the Government as follows : “Arrival of Maulana Shaukat Ali and Dr. Ambedkar by the S. S. “Mooltan” on 29th January 1932.

Superintendent, “H and I” Dns.

A copy of the Secretary, Bombay Port Trust’s letter addressed to the Secretary, Depressed Classes Institute, Bombay, is forwarded herewith for your information. You will see from this what concessions have been given for the Depressed Classes and the Khilafat Committee in connection with the arrival of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Maulana Shaukat Ali at Ballard Pier.

2. Your attention is invited to the Dock Manager’s office note dated the 27th Instant, a copy of which has been sent to you direct, and you should make your arrangements accordingly. It has been agreed with the Secretary of the Depressed Classes and the Secretary of the khilafat Committee that the Green Gate will be opened at 5 a.m. Similar arrangements should be made as were made for the arrival of Mr. Gandhi. The Depressed Classes volunteers should be allowed to line the roadway from the entrance to the hall to the Green Gate. If necessary, the Superintendent should arrange to place volunteers in position so as not in any way to impede ordinary traffic. No one should be allowed on the wharf until the boat has been tied up and the gangway let down and no one should be admitted to the Customs Hall except pass-holders for the ship.

3. There is a possibility of hostile Congress demonstration against the Members of the various Round Table Conference Committees who are also arriving by this boat. Arrangements to meet this situation should be made by the

Superintendent, ‘A’ Division. Under no circumstances whatsoever should hostile demonstrators be admitted in the precinct of Ballard Pier.

4. For the purpose of regulating traffic at the Mole, 3 officers will be supplied from T. Division. Motor cars should be parked as usual.

5. It is not unlikely that hostile demonstrators may try to obtain admittance through the Red Gate. Arrangements should be made to see that this point is strongly held.

6. A copy of the pass for the admittance to the hall is sent herewith.

7. It has been arranged that Maulana Shaukat Ali and Dr. Ambedkar will disembark between 7-15 a.m. and 7-30 a.m. and the Secretaries of both Associations have been informed that Ballard Pier must be clear by 8-30 a.m. Between 8-30 a.m. and 9 a.m. the Members of the Franchise Committee will leave Ballard Pier by car for Government House. Government House cars will arrive at Ballard Pier at about 8-30 a.m. They will enter the Docks by the Red Gate.

8. The S. S. “Mooltan” will probably arrive at the Ballard Pier at 4 a.m. It is customary for the Port Trust, when the mail boat arrives early, to open the Green Gate one hour before the arrival of the boat in order to admit mail vans, coolies. post office workers etc. On this occasion this will not be done, and post office workers etc., will proceed to Ballard Pier by the Red Gate. This will probably entail extra duty at the Red Gate and at Ballard Pier before the Green Gate is opened.

Copy to : Sd/— Dep. S. B. Dy. Commissioner of Police, Port.” 1. 1 : File No. 3447/H/III-32-37.

“Dr. B. R. Ambedkar returned to London on Sunday, January 4, 1932. He left London, and embarking at Marsecilles, on January 15, 1932 reached Bombay on January 29, 1932. On board were the British Members of the Franchise Committee, appointed by British Premier, of which Dr. Ambedkar was also a Member. As usual Dr. Ambedkar’s purchases were with him. They were twenty four boxes of new books.

Dr. Ambedkar was to land at six O’clock in the morning. A huge crowd of his followers and admirers had been awaiting his arrival since early dawn. Some leaders of the Depressed Classes including P. Balu and Kajrolkar, though politically inclined to Gandhi, garlanded and greeted him on the deck.

Dr. Ambedkar and his fellow-passenger, Maulana Shaukat Ali, landed at the Mole station. The Muslim leader and the Depressed Classes leader were received amidst a burst of cheering. Addressing the huge crowds of the Muslims and the Depressed Classes, the Muslim leader said that every man must have an underviating faith in his cause, and he appreciated the courage shown by Dr. Ambedkar in fighting for his cause. Shaukat Ali and Dr. Ambedkar were then taken out in procession which terminated at Byculla.

To the Depressed Classes Dr. Ambedkar now became a symbol of strength, hope and ambition. It was now proved that he could not be suppressed. He had ably led the Untocuchables to the end of an epoch. The dead cells of the Depressed Classes were filled with new energy, new blood and new inspiration. That energy, vision, and consciousness would hold on in spite of difficulties and dangers.

The same evening, at a mass meeting at Parel, Bombay. Dr. Ambedkar was presented with an address on behalf of one hundred and fourteen institutions.” 1 1 : Keer, P. 193.

Address presented to :

“Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, M. A. Ph.D., D. Sc, Bar-at-Law., M.L.C.

Delegate, Indian, Round Table Conference.

Dear Sir, We the undermentioned Institutions, feel this an occasion of honour and privilege to accord you, our accredited leader, a hearty welcome on behalf of the Depressed Classes of India on your to these shores offer an arduous fight for the recognition of our legitimate rights and status at the second Round Table Conference, you have indeed proved to the hilt our claim, for equality of status and treatment, and but for the valiant fight you had put on our behalf, we are afraid, our claims would have been ignored. You have done what all is human possible in safeguarding our rights and we are sure, as a result of your endeavours at London, to stand, in the near future on an equal footing with all other major communities in India. Allow us to take this opportunity of putting on record that the choice of Government would not have fallen on a better head than yours to represent us at the Round Table Conference. Your work coupled with that of Rao Bahadur Shrinivasan, has been of immense value to our cause by many of your powerful speeches in London and elsewhere, you have proved to the world that Depressed Classes are a vast minority and that without, separate representation their interest would never be safe; and the credit goes to you of having proved beyond doubt that many of the so-called Congress leaders, professing sympathy for us are ‘slippery customers.’ It is now for you, Sir, to augment your work at the R. T. C. by continuing to espouse our cause in your own inimitable way in the Franchise Committee which to start work before long. It would be in the fitness of thing to urge upon you not to be content with any thing less than equality of status and treatment for your brethren, and we fully trust that you will do your, utmost for securing these objects in the Franchise Committee as well and in all other work connected with the building up of the constitution for this country.

Oppressed, tyrannized and exploited as we are by one and all from ages long, we do feel that your advent on the horizon of public life was for us a day to be written in Golden ink. The new life and spirit which you enthused in us at Mahad, Nasik and other places to achieve our ordinary human rights have awoke us to our rights and claims and have made us give a burial to our inferiority complex. The sense of responsibility and the present out look of our community which is now out to assert its rights all over the country it will not be an exaggeration to say, is but the fruit of your efforts and guidance, we know the tremendous sacrifice you are making for a community for whom there are but few friends. It is needless for us to repeat that all our interests, political or otherwise, are safe in your hands and we look to you and to you alone, as our trusted leader, who would lead us and to political power in this country which alone, we are convinced would bring salvation to our oppressed community, we remain, Your’s truly The Members of (1) Social Equality Army (Bombay Presidency) (2) Friends Union, Pelisle Road (3) Somvanshiya Abalvriddha Seva Mandal (4) Bahishkrit Seva Mandal (5) Maharashtra Balveer Shikshan Prasarak Mandal (6) Bahishkrit Hitchintak Seva Mandal (7) South Indian Adi-Dravida Mahajan Sabha (8) Mahila Mandal Bombay (9) Mahar Samaj Seva Sangh (10) Satara District Yuvak Sangh (11) Nagar District Bahishkrit Seva Sangh (12) Yuvak Sangh Samajik Jalsa (13) Tramway Company Workshop Depressed Classes Association.

(14) Navrang Cigarette Company D. Classes (15) Bahishkrit Mahila Seva Mandal (16) Bara Chawl Seva Sangh

(17) Ratnagiri District Social Equality League (18) Gujrat D. C. Association (19) Poona District Bahishkrit Association (20) Poona District Dalit Sangh (21) Satara District Social Equality Army (22) Bahishkrit Depressed Classes CC. Society (23) Bahishkrit Depressed Classes Navyuvak Sangh (24) Pevalaty Co-operative Mandal (25) Dhobitalao Somvanshiya Mandal (26) Dhobitalao Somvanshiya Mahila Mandal (27) “F” Ward Bahishkrit Seva Mandal Bombay (28) Tata Mills Chawls, Mahar Punch (29) Kokan Prantik Chamber Parishad (30) Foras Road Cement Chawls Punch (31) Mazagaon Khadda Punch (32) Joona Dhor Chawl Punch (33) Batatyachi Chawls Punch (34) Foras Road D. C. Tenaments of Block Nos. 1-3 (35) Navi Dhar Chawl Punch (36) Somvanshiya Nirashrit Shikshan Vardhak Samaj (37) Solapur District Mahar Seva Sangh (38) Satara District Vite Taluka Punch (39) Bahishkrit Co-op. Society (40) D. C. Tenant of B. D. D. Block No. 7 (41) Maharashtriya Puratan Mahar Unnati Sangh (42) Satara District D. C. Society (43) Gulabvadi Punch Mandali

*(44) Bhandara Samaj Sangh (45) Bhartiya Tarun Yuvak Sangh Bahishkrit (46) Shree Somvanshiya Mandali (47) Naigaon Chawl Nawa Saha Kumfor Punch (48) Bahishkrit Hitvardhak Samaj (49) Pimparee Sayyad Nasik Taluka Jalsa, Kampoo (50) Rohidas Dnyandev Samaj

* : It might be ‘Bhandari ’-Editors.

(51) Charmakar Maheela Mandal (52) Charmakar Sudharak Mandal (53) Youngmen’s Mahar Association Vinchoor (54) Naigaon Social Equality League (55) Bahishkrit Bhajan Samaj Vadala (56) Chandanvadi Maheela Mandal (57) Chandanvadi D. C. Association (58) Solapur District Tal. Karmale Hitvardhak Samaj (59) Satara District Balveer Sainik Dal (60) Thana District D. C. Association (61) Bandra Katwadi Varoode Mandal (62) Nasik Yuvak Sangh (63) Naigaon B. D. D. Block Tenants Association (64) B. & C. I. Railway D. C. League (65) Nasik District Madhyavarti Mandal (66) Bhartiya Samaj Seva Mandal (67) Madhyavarti Samata Sainik Dal (68) Ravangaon D. C. League (69) Atpadee D. C. Society (70) Kulaba District D. C. Association (71) Tramway Co-operative Society Chawl Tenants Association (72) Social Equality League (73) Jangira Bahishkrit Praja Chirol Mandal (74) Dadar Mahila Mandal (75) Navyuvak Mandal Ahmedabad (76) Dharwar District D. C. League (77) Belgaon District D. C. League (78) Karwar District D. C. League (79) Meghwal Sudharak Samaj (80) Gujarath Dalit Sudharak Mandal (81) Satara District Tarun Seva Mandal (82) Rohidas Tarun Mandal Thana (83) Somvanshiya Sanmargadarshan Sangh, Kalyan (84) Thana District Charmakar Aikechhu Mandal Manikpur (85) Kamathipura 13 Lane Bhajan Samaj

(86) The Berar, Asprishya Samaj Sudharak Seva Mandal Berar (87) The Supa Pargana, Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh (88) Satara District Vandar Manar Sangh (89) B. P. T. Bahishkrit Labourers Navyuvak (90) Karnatak Machignar Society (91) Karnatak D. C. Youth League (92) D. C. Association Hubali (93) Chitra Bazar, Bori Chawl D. C. League (94) Rohe Taluka Mahar Sangh (95) Kamathipura Stable Street Mahar Association (96) Agripada Mcpl. Chawl D. C. Tenants Association (97) Bandra Chani D. C. League Bhaogra (98) Bandra Palee Bahishkrit Samaj (99) Mahar Military Indian Officer Association (100) Mahim Killa D. C. Association (101) Reteecha Dhakka Punch Mandal (102) B. I. T. Poibawadi Chawl D. C. League (103) Panvel Pensioner Mahar Punch (104) Crawn Cigartte Co’s D. C. Labour Mandal (105) Nana Chawk Mahar Sangh (106) All India Untouchability League Poona (107) Maharashtra Seva Sangh Poona (108) Dakshin Maharashtra Satya Prasarak Mandal Kolhapur (109) Matang Dnyanodaya Samaj Bombay (110) Asprishyonnati Mandal Nasik Road (111) Temple Entry Satyagraha Mandal Nasik (112) Bahishkrit Hitchintak Seva Sangh Nasik Road (113) Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Boarding Nasik (114) Asprishya Taroon Samata Samaj Chirabazar” 1 Impressed with the abiding love and gratitude of his people, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar stood embarrassed and motionless for a moment before the vast gathering. After a pause he declared to the vast audience that whatever services he could render were the summation of the co-operation of all the workers and the unflinching backing of his people. He said that no leader was 1 : Hatole, Pp. 29-33.

by himself responsible for the fulfilment or failure of a mission : so he asked them to continue the struggle. As for his own self, he said, after all, he was a human being and it was human to err. He might have been at times partial, but that should be excused he added.

“I am described as a traitor by Congressmen,” he observed, “because I opposed Gandhi. I am not at all perturbed by this charge. It is baseless, false and malicious. But it was a great shock to the world that Gandhi himself should have sponsored violent opposition to the breaking of your shackles. I am confident that the future generations of Hindus will appreciate my services when they study the history of the Round Table Conference.” He also disclosed how he happened to see Gandhi four or five times in London, how Gandhi went secretly to the Aga Khan with a copy of the Holy Koran in his hand and asked the Muslim leader to withdraw his support to the Depressed Classes, and how the Aga Khan had refused to do so. * Lastly, he appealed to his people not to deify him as he hated deification. At the conclusion of the meeting, he honoured the Nasik heroes who had been by then released from Jails.” 1 “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in thanking the audience said that he would not have been able to place before the R. T. C. the case of the Depressed Classes had he not been supported by the solidarity of the seven crores of the Untouchables. He referred to the difference of opinion existed between himself and a certain sections of the Depressed Classes and assured them that he did not stand for any particular section of the Depressed Classes but was prepared to accept any scheme safeguarding the interests of the whole community. He criticised the attitude of Mr. Gandhi in dealing with the minorities problem and said that he, while negotiating with the Depressed Classes, was at the same time secretly confabulating with the Mohammedans. He asked the audience not to place reliance on a leader but always depend on their own strength. He finally congratulated the Nasik temple entry Satyagrahis.” 2 zz

* : The Janata, 30th January 1932.

1 : Keer, Pp. 193-94.

2: Bombay City S. B., January 30th 1932.