39. 1-1-1938 Christians lagged behind Politically

CHRISTIANS LAGGED BEHIND POLITICALLY

“Dr. B. R. Ambedkar made important speech on 1st January 1938 in Sholapur. The local Christians were eager to hear his views on religion. So he addressed a meeting of the Christians under the Presidentship of the Rev. Gangadhar Jadhav.” Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said that since the day he declared his intention to abjure Hindu religion, he had become a commodity for bargain or a source of comedy. He referred to the comedy, Vande Bharatam, written by Acharya P. K. Atre, a well-known playwright in Maharashtra, who had ridiculed the idea of conversion in his play. Yet he stated that he was firm in his resolve. From his study of comparative religion he could say that two personalities could captivate him. They were the Buddha and Christ.

He further said that he wanted a religion which instructed people how they should behave with one another and prescribed for man his duty to another and relation with God in the light of equality, fraternity and liberty.

He told the Christians that their co-religionists in Southern India observed caste system in churches. Besides they lagged behind politically. If the Mahar boys became Christians they lost their scholarships. Thus there was no economic gain in their being Christian. Moreover, the Indian Christians, he remarked, as a community never fought for the removal of social injustice.1 zz 1 : Keer, Pp. 299-230.