7. पीपल्स एज्युकेशन सोसायटीच्या वतीने माननीय डॉ. बी. आर. आंबेडकर यांचे आवाहन

APPEAL

BY The Hon’ble Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, M. A., Ph.D., D. Sc, Bar-at-Law., Member, Governor General’s Executive Council. On Behalf of THE PEOPLES EDUCATION SOCIETY THAT the Scheduled Castes, commonly known as the Untouchables, number about 50 millions is clear from the latest Census Report. That the education of the Scheduled Castes is at present in a very backward state all over India and that so far as higher education is concerned they are very far behind the higher classes are well-known facts. That the social and economic condition of the Scheduled Castes ail over India is deplorable is also an admitted fact. It is further realized by all that one of the reasons why the Scheduled Castes have not been able to overcome their difficulties and disabilities is the lack of education amongst them. From these facts, for the solution of the problem of the Scheduled Castes the need of a special organization devoted to this particular work will be fully recognised.

There being so far no such organisation, it was decided to establish the People’s Education Society. The Society has been registered under the Registration of Societies Act, XXI of 1860 and is recognized by the Government of India. To promote higher education among the Scheduled Castes all over India is the chief aim of the Society as will be seen from its constitution.

The Society proposes shortly to open in Bombay a fullfledged College for degree courses in both branches, Arts as well as Science, and for pass as well as Honours Courses. The College is not a sectarian institution. It will be open to students of all communities and of all creeds from all Provinces and States. The staff of the College will be as far as possible cosmopolitan. The special feature of the College will be the particular care of the students of the

Scheduled Castes, who will be granted facilities in the matter of admissions, freeships, scholarships and hostel accommodation. The Governing Body of the Society desire to make the College a model institution for imparting higher education. The Society feels highly encouraged by the fact that its project of starting a College in Bombay has received the approval of the Government of India, who have been pleased to give very substantial aid in meeting the initial expenditure. They have agreed to pay to the Society a sum of Rs. 6 lakhs, half as a grant and half as a loan without interest for that purpose.

Owing to the abnormal prices of land, building materials and scientific and other equipment this sum will fall short of the actual requirements. The College will require at least Rs. 15 lakhs. After taking into account the amount provided by the Government of India it will be seen that there will still remain a large sum of Rs. 9 lakhs to be collected by way of donations. The Society, therefore, has to ask for substantial help from other quarters. The Society entertains high hopes and trusts that its appeal for financial help for successfully carrying out its project will receive sympathetic consideration from all those who are interested in the advancement of education is general and that of the Untouchables in particular. There is a very large population of Scheduled Castes in some of the States and the Society, therefore, appeals to the Rulers of the States for extending to it a generous help in this matter. The Society would be glad to make special provision in the College for the Scheduled Castes students, as well as for the non-Scheduled Caste students, from the States and in particular to agree :

(1) to reserve a certain percentage for admission to the different classes in the College both on the Arts and Science side;

(2) to reserve accommodation in the hostels for students, which will be erected as part of the College building; and (3) to reserve a certain number of freeships and scholarships.

The Society would be prepared to accept any other reasonable condition which a State making a donation might like to suggest.

The Society submits that, while the College will derive substantial help from such financial contributions, the States will also derive great benefit from the College, in that the Scheduled Caste subjects of the States will find in the College a special institution, charged with the duty of taking special interest in the education of the Scheduled Castes. The Society, therefore, makes this earnest appeal to the Rulers of the Indian States* and requests them to help the Society by making generous contributions towards the materialization of the project and thereby afford the muchneeded facilities for the advancement of higher education, to people of the Scheduled Castes in India and their Scheduled Castes subject in particular. The Society will be glad to furnish any other information that may be required in this connection. 26-11-1945 B. R. AMBEDKAR 22, Prithvi Raj Road, New Delhi.

zz Printed at, Delhi Press, New Delhi.

* The Maharaj of Baroda was again approached for financial assistance for establishing a College at Bombay for the benefit of the Depressed Classes. An Appeal in that connection was made by Mr. K. A. Keluskar, on behalf of Dr. Ambedkar—See Appendix XIII.