Sir, I consider it a proud privilege to speak in
support of this historic Resolution, so ably moved by Pandit Nehru.
I do not wish to refer to the issue raised by the earlier speakers or
speak on the speeches made six thousand miles away by people who either mean
mischief or are totally ignorant of the real situation. I wish to offer a few
remarks on that of this Resolution, the fundamental rights which affect a
section of the people, namely, women. It will warm the heart of many a woman to
know that free India will mean not only equality of status but equality of
opportunity. It is true that a few women in the past and even120 today enjoy high status and have received the
highest honour that any man can receive, like our
friend, Mrs. Sarojini140 Naidu. But these women are few and far between. One swallow
does not make a summer. These women do not160 give us a real picture of the position of Indian women in
this country. The average woman in this
country has suffered now for centuries from inequalities heaped upon her by
laws, customs and practices of people who have fallen from the heights
of that civilization of which we are all so proud, and in
praise of which Dr. Radhakrishnan has always spoken.
There are thousands of women today who are denied the ordinary human rights.
They are put behind240 the purdah, secluded within the four walls of their
homes, unable to move freely. The Indian woman has been reduced to such a state
of helplessness that she has become an easy prey of those who
wish to exploit the280 situation. In degrading women, man has degraded himself.
In raising her, man will not only raise himself but raise the whole
nation. Mahatma Gandhi's name has been invoked on the floor of this House.
It would be ingratitude on my part320
if I do not acknowledge the great debt of gratitude that Indian women owe to Mahatma
Gandhi for all that he has done for them. In spite of all
these, we have never asked for privileges. The women's organization360 to
which I have the honour to belong has never asked for reserved
seats, for quotas, or for separate electorates. What we have asked for is
social justice, economic justice, and political justice. We have asked for that
equality which can alone be the basis of mutual respect and understanding
and without which real co-operation is not possible between man420 and woman. Women
form one half of the population of this country and, therefore,
men cannot go very far without the co-operation of women. This ancient land
cannot attain its rightful place, its honoured place in
this world without the co-operation of women. I, therefore, welcome this
Resolution for the great promise which it holds, and I hope that the480
objectives embodied in the Resolution will not remain on paper but will be translated
into reality.
Mr. Chairman,
Sir, Dr. Ambedkar did not say anything last time about the
Depressed Classes. So, I consider it a great honour to speak to the
Members of the Constituent Assembly on behalf of the Scheduled Castes of
India. I stand here to support the Resolution moved
by Pandit Nehru. After analyzing the whole of the Resolution and
examining it in detail, I560 find that it is the best document that has ever extended
hopes to the minds of the people of India for freedom. Some of
my friends who have spoken before have pointed out some defects in it.
Nevertheless, the Resolution,600 as it stands before us, will serve to solve many of
the problems that have got to be solved before drawing up a Constitution. I do
feel there are many obstacles in our way, but we know we shall
have to640 surmount them. If we look
back into the history of the democratic nations of the world, we
would see that every Constitution-making body had to face many difficulties.
But still, they were successful at the end. It is a pity that our
Muslim League friends have kept themselves out and are not taking part
in the deliberations of this700 Assembly. But when we know that Hindus
and Muslims will have to live in this country of ours, we shall have720 to solve our differences
amicably by some way or other. It is hoped that the Muslim League
members will, sooner or later, take up their rightful places in
this Assembly, join in the deliberations and help in framing a Constitution
that will be acceptable to all. In this august House of the Constituent
Assembly, we belonging to the Depressed Classes, are very few in number,
but in the country as a whole our population is 60 million. We are no800 doubt a part and parcel
of the great Hindu community. But our social status in the country is so very
low that we do feel that we require adequate safeguards to be provided for us.
Firstly, we should be considered840 as a minority, not in the sense in
which a community is a minority on religious or racial grounds, but a minority
which is a separate political entity. However, it is needless to point out that
we are a separate political entity. I think those who have got
themselves interested in the upliftment of the Depressed Classes will admit, as
Mahatma Gandhi himself has admitted by his words and deeds, that adequate
safeguards are necessary for these classes for their political
salvation. The Poona Pact is Mahatma Gandhi's creation, and his writings in the
'Harijan' amply prove that the interests of the Depressed Classes must be
carefully looked after. The Cabinet Mission's Statement of May 16 does
not say anything960 about the Depressed Classes; but the Press Conference that the
British Cabinet Ministers had after the publication of the980 Statement in Delhi, clearly
shows that the Depressed Classes should be regarded as a minority. The
subsequent debates on India in the House of Commons as well as in
the House of Lords have also laid stress on the importance of providing
safeguards for the Depressed Classes as a minority.
Sir, the minority
problem is one of the most intricate problems, specially in a
country like India, where so many elements live together with so many different
kinds of interests. I believe this Constituent Assembly will have to face very
important problem in regard to the minorities and find satisfactory
solution1080 for them. If this is done,
the House will have no difficulty in framing a Constitution ultimately.
We, the members of the Depressed Classes, do hope that this Constituent
Assembly will do justice to us. There are Depressed Class1120 in all the Provinces
and in the States of India. They want representation on a population
basis in the Legislatures in the Centre, Provinces and the States. They do not
claim any weightage, but if any weightage is given to any
community, they demand proportional weightage for them. Paragraph 4 of the Resolution clearly says
that all power and authority of the Sovereign Independent India, its
constituent parts and organs of Government, are derived from the people.
I think this is the1200 best part of the Resolution.
It would infuse real strength into the minds of the common people of India.
The people of India might not be as much politically conscious as the people of other democratic countries, but the very idea that all the power of the State will come from the people will make the Depressed Classes1260 of India politically conscious quickly. We, the Depressed Classes, are the original inhabitants of this country. We do not claim1280 to have come to India from outside as conquerors, as do the Caste Hindus and the Muslims. As a matter of fact, India belongs to us and we cannot tolerate the idea that this ancient mother country of ours will be divided between the Muslims and the Caste Hindus only. I come from Bengal. Many of you might have heard of the civil disturbances over there. The Depressed Classes were the worst sufferers. We strongly repudiate any claim of the Muslim League to take away our beloved Bengal and constitute her into Pakistan. We also oppose the idea of grouping. We shall fight tooth and nail to maintain the integrity of India intact. I hope better sense will prevail on1400 Muslim League soon. In this connection, I can only say that the leaders of the Muslim League in Bengal are trying to get the support of a section of the Depressed Classes by joisting leaders of their choice over them.1440 I think they are doing it just to pave the way for their fantastic Pakistan. But, fortunately, this section of the Depressed Classes is very small. I do hope that this Constituent Assembly will see that nothing is done in regard to Bengal without the consent of the Depressed Classes. They are of overwhelming number. Lastly, I cannot but express my joy that very soon India will be free. The time has come for it. There is no power on earth which could stop it. Some of my friends, especially Dr. Ambedkar, said that there would be civil war in the country before India gets freedom. The Depressed Classes will be very glad to meet it. As a matter of fact, they are ready to face it. 1567
