Cripps Mission (1942): Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah And Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Cripps Mission, Prof. M. C. Rajah And Ambedkar.

Brief Notes:
* Sir Richard Stafford Cripps: A British statesman who became a member of the British War Cabinet in 1942.
* Cripps Mission: This mission conducted a negotiation between Britain and India that was an important milestone on the road to Indian independence. But failed to resolve the wartime crisis in India.

When the Cripps Mission under the chairmanship of Cripps visited India in March 1942 to negotiate for a future constitution of India, Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar represented the Scheduled Classes of India. For this reason they were bitterly against by Jagjivan Ram's All India Depressed Classes League. On 28 March 1942 the General Secretary of the All India Depressed Classes League said, "Dr. Ambedkar and M. C. Rajah may represent their particular caste but they have no locus standi to represent all the depressed classes of India."

Joint Action of Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar:
I already clarified that there was no longer difference in opinion between Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah. (Read here: Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar ) 

On 1st April 1942, Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar made common cause in protest against the British Govt for ignored the Scheduled Classes Political demands. The Cripps Mission not only ignored the political existence of the Scheduled Classes altogether, it even denied their right to be regarded as a minority, as they did not fall in the definition of “social and religious minority.” Had Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah not died on 23 August 1943, the Scheduled Classes of India would have different juncture at today. The great influence of Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar would have drifted the Scheduled Classes of India to be a minority as like as the Muslims.

I] Here the Note by Sir Stafford Cripps:

[ Interview with Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar, Representing the Depressed Classes on 30th March 1942 ]

After telling me about the conditions of the Depressed Classes, particularly in Madras and Bombay, they then went on to point out that under the system of election they would have a very small representation only in the constituent assembly, as most of their so-called representatives would be Congressmen, and that their position would therefore be very weak. They summed up the demands that they would make to the constituent assembly and then asked me whether we considered that they came within the racial and religious minorities, to which I answered yes, and what sort of provisions were likely to be made in the Treaty for their protection. I stated that these would probably be along the lines of the League of Nations minority treaties, and if already there were special provisions in the constitution these would probably be repeated in the Treaty, and there would be some obligation to refer the matter to some outside authority in cases of dispute, the Government of the Indian Union undertaking to abide by the decision so given, and that if they did not do so it would constitute a breach of Treaty, whereupon the British Government could take such steps as it considered wise in the particular circumstances. I stated that though this form of protection might no doubt seem to them inadequate, once granted the idea of self-government and self-determination for India, there was no other possible way by which we could intervene to protect any minority in India. 

Cripps Mission, Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar.

So far as the interim period was concerned, I pointed out that the probabilities were that some representative of the Depressed Classes would be asked to serve on the Executive Council at the Centre, and that one of the first tasks of that Council would no doubt be to make some temporary arrangements as regards the carrying on of the Provincial Governments.

Mr. Ambedkar expressed the view that they would demand to be treated as one of the major elements and to be taken into consultation by the Viceroy in the formation of the new Executive. I stated that this was not a matter for me; the Viceroy would exercise his own judgement as to whom he should consult in this matter.

Naturally they were not very happy about the whole situation, but I did not gather that they would oppose the scheme, since there was no other alternative under which they could get any greater measure of protection.


II] Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar to Sir S. Cripps [On April 1, 1942]:

We told you when we met you on the 30th March that the proposals of His Majesty’s Government relating to Constitutional development of India will not be acceptable to the Depressed Classes for the reasons which we placed before you at the interview. Since then We have had consultations with many of the Depressed Classes’ representatives in the various Provincial and Central Legislatures and all of them have unanimously endorsed the view we placed before you regarding the proposals. We are all of us absolutely convinced that the proposals are calculated to do the greatest harm to the Depressed Classes and are sure to place them under an unmitigated system of Hindu rule. Any such result which takes us back to the black days of the ancient past will never be tolerated by us, and we are all determined to resist any such catastrophe befalling our people with all the means at our command. 

We request you to convey to His Majesty’s Government our deepest anxiety regarding the future of the Depressed Classes and to impress upon them that we must look upon it as breach of faith if His Majesty’s Government should decide to force upon the Depressed Classes a Constitution to which they have not given their free and voluntary consent and which does not contain within itself all the provisions that are necessary for safeguarding their interests.

In the end we want to thank you for assuming us that you called us in our representative capacity and that His Majesty’s Government did not regard the Depressed Classes as a minor party—points upon which some doubt had arisen in our mind and about which we asked you for a correct definition of our position.

Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.

Reference: 
* Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, English Volume 10, Page 445-448 / Tamil Volume 19, Page 59-62.

Jai bheem...!!!

More About Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah:

* Perunthalaivar Prof. M. C. Rajah -- The First Leader who Organized The Scheduled Class at the National Level in India.

* Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah: The Pioneer of Mid-day Meal Scheme in India.

* Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Manusmriti.