Perunthalaivar Prof. M.C. Rajah and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Ambedkar and M. C. Rajah

I know everyone is confined with Poona Pact whenever they hear Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah. It is not their mistake. Certainly, they are not aware of anything beyond it. They must read him beyond Poona Pact. Remember that M. C. Rajah was not responsible for the Poona Pact. That's Poona Pact was the product of Barrister. M.K. Gandhi's injustice drama against the then Depressed Classes. Everyone has opinion in differences. But all times the opinions are always consistent. It gets updated with corrections. It applies to both Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar. If you read them, they were updated in many things. For instance, We have to go through the time-line of the historical past. 

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Joint Electorates:
Originally Dr. Ambedkar stood for Joint Electorates in his report before the Simon Commission in Bombay on behalf of Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha. He demanded Joint Electorates with reservation of seats. The representatives of the then Depressed Classes from all over India gave evidence before the Simon Commission / Indian Statutory Commission. Out of the 17 associations that placed before the Commission their considered opinion, 15 demanded Separate Electorates, one (Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha of Dr. Ambedkar) favoured Joint Electorates with Adult Suffrage and Reservation of seats and the other wanted nominations. When the Simon Commission report embodying electorates with reservation of seats was published, Dr. Ambedkar, welcomed the recommendations of this Commission as an advancement in the interest of the community. When he went to the the first Round Table Conference, even Ambedkar demanded joint electorates with reservation of seats. 

But Dr. Ambedkar changed his state of mind to the separate electorate, putting forth separate electorates as an united demand of the then Depressed Classes due to the pressure from M. C. Rajah and Madras Presidency Organisations in 1931. Though Dr. Ambedkar was individually wedded to the system of joint electorates with reservation of seats coupled with adult franchise, he changed his state of mind after the Nasik temple entry satyagraha and in obedience to the demands of the then depressed classes advocated in the unequivocal language i.e., the system of separate electorates along with Thatha Rettamalai Srinivasanar.

Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah and Joint Electorates:
Initially Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah stood Separate Electorates. In fact, M. C. Rajah was the first person who demanded 'Separate Electorates' for the Scheduled Classes in India. But he changed his mind to Joint Electorates with reserved seats on population basis due to lower representation of the Minority Pact in 1932. Briefly they were reversed in their demands.

Joint Action of Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar:

Both Dr. Ambedkar and Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah were worked together except in 1932 and 1935. There were no longer conflicts between them. Together they advanced the various tasks. We can find the coalition between them in the 'All India Scheduled Caste Federation' and 'Cripps Mission' (1942). Till his death, Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah collaborated with Dr. Ambedkar. In November, 1938, M. C. Rajah made a fervent 'Plea for a separate Scheduled Classes party'. Both Peruthalaivar M.C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar were served on the National Defence Advisory Committee. When 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."

Both Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar were determined NOT to be part of the Hindu fold. As the representative of the Scheduled Classes they demanded an assurance from Cripps that the Scheduled Classes would be included in the racial and religious minorities in 1942.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in his 'What Congress and Gandhi have done to the Untouchables ?': "The only leading member from the Untouchable community was the late Dewan Bahadur Rajah. He was a nominated member of the Central Assembly from 1927. He had nothing to do with the Congress either inside or outside the Assembly. Indeed, he was not merely a critic of the Congress but its adversary. He stood for separate electorates for the Untouchables to which the Congress was bitterly opposed."

Unfortunately Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah was died in August 1943. Had not happened, it would have changed the course of the Scheduled Classes Movement. 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 brethren.

Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.

Jai bheem...!!

About Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah:

* Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah.

* Both Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah and Dr. Ambedkar Were Determined NOT to be Part of the Hindu Fold.

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

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar And Ashoka Dhamma Chakra.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Ashoka Dhamma Chakra

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was instrumental for incorporating the wheel of Dhamma chakra or Ashoka Chakra in Navy Blue in the National Flag of India. To select Flag for Independent India, on 23rd June 1947 the Constituent Assembly of India set up an Ad hoc committee headed by Rajendra Prasad with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sarojini, Rajagopalachari and K. M. Munshi as its members. On 22 July 1947, the present form (Four Colours Viz., Saffron, White, Green and Navy Blue Chakra) of the National Flag of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The spinning wheel of the Congress Flag was replaced by the Chakra (Wheel) from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at its centre.

As a Member of Ad hoc committee on the National Flag Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar later explained, "Even though Buddhism is almost extinct in India, yet it has given birth to a culture, which is far better and richer than the Brahminic culture. When the question of the national flag and the national emblem was being considered by the Constituent Assembly we could not find any suitable symbol from the Brahminic culture. Ultimately, the Buddhist culture came to our rescue and we accepted the Wheel of Law (Dhamma-Chakra) as the national symbol."

Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.

Jai Bheem...!!!

Also Read:
* Unknown Facts about "Founding Father Of Modern India" -- Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Buddhism In Dharmapuri And Salem District of Tamil Nadu.

Buddha statue in Dharmapuri Archaeological Museum

Dharmapuri / Dhammapuri:
'Dharmapuri' was called once "Dhamma + Puri" i,e Town of Dhamma. It was a noted centre of Buddhism activities. The rulers Adhiyamans might be the Buddhists. The decline of Buddhism in South India continued up to 16th Century. They were killed by the force of Bhramanism. Later Buddhism fade away from Salem and Dharmapuri of Tamil Nadu. Today we can find, there are beautiful and big, about two metres high, sculptures of seated Buddha, carved in stone noticed at Deganur in Dharmapuri district.

Buddha statue in Dharmapuri Archaeological Museum

Headless sculpture of seated Buddha statue in Dharmapuri Archaeological Museum. It was founded during the explorations conducted near Kadakathur village of Dharmapuri district.

Salem / Seelam:
‘Salem’ gets its name from "Seelam" which is the Paali language. Asokan inscription mentioned it as "Sathyaputhra". There are so many places identified it. Few places like 'Thammampatti' near to Salem was "Dhammapatti" once and 'Thiyaganur' village which mean "Thiyanam (meditation) oor". These places are presence of early Buddhist elements. 

Buddha Statue in Thiyaganur Village of Salem district

The historical importance of the village Thiyaganur comes from the presence of two Buddha statues. One statue is under worship and a Vihar was built in 2013. Dhyana Mandapam (Meditation center) was opened in June, 2013 by Maharabushnam, the then Salem district Collector.

Buddha Vihar in Thiyaganur Village of Salem district

                                  

Regards,
Ambeth,

Dharmapuri,

Tamil Nadu.

Jai Bheem...!!

Reference:
* 'A Social History of India' By S. N. Sadasivan.

Also Read:
* Buddhist Works in Tamil Literary and Buddhist Teachers / Scholars of Tamil Nadu.

Valluvar's World Famous 'Thirukural / Tirikural' And Pandit Iyothee Thass.

Valluvar's 'Thirukural' and Pandit Iyothee Thass

World Famous Thirukural (Tirikural) was written by Valluvar in Tamil. It was printed and published for the first time by European Civil Servant ' Francis Whyte Ellis' who loved the Tamil Language. He used to collect palm leaves and printed. Ellis collected palm leaves from Kandappan a butler of another European Civil Servant George Harrington. Kandappan was the grand father of Pandit Iyothee Thass. ( Note : Pandit Iyothee Thass was the Pioneer to E.V. Ramasamy Periyar and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Pandit Iyothee Thass who founded the Sakya Indian Buddhist Society in Chennai).

Later Tirikural was edited by Muthusamy and corrected by Thandavaraya. When it was released from the press Kandappan was taken aback because four new verses had been added to the original Tiruvalluvar Malai. This was published in 1831 and then reprinted in 1834. Again in 1835, Vishakperumal brought out the 3rd edition of Tirikural with Tiruvalluvar Malai. In 1837, a new edition by Saravana Perumal ( brother of Visaka Perumal ). When Iyothee Thass compared the edition of Ellis with editions of Vishakaperumal and Saravana Perumal, he found a newly added story in the Vishakaperumal's edition of Tiruvalluvar Malai, that Valluvar was born to Brahmin father and Pariah mother. This tale was not found a place in Ellis edition.

Iyothee Thass wrote at length on Buddhism, the life of Buddha, his readings, the dialogues he had with his disciples, and on the principles of faith and action which he upheld. He argued that the text, Thirukural was originally known as Tiri-kural (Tiri means three) and it was the first Buddhist Text in a Dravidian Language. According to him, Valluvar belonged to 'Sakyan' clan who were called the best astrologer and expert doctors of medicines. They present in Mylapore, Chennai was once the abode of Valluvas and for this there are evidences of inscriptions and Copper plates. The Kural content adhered to the three Pitakas of the Buddha's Teachings and hence it was known as the Thirukural.

Reference: 
* “Pandit Iyothee Thass” by T. Nalini Anbarasu. [NCBH Publication]

Also Read:
* 'Pandit Iyothee Thass'.
* Pandit Iyothee Thass and M. Singaravelu ( Founding Father of the Communist Party of India in Tamil Nadu).

Jai bheem...!!!