 |
| 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.
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."
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."
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.
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.
Jai bheem...!!
About Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah:
No comments:
Post a Comment