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| M. C. Rajah and Ambedkar in 1942 |
Misconception: // M. C. Rajah was determined to be part of the Hindu fold. //
This is totally wrong one. Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah was determined NOT to be part of the Hindu fold. In reality he was never a Hindu. In his early days he had considered himself to be part of the Hindu fold. But he changed in his opinion after the bitter experiences with Mr. Mohandas K. Gandhi and Congress in 1938. 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 Mr. M. K. Gandhi's injustice drama against the then Depressed Classes.
Sir Stafford Cripps noted, "After telling me about the conditions of the Depressed Classes, particularly in Madras and Bombay, they [Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar] 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."
Further in their joint statement to Sir Stafford Cripps they complained, "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."
Everyone has opinion in differences. But all times the opinions are not always consistent. It gets updated with corrections. It applies to both Perunthalaivar M. C. Rajah and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. If you read them, they were updated in many things. Yes, In his earlier days, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar firmly wished for remaining within the Hindu fold. But experience had taught him to next level. That's why Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar were made common cause in Cripps Mission in 1942. As the representatives of the Scheduled Classes of India they sought an assurance from Sir Stafford Cripps that the Scheduled Classes would be included in the racial and religious minorities on March 30, 1942.
Sir Stafford Cripps noted, "After telling me about the conditions of the Depressed Classes, particularly in Madras and Bombay, they [Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar] 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."
Further in their joint statement to Sir Stafford Cripps they complained, "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."
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| Cripps Mission, M. C. Rajah, Ambedkar |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar explained the followings in April 26, 1942:
"I thought for long that we could rid the Hindu society of its evils and get the depressed classes incorporated into it on terms of equality. That motive inspired the Mahad Chaudar Tank satyagraha and the Nasik temple entry satyagraha. With that object in mind we burned the Manu smriti and performed mass thread ceremonies. Experience has taught me better. I stand today absolutely convinced that for the depressed classes there can be no equality among the Hindus because on inequality rest the foundations of Hinduism. We no longer want to be part of the Hindu society."
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 Prof. M. C. Rajah and Dr. 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..!
Reference:
* Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, writings and speeches, English Volume 17, Part-III (70) Page-236 / Tamil Volume 37, Page-297.
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Ambedkar, M. C. Rajah and Manusmriti
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