Speech delivered by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on April 25, 1948 in the 2-day (24/25 April 1948) 5th United Provinces Scheduled Castes Federation Convention at Lucknow. Over 1,00,000 people attended this convention).
Sisters and Brothers,
I firmly believe that we shall not at all benefit by merging with or joining the Congress. Day by day Congress is becoming weaker. The Congress has weakened further as the Socialists have quit the Congress. In such a situation, taking advantage of the contest/rivalry between these parties, we can capture power by co-operating with the party which will accept our terms and conditions.
Power is the master key to social progress.
It is impossible for the Backward Castes to capture power by joining the Congress. The Congress is a big institution. Our entry into the Congress will be equal to putting a drop of water into an ocean. Our progress is impossible if we join the Congress. If the Congress splits into various groups then only we can effect our advancement. The enemy’s power will only increase if we join the Congress. Today Congress’s situation is like a house on fire. We will be annihilated if we join the Congress. I won’t be surprised if in the coming two years Congress gets destroyed.
POLITICAL AWAKENING IN U.P.
The Socialists have quit the Congress. Therefore, Congress’s strength will surely reduce. In such a situation, we should form an independent organization, the third party. If the Congress or Socialists do not get a majority, they will come begging to us for our votes. At that time, we can put forth our terms and conditions for extending our support to them, and thus maintain the balance of power.
Twelve years before, I had come to Lucknow as a member of the Lothian Committee. I am very happy to see that the political awakening in the Untouchables is much more in comparison to that during that time.
I proudly mention the satyagraha done by the Untouchables in the United Provinces last year. I congratulate those who participated in this movement and suffered for the cause. If your decision to accomplish a thing is firm, then you can easily accomplish that thing by taking the necessary efforts and by surmounting all the obstacles that come in the way.
BRITISH BETRAYED DALITS
Many of my disciples are in confusion over my entry into the Congress Party. I will try to dispel the confusion present in their minds. The British did not transfer power, according to its declaration, to all the four parties – namely the Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and the Untouchables. The Viceroy had clarified in the Simla Parishad that power will not be transferred to Congress alone. The Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) had won the primary elections in 1946 and had vanquished its opposition. The SCF established its representative character by winning the primary elections in 1946. But the British did not keep its promise and decided to transfer power only to the Hindus, Mussalmans and Sikhs
That period was extremely bleak in our political struggle. Everywhere there was darkness and no ray of light. There was no hope. I had the huge responsibility of my community on my shoulders. In such a situation, I was not sure of the course of action to pursue. In such a dismal situation, I did not want to take my community astray. Therefore, I decided to wait until things get clear.
WHY | COMPROMISED WITH THE CONGRESS?
“You fought the Congress for 25 years and now in such a critical situation you have chosen the policy of remaining silent, why?”
Such questions are asked to me. I say it is not always useful to fight. Many times it is unnecessary to use the second way. The British betrayed us. There were many traitors among us. It would not have been apt to fight such a big institution. After this remains the way of compromise. Through this we have succeeded in getting many rights. It is correct that we did not get all that we wanted but still we have succeeded in getting many rights.
We have got reserved seats in the executive and assemblies. They have accepted many of our demands. Our demand for Separate Electorates was not accepted. Other minorities, too, have failed to get Separate Electorates. So there is no need to be ashamed of our demand not getting accepted. This is not the time to declare war against Congress. Through co-operation and compromise we must accomplish whatever we can.
I did not become a member of the Congress though I joined the Central Govt. I have no intention of becoming a member of the Congress. I was invited by the Congress to join the Central Govt. and I joined it without putting forward any condition.
WHY WE NEED DALIT OFFICERS
I am solid as stone and, therefore, I do not have fear of getting dissolved in water. I joined the Congress Govt. but it will have no effect on me. But your situation is different. You will get dissolved in Congress as mud dissolves in water. When it is useless or me to remain there, I will quit anytime.
The situation is such that we need our people in the administration. It is true that good laws will not sabotage our interests. But good laws can be wrongly and unjustly implemented to injure our interests. In such times if those people who have a tradition of behaving and working against the Untouchables are in authority, then that is harmful for our future.
The law does not support forced labour. But zamindars (landlords) do not obey the law. In many places the relatives of such oppressive people are in authority. These people do not take action on any application put forward by an Untouchable against these zamindars (landlords). If in such places there are Untouchable officers then they would have defended the rights of their untouchable brethren.
If I decide to join the Congress, then I will openly announce it. If it is in the interests of the Untouchables then I will urge you to do it. But till the time I do not openly ask you to join the Congress, do not join the Congress.
