When the British Prime Minister made that statement Gandhiji was in jail as a consequence of Civil Disobedience Movement. He reacted sharply.
He wrote a letter to be British Prime Minister to the effect—‘You have granted Separate Constituency status to Harijans of India. It must
be taken back or I will go on indefinite fast in protest.’
Gandhiji’s contention was that it was an conspiracy to divide and destroy Hindu society. But it didn’t look right because it were Hindus themselves who had divided their own society
in castes and sub-castes. Gandhiji said that
some seats could be allotted to Harijans from Hindu quota without their becoming a separate constituency.
The British Prime Minister justified his declaration saying that he was satisfied that the untouchables needed separate constituency status.
Gandhiji’s decision had shocked the country. After the Prime Minister’s rejection of his demand he began his indefinite fast on 20th September, 1932.
It worried the countrymen. At that juncture the country needed the services of Mahatma Gandhiji for the independence struggle. The people debated about the issue. Was British move justified?
Gandhiji’s fast worried Dr. Ambedkar as well. He was being made to look guilty of causing harm to or possible death of Gandhiji. He appealed to Congress leaders to save the life of Gandhiji. Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya organised a meeting to make efforts in that direction. Dr. Ambedkar attended the meeting and spoke, ‘Gandhiji himself was advocating reservations for Harijans then why has he gone on fast when we have got some rights from the government? By becoming separate constituency politically does not mean that we are leaving the Hindu society. Gandhiji should not come to any harm physically. But no one should expect me to surrender the human rights of the untouchables.’
Then, Congress leaders started appealing to him to save Gandhiji’s precious life. It was a kind of subtle blackmail. A pressure was being created on Dr. Ambedkar. Congress leaders kept coming to him to appeal him to accept internal reservation adjustment suggestion of Gandhiji.
Dr. Ambedkar stood his ground saying, “I can’t betray the interests of the untouchables irrespective of the Congress liking it or not.”
Dr. Ambedkar tried to plead with Gandhiji to give up his fast. But Gandhiji adamantly said, “I won’t allow you to destroy Hindu society. Ambedkar, my life is in your hands. Now it is upto you.”
Dr. Ambedkar returned utterly frustrated and angry. More leaders came to him to increase the pressure. Even Kasturba Gandhi came to him pleading for the life of Gandhiji.
The leaders were cunningly projecting Dr. Ambedkar as the culprit who was hell bent on destroying the country’s Bapu. Some goons even threatened the family members of Dr. Ambedkar with dire consequences if something happened to Gandhiji.
Tired of constant blackmail Dr. Ambedkar decided to yield when C. Rajgopalachari interceded. A pact was worked out reserving seats for untouchables within Hindu constituency.
Gandhiji broke his fast. The countrymen felt relieved. But Dr. Ambedkar didn’t like the way he was blackmailed into withdrawing his demand for ‘Separate Constituency’ inspite of it being granted.
Dr. Ambedkar considered Brahmins and capitalists two sides of the same coin. So, he decided to fight for the rights of industrial workers. He founded a political organisation called ‘Swatantra Mazdoor Dal’. This party fought elections for Bombay Provincial Assembly. It was allotted 17 seats out of 175. 15 of its candidates won establishing Dr. Ambedkar as the leader of workers as well besides being a Dalit leader. It was the year of 1937.
In the assembly a bill was introduced to substitute ‘Harijan’ word to refer to the untouchables. Dalit leader Dadaseheb Gaekwad of Nasik and Dr. Ambedkar opposed it. They said that ‘Harijan’ meant ‘God’s men’, then, were rest of the Hindus Satan’s men? But the bill was passed. No alternate suitable word came to anyone’s mind. Dr. Ambedkar felt that ‘Harijan’ word sounded phoney and euphemistic.
In Bombay factories and mills the workers were being exploited mercilessly. Under Dr. Ambedkar’s leadership the workers went on strike. The government and industrialists’ tyranny failed to break the spirit of the striking workers. The strike fructified to the credit or Dr. Ambedkar’.
Meanwhile, due to his efforts the government the lifted ban on recruitment of Mahars in the army. There were several other departments and posts which were out of the reach of untouchables on various pretexts. So much so that they were not allowed to become railway porters. Dr. Ambedkar raised his voice against this discriminatory practice.
On 27th May, 1935 Dr. Ambedkar’s wife Ramabai passed away. He was grief stricken. He had already lost his two sons and a daughter. Only one son Yashwant was surviving. Dr. Ambedkar was so distraught that he shaved off his head. He looked like a fakir. His followers started calling him Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
