ஞாயிறு, 28 ஜூலை, 2024
திங்கள், 22 ஜூலை, 2024
Thus Spoke Ambedkar : “VAIKOM STRUGGLE”
COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE !
But the most outstanding event of the year concerning the struggle of the Depressed Classes was the satyagraha or the passive resistance sponsored by Ramaswami Naicker, a non Brahmin leader, at Vaikam in the Travancore State for vindicating the rights of the Untouchables to the certain roads to which they were forbidden entry. Its moral pressure and the spirit of righteous assertion had a tremendous effect, and the orthodox Hindus, for a while, regained their civic sense and sanity, and the road was thrown open to the Untouchables.
Another incident took place at this time. It shook both sensible touchables and self-respecting Untouchables. In March 1926 an Untouchable by name Murgesan entered a Hindu temple in Madras despite the customary ban on the Untouchables. He was discovered, arrested and convicted on a charge of defiling the Hindu temple.
Ambedkar was watching these developments very carefully. He referred to the Vaikam struggle, a few months later, very touchingly in one of this editorials, on the eve of the Mahad satyagraha. These were notable events. Coming events cast their shadows before!
(The following observation of Babasaheb
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was made immediately after the verdict of the Supreme Court of India, upholding the verdict of Madras High Court that invalidated Communal G.O. for the reservation in admission in higher education and employment in public services in Madras State. At that time Babasaheb was the Union Law Minister)
On invalidation of Communal G.O.
Meanwhile, some decisions of the High Courts and an important decision of the Supreme Court raised some vital points in connection with Article 15(1) and Article 29(2). The Supreme Court invalidated the Madras State Government’s Communal Order on admission of students to colleges and services. A series of court decisions nullified the Article 19(2) and Article 18 in respect of freedom of speech and property. So the Union Government moved the Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament stating that the Bill sought no other changes, but brought out what was implicit in the Constitution and gave effect to the intentions of that charter. Ambedkar rose in an expectant House to defend the Amendment. “Then slowly and deliberately,” observed the special correspondent of The Times of India, Bombay, “but with all the weighty almost inevitable decision of the steam roller in motion, Dr.Ambedkar expanded its real purpose and meaning, and crushed much of the criticism, which when he rose to speak, seemed to have decimated Prime Minister Nehru’s original statement when he initiated the discussion.”
Turning to the Supreme Court judgment, which had invalidated the Communal Order of the Madras State Government on the ground that it involved discrimination between castes, Ambedkar remarked that “it was utterly unsatisfactory and was not in consonance with the Articles of the Constitution”. This remark created a storm in the House. When it died down, Ambedkar explained that the Supreme Court had overlooked the operative word “only” in Article 29(2) – “No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution on grounds only of religion, race and caste.” He further stated that Article 46 directed the State to protect the interests of weaker classes. If then Article 46 was to be fulfilled, he added, the Articles 16(4) and 29(2) must be amended. The Amendment to Article 19(2) involved the addition of three more heads of restrictions to the freedom of speech and expression, public order and incitement to an offence and friendly relations with foreign states. This part of the Amendment also he supported.
The result was that the motion was approved and the Bill was referred to a Select Committee. The overwhelming decision in favour of the motion was largely the result of a very eloquent and impressive speech delivered by Dr.Ambedkar. “His peroration for its incisiveness and lucidity of exposition concerning difficult and delicate constitutional and legal issues must rank as one of the most outstanding debating performances ever witnessed in this Parliament,” concluded the correspondent of The Times of India.
Periyar Speaks : FAREWELL COMRADES!
On 19th December, 1973 Periyar delivered his final speech at a venue in (Pitti) Theagaraya Nagar, Chennai, (Tamil Nadu). It can be called his Swansong — final oration on a stage – because he passed away within five days, on 24th December, 1973. This last speech of his is remembered even today as an outlet of his “last wish” and a verbal legacy for the people. The excerpts from his speech are as follows:
My dear cadres, followers, well-wishers and friends, today I decided to convey my regret that I have not succeeded in my task of uplifting you all. According to the graded inequality imposed by fanatics we are all described as the fourth caste Sudhras and fifth caste Panchamas. What we need now is sense of honour. We should no longer live in the slush of indignity. We can come to the level ground only if we climb up. We have been belittled by brahminocracy. This has to change before we move further. I am sure my dream will come true atleast after my life time.
Strength in rights:
Dear comrades, our strength lies only in our fundamental rights. Our average life span today is 52 years – not 500! Somehow I am 95 today as an exception, but an exception cannot be a rule. May be atleast ten more men may be like me around 95. What I mean to say is that we must make it fast and safeguard all our basic rights. Because of the British rule we have got a lot of comforts, new inventions and facilities. They have made our life easy to a great extent. What we need now is dignity and unfathomable knowledge to come up in life.
We should fight for our rights and resist autocrats who have been suppressing us denying our basic rights, such as education and literacy. When we started self-respect movement very few of our people were educated. Ten out of a hundred might have been literate. We made people realise their right to education. By our fights and efforts today a large number of people in our society have become literate. Only such rights can keep us strong for ever.
People’s Movement:
I believe that our Rationalist movement is a People’s movement in all respects. Nature has provided only humans with the power of reasoning. No other species on the earth has an ability to reason except us. We had to start Rationalist movement to create an awareness in people about the dire need of rationalist outlook. It has grown rapidly as a movement of the people.
The rationalists of western countries have come out with amazing inventions using their power of reasoning and scientific spirit. Scientists there have found out ways for child birth without conjugal relationship. Drugs have been invented for many diseases that were once considered incurable. We enjoy longevity today owing to their inventions. By the end of 20th century you people would find a great fall in the rate of mortality but I may not exist to witness it. I urge upon all of you to nourish rationalism and develop in society on a par with the foreigners. Emulate them and compete with them in paving the way for faster advancement in life. My purpose today is to motivate you all to achieve it.
Three per cent ‘minorities’:
A group of fanatics who are just three per cent of the population have been dominating us. Is it not a matter of shame for us all? Am I the only person ashamed of the denigration? Since 1925 I have been struggling to make you all think about this humiliation. No other political leader joined me in this fight because they are selfish people who always think about the next election – not about the next generation.
We have succeeded only partially. We could invade employment and education and reap benefits to some extent. This was possible because our revolution was always silent; never violent. There was no vendetta spree in our agitations. We assaulted none. We avoided force. Our State Government today has not even one brahmin in the ministry. Is it not a sign of our victory? We fought to eradicate blind belief and people have proved by their mandate that they are with us. It is said “well begun is half done”. We have achieved a half. We still have to go a long way. Even if I cease to exist, you should all complete the journey that I began.
Inverted commas:
In our Constitution the word “untouchability” is found within inverted commas since it is a significant problem in our society. The Constitution is in favour of abolishing “untouchability” but not in favour of eradicating religions. How can castes be abolished without abolishing religions? As long as birth based discriminations exist, caste system, religious extremism and inequality would also exist. We need your collective efforts to annihilate all these evils and establish social justice. Come forward to achieve this objective for the sake of your family; your wife and children – not merely to satisfy me or to pacify me. Think freely and decide on your own.
Pseudo philosophies:
All the outdated codes of conduct and pseudo philosophies should be thrown overboard in order to achieve true liberation. Ancient scriptures and mythologies have made our people irrational. This must change in the ‘World to Come’. You should reject everything that does not make any sense. Shed all the inhibitions and cultivate a rationalist outlook. Stay away from mind-boggling superstitions fabricated by fanatics long ago. Heaven and hell, destiny and salvation are all pseudo philosophies framed to mislead people. Stay away from all such illusions.
Social reformation is a noble task. Fight for it with an unflinching resolve and unswerving patience. Forming an egalitarian society is now your responsibility because I have lived my life and I am a little bit exhausted. You should make my dreams come true.
True contentment:
Never forget that self-respective life alone can cause a contented life. Never give up your self-respect and lead a life of servility. Honour and intellect are invaluable for each of you. Do not stoop before anyone losing your self-respect. Transformation of a regressive society needs rebels – not geniuses. Use your will power to swim against the cross-currents of life. Remember at all times that you were all born to win. Thank you comrades.
Source: ‘Viduthalai
Translated by: M.R.Manohar
On 19th December, 1973 Periyar delivered his final speech at a venue in (Pitti) Theagaraya Nagar, Chennai, (Tamil Nadu). It can be called his Swansong — final oration on a stage – because he passed away within five days, on 24th December, 1973. This last speech of his is remembered even today as an outlet of his “last wish” and a verbal legacy for the people. The excerpts from his speech are as follows:
My dear cadres, followers, well-wishers and friends, today I decided to convey my regret that I have not succeeded in my task of uplifting you all. According to the graded inequality imposed by fanatics we are all described as the fourth caste Sudhras and fifth caste Panchamas. What we need now is sense of honour. We should no longer live in the slush of indignity. We can come to the level ground only if we climb up. We have been belittled by brahminocracy. This has to change before we move further. I am sure my dream will come true atleast after my life time.
Strength in rights:
Dear comrades, our strength lies only in our fundamental rights. Our average life span today is 52 years – not 500! Somehow I am 95 today as an exception, but an exception cannot be a rule. May be atleast ten more men may be like me around 95. What I mean to say is that we must make it fast and safeguard all our basic rights. Because of the British rule we have got a lot of comforts, new inventions and facilities. They have made our life easy to a great extent. What we need now is dignity and unfathomable knowledge to come up in life.
We should fight for our rights and resist autocrats who have been suppressing us denying our basic rights, such as education and literacy. When we started self-respect movement very few of our people were educated. Ten out of a hundred might have been literate. We made people realise their right to education. By our fights and efforts today a large number of people in our society have become literate. Only such rights can keep us strong for ever.
People’s Movement:
I believe that our Rationalist movement is a People’s movement in all respects. Nature has provided only humans with the power of reasoning. No other species on the earth has an ability to reason except us. We had to start Rationalist movement to create an awareness in people about the dire need of rationalist outlook. It has grown rapidly as a movement of the people.
The rationalists of western countries have come out with amazing inventions using their power of reasoning and scientific spirit. Scientists there have found out ways for child birth without conjugal relationship. Drugs have been invented for many diseases that were once considered incurable. We enjoy longevity today owing to their inventions. By the end of 20th century you people would find a great fall in the rate of mortality but I may not exist to witness it. I urge upon all of you to nourish rationalism and develop in society on a par with the foreigners. Emulate them and compete with them in paving the way for faster advancement in life. My purpose today is to motivate you all to achieve it.
Three per cent ‘minorities’:
A group of fanatics who are just three per cent of the population have been dominating us. Is it not a matter of shame for us all? Am I the only person ashamed of the denigration? Since 1925 I have been struggling to make you all think about this humiliation. No other political leader joined me in this fight because they are selfish people who always think about the next election – not about the next generation.
We have succeeded only partially. We could invade employment and education and reap benefits to some extent. This was possible because our revolution was always silent; never violent. There was no vendetta spree in our agitations. We assaulted none. We avoided force. Our State Government today has not even one brahmin in the ministry. Is it not a sign of our victory? We fought to eradicate blind belief and people have proved by their mandate that they are with us. It is said “well begun is half done”. We have achieved a half. We still have to go a long way. Even if I cease to exist, you should all complete the journey that I began.
Inverted commas:
In our Constitution the word “untouchability” is found within inverted commas since it is a significant problem in our society. The Constitution is in favour of abolishing “untouchability” but not in favour of eradicating religions. How can castes be abolished without abolishing religions? As long as birth based discriminations exist, caste system, religious extremism and inequality would also exist. We need your collective efforts to annihilate all these evils and establish social justice. Come forward to achieve this objective for the sake of your family; your wife and children – not merely to satisfy me or to pacify me. Think freely and decide on your own.
Pseudo philosophies:
All the outdated codes of conduct and pseudo philosophies should be thrown overboard in order to achieve true liberation. Ancient scriptures and mythologies have made our people irrational. This must change in the ‘World to Come’. You should reject everything that does not make any sense. Shed all the inhibitions and cultivate a rationalist outlook. Stay away from mind-boggling superstitions fabricated by fanatics long ago. Heaven and hell, destiny and salvation are all pseudo philosophies framed to mislead people. Stay away from all such illusions.
Social reformation is a noble task. Fight for it with an unflinching resolve and unswerving patience. Forming an egalitarian society is now your responsibility because I have lived my life and I am a little bit exhausted. You should make my dreams come true.
True contentment:
Never forget that self-respective life alone can cause a contented life. Never give up your self-respect and lead a life of servility. Honour and intellect are invaluable for each of you. Do not stoop before anyone losing your self-respect. Transformation of a regressive society needs rebels – not geniuses. Use your will power to swim against the cross-currents of life. Remember at all times that you were all born to win. Thank you comrades.
Source: ‘Viduthalai
Translated by: M.R.Manohar