E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & TimesThen MacDonald cogently defended the Government's decision: 'Under thegovernment scheme the Depressed Classes will remain part of the Hinducommunity and will vote with the Hindu electorate on an equal footing.' That iswhat Gandhi wanted. 'But for the first twenty years, while still remaining partof the Hindu community, they will receive through a limited number of specialconstituencies, means °f safeguarding their rights and interests....'In other words, MacDonald emphasized, the untouchables Would have one votein the Hindu electorate, and many of them would have a second vote in theirspecial untouchable electorate. They will 'have two votes', he wrote. SurelyGandhi, their champion, could not object.The alternative method, 'reservation of seats', MacDonald declared, had beenrejected because, though it would reserve a number of seats for untouchablelegislators within the larger block of Hindu seats, 'in practically all cases, suchmembers would be elected by a majority consisting of higher caste Hindus'.That being the case, the Prime Minister implied they might be stooges of casteHindus: they would have to keep in the good graces of caste Hindus, and mightnot be 'in a position to speak for themselves'.So, MacDonald reasoned, 'you propose to adopt the extreme course of starvingyourself to death not in order to secure that the Depressed Classes should havejoined electorates with other Hindus, because that is already provided, nor tomaintain the unity of Hindus, which is also provided, but solely to prevent theDepressed Classes, who admittedly suffer from terrible disabilities today, frombeing able to secure a limited number of representatives of their own choosingto speak on their behalf on the legislatures...' Therefore, MacDonald could onlythink that Gandhi's proposal to fast was based on a misapprehension. TheGovernment's decision would stand.Gandhi's letter of September 9, from Yeravda Central Prison to 10 DowningStreet, was typical.Without arguing, I affirm that to me this matter is one of pure religion. Themere fact of the Depressed Classes having double votes does not protect themor Hindu society in general from being disrupted. You will please permit me towww.mkgandhi.org Page 347