E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesvoters. A number of the Hindu-Harijan seats would be earmarked in advance forHarijans. The candidates for a portion of these reserved Harijan seats would benominated in private consultations between Hindus and Harijans. But for theremainder of the reserved seats, Sapru introduced something new: primaries inwhich only Harijans would vote. In those primary elections, a panel of threeHarijan candidates would be chosen for each reserved seat. Then in the final orsecondary elections, Harijans and Hindus would vote jointly for one of thosethree Harijan candidates. The Hindus would have no choice but to vote for oneof them. That would enable the Harijans to place their bravest and bestchampions in the legislatures while retaining the system of joint electorates.Anxiously, the Hindus waited for Ambedkar's views on the scheme. He examinedit minutely. He sought the advice of friends. Hours drifted by. Finally heaccepted, but stated that would draft his own formula to incorporate his ownideas Plus the Sapru plan.Encouraged, but still not quite sure of Ambedkar, the Hindu leaders nowwondered about Gandhi; would he sanction the Sapru innovation? Sapru,Jayakar, Rajagopalachari, Devadas Birla and Prasad took the midnight train andwere in Poona the next morning. At 7 a.m. they were taken into the prisonoffice. Gandhi, already weak after less than twenty-four hours without food;came into the office with a laugh, and taking a place at the centre of the table,announced cheerfully 'I preside'.Sapru explained the plan of the primaries. Others amplified Gandhi asked somequestions. He was noncommittal. Half an hour passed. Finally Gandhi said, 'I amprepared to consider your plan favorably ... But I should like to have the wholepicture before me in writing.' In addition, he asked to see Ambedkar and Rajah.Urgent invitations were sent to Ambedkar and Rajah. A memorandum on theSapru plan was prepared. Rajah, representing Gandhi's untouchables following,accepted it. Ambedkar promised to come.A troubled night passed. In the morning of the 22 nd, Gandhi expresseddispleasure with the scheme: Why should only some candidates for the reservedHarijan seats be elected in the Harijan primaries? Why not all? Why create twowww.mkgandhi.org Page 354