E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesphysicians diagnosed the Prisoner's condition as dangerous. Blood pressure wasalarmingly high. Death was possible at any moment.The same day, Ambedkar conferred at length with the Hindu leaders andpresented his new demands for compensation: MacDonald's award had given theDepressed Classes 71 seats in the provincial legislatures. Ambedkar asked for197. Sapru had suggested a panel of three Harijan candidates. Gandhisuggested five; Ambedkar suggested two. There was also the question of areferendum of Harijan voters to decide when the reserved seats should beabolished and the political distinction thus wiped out between Hindus andHarijans; that would be a step towards the merger of the two communities inlife. Gandhi wanted the primaries abolished after five years. Ambedkar heldout for fifteen. Ambedkar did not believe that untouchability would bedestroyed in five years.Later in the day, Ambedkar came to Gandhi. It was a hot sultry day and not amango leaf stirred in the prison yard. Gandhi's blood pressure was rising. Hecould hardly speak above a whisper. Ambedkar bargained hard. The outcomewas indecisive.Saturday, September 24, the fifth day, Ambedkar renewed his talks with theHindu leaders. After a morning's wrangling, he visited Gandhi at noon. It hadbeen agreed between Ambedkar and the Hindus that the Depressed Classeswould have 147 reserved seats instead of the 197 Ambedkar had demanded andthe 71 MacDonald ordered. Gandhi accepted the compromise. Ambedkar wasnow ready to abolish the separate primaries after ten years. Gandhi insisted onfive. 'Five years or my life,' Gandhi said. Ambedkar refused.Ambedkar returned to his Harijan colleagues. Later, he informed the Hinduleaders that he would not accept the abolition of primaries in five years;nothing less than ten.Rajagopalachari now did something which probably saved Gandhi's life. Withoutconsulting Gandhi, he and Ambedkar agreed that the time of the abolition ofthe primaries would be determined in further discussion. This might make areferendum superfluous.www.mkgandhi.org Page 356