E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & TimesAt 5.15 on Monday afternoon, in the presence of Tagore, Patel, Mahadev Desai,Mrs. Naidu, the negotiators and Journalists, Gandhi accepted a glass of orangejuice from Kasturbai and broke his fast. Tagore sang Bengali hymns. Many eyeswere wet.Dr. Ambedkar made an interesting speech at the Bombay conference onSunday, September 25th, which ratified the Yeravda Pact or Poona Agreement.Praising Gandhi's conciliatory attitude, Ambedkar said, 'I must confess that Iwas surprised, immensely surprised, when I met him, that there was so much incommon between him and me. In fact whenever any disputes were carried tohim—and Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru has told you that the disputes that were carriedto him were of a very crucial character—I was astounded to see that the manwho held such divergent views from mine at the Round Table Conference cameimmediately to my rescue and not to the rescue of the other side. I am verygrateful to Mahatmaji for having extricated me from what might have been avery difficult situation.'This was not only a polite tribute at a moment of relaxation after hectic days,but also a correct description of Gandhi's attitude. Gandhi did favour theHarijan position over the Hindu position. Indeed, Gandhi had gone so far in hisdesire to meet the Harijans 100 per cent of the way, that he reversed himselfon the key issue of reserved seats. 'My only regret is,' Dr. Ambedkar stated inthat same speech, "why did not Mahatmaji take this attitude at the RoundTable Conference? If he had shown the same consideration for my point of viewthen, it would not have been necessary for him to go through this ordeal.'However,' he added generously, these are things of the past. I am glad that Iam here now to support this resolution' of ratification.At the Round Table Conference in September-December 1931, Gandhi hadopposed Harijan reserved seats in the Hindu block because it divided the twocommunities. But on September 13, 1932, and again on the 19th, Gandhi hadaccepted the idea of reserved seats as an unavoidable and he hoped, passingevil. He accepted the reservation of seats as something infinitely preferable tothe segregation that would arise out of the separate electorate whichwww.mkgandhi.org Page 358