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Editor-in-Chief: Prem Kumar Chumber Contact: 001-916-947-8920 Fax: 916-238-1393 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] VOL- 12 ISSUE- 42 December 30, 2020 California (USA) www.ambedkartimes.com www.deshdoaba.com Ideal of Equality VS Agriculture, State and Market: Scramble for Power Understanding Current Farmers Protest Prem K. Chumber Farmers’ protests, especially those of Punjab, have (1921-25), Guru ka Bagh Editor-In-Chief: www.ambedkartimes.com a distinct historical context. It is also embedded in morcha (1922), and Jaito The most common dilemma we human beings face is to what Malcolm Lyall Darling, reputed British Admin - da morcha (1924-25) add istrator and agricultural expert on Punjab, called further lustre to a heritage bring equality in our society while at the same time ‘The Punjab Peasant in Prosperity and Debt’ (the of relentless struggle struggling to acquire more and more power. Search for title of one of his seminal writings on Punjab agri - against injustice and the equality and efforts to gain, enhance and maintain power culture). The assiduous farmers of Punjab are often restoration of civil and re - clash with each other. Another equally common dilemma remembered only for their Green Revolution contri - ligious rights. The genesis is about the incompatibility between the goals nations butions. However, preceding their salutary contri - of the current agitation, butions during the massive British Canal project which has galvanised Prof (Dr.) Ronki Ram pursue within their domestic sphere and their foreign Dean (Faculty of Arts), and its accompanying process of land cultivation peasants across India, can Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair Professor, policies. It is known to all of us that those nations which by establishing canal colonies which now fall in be traced to thesepre-in - Panjab University, Chandigarh (India) boast of the inherent culture of their respective West Punjab, were much earlier shining episodes dependence agrarian agi - E-mail: Mob: +91-9878682160 democratic societies could be seen acting dictatorially such as that which arose with the entry of the Per - tations in Punjab. when they bring some other nation(s) under their control sian wheel in this region in the 16th century, as History seems to repeat itself as the farm - be it in a colonial or neo-colonial set-up. British rule in well as a turbulent history underscored by repeated ersfrom the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar India is a case in point. This dilemma of democracy at home vs dictatorship abroad has its roots in what called phenomenon of ‘nationalism’. Since the treaty of West - phalia (1648), the idea of the sovereignty of the territo - rially demarcated state boundaries divided the humanity into ‘we’ and ‘others’. ‘My nation’ as distinguished from ‘other nations’. The others were reduced almost into aliens/enemy especially in military terminology. The sharp division between the internal (domes - tic) and the external (international) often goads nations to seek equality within their sovereign territorial jurisdic - tion and pursue their power related goals in the anarchic domain of the globally contested political sphere. This di - vision between internal and external political realms has its own peculiar logic to function which is linked with the all-pervasive dilemma of ideal of quality vs scramble for power. The desire to bring equality within leads to hunt for resources and markets abroad. When this practice be - invasions through the Khyber Pass until the estab - Pradesh and Rajasthan contend with the travails of comes infectious among the powerful states it leads to lishment of the Sikh Kingdom by Maharaja Ranjit winter on the periphery of Delhi for the fear of the serious confrontation between them. The last century’s Singh in 1799.Peasants fought for their freedom loss of their hard-earned ownership of land - as is two world wars occurred within its first half were the out - and their land, first under the command of Five loudly made clear during the peaceful ongoing come of the imperialistic scramble for more and Pyare and twenty-five Singhs sent by Guru Gobind protests. It is being interpreted by some as a con - Singh along with Baba Banda Bahadur, and later tinuation of the proud tradition of peasant revolt, more power. guerrilla warfare through various Sikh Misls. During as mentioned above, bearing aloft the banner of Yet another less articulated but equally impor - this long and chequered history, the hardy peasants justice and opposition to dictatorialness of any tant factor related with the blind rush for power is the of Punjab were engaged primarily in either valor - hue.What made the farmers gather and camp at the phenomenon ofover-exploitation of the natural resources. ously fighting for the restoration and protection of borders around Delhi has been interpreted differ - It leads not only to the fast depletion of our natural re - their freedoms, or tilling their land. It was also they ently in different quarters. Contesting interpreta - sources but made their consumption poisonous too. Co - who faced brutal persecution at the hands of the tions based on politicsare being played,directly or alien forces but were never subjugated or demor - indirectly, on the implications of the three contro - rona-19 is the latest outcome of our suchuncaring and alised either under the Mogul rulers before the es - versial farming laws. While the government stead - often over-exploitative approach towards Mother Nature! tablishment of the Sikh Kingdom, nor the late fastly continues to claim that these laws are for the Power creates lust for more and more profit. Whereas, partition of the vast province of Punjab when they benefits of the farmers and the same has been re - equality asks for restraint. It demands for sharing of what left behind their rich agricultural fields through iterated during all the meetings convened by it with we have and a collective living. Power is individualistic. force of circumstances - fields which that they had various agitating farmer organisations as well as at developed with their sweat and blood from the different public forums across the country, the Equality is collaborative. Power pushes for war.Equality then barren land.The Pagri Sambal Jatta movement farmers, agricultural labourers, and people from var - leads us to peace. But for the peace to prevail we need of 1907, Neeli Bar da Morcha of 1938 (Ban - ious other directly or indirectly affected occupa - to decouple our ideal of equality from the scramble for neyUtteyAdho-addh) in West Punjab, Anti Ban - tions, continue to view them with hostility and power. Let us pray together that in the New Year 2021 dobast (land Settlement) agitation of Amritsar of almost unanimously want a complete rollback of ahead equality triumphs over power. 1938, Harsha ChhinaMoghamorchas of 1938, these impugned farming laws. “Ambedkar Times” and “Desh Doaba” forum Charik morcha of 1938, the Muzara movement The arguments given by the central govern - (PEPSU) of 1948-51, and the Khush-hasiyati Tax ment have received support in the writings of some deeply appreciate the support it received from its spon - morcha (anti betterment levy agitation) of 1959 are well-known agro-economists as well as public sors, contributors, readers and well-wishers. A Big Thank well-known Punjab peasants' agitations, and they scholars like Ashok Gulati, Gurcharan Das, Swami - You to all of you! With your support continuing and your speak volumes of their struggles for self-respect, nathan S Anklesaria Aiyar and Arvind Panagariya kind encouragement, we promise you to serve you unin - protection of land rights, and above all, their liveli - among others. However, anti-laws arguments are terruptedly with our utmost capacity in near future too. hoods. Further, the sterling contributions of peas - also -- and rather more boisterous -- being sup - ants of Punjab in the organisation and conduct of ported by a larger number of economists and pub - WISHING YOU ALL VERY HAPPY, Ghadar movement (1913-1948), Gurdwara Reform lic scholars-- Sardara Singh Johl, Arun Kumar, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS 2021 movement (1920-25), Babbar Akali movement (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 2 Issue-42 www.deshdoaba.com December 30, 2020 Agriculture, State and Market: Understanding Current Farmers Protest (Continue from page 1) tion System will also cease to exist. nelised towards the production of cision taken by the central govern - Sucha Singh Gill, RS Ghuman,Pramod This is what liberal market logic pulses and other crops as per the ment in enacting the three laws: Key Kumar, Surinder Jodhka, Gian Singh, states. In short, the three recently en - food requirements of the country. But stakeholders were not taken into con - D. Narasimha Reddy, Kamal Narayan acted laws are strongly suspected to that was not done for reasons best fidence.This gross neglect is not Kabra, R. Ramakumar,Vikas Rawal, be more in response to the above- known to the agriculture policymak - without precedent insofar as farmers Devinder Sharma and P Sainath mentioned three factors: Water deple - ers in our country. are concerned - neither were they among others -- who question the tion, lack of storage facilities, and the In the light of the above dis - taken into confidence during the very paradigm within which these pressure of liberal market forces. cussion, it will be both an injustice launch of the green revolution project laws are framed and finally enacted. Thus the farmers and their interests and sheer opportunism to force farm - in the late 1960s. The central government, as is gener - seem of no consideration at all in ers to abandon the wheat rice rota - Had the framers aware of the ally argued, insists that given the their enactment. tion crop system in the guise of depletion of groundwater and the plethora of production of wheat and Now the question arises as to freedom to sell their produce any - mindless use of pesticides and insec - rice, the APMCs and MSP-based sys - who first asked the farmers to grow where in the country wherever they ticides on the health of the soil, live - tem of sale and purchage has become wheat and rice in rotation at the cost deem fit. What must not forgotten is stock, and humans, they would have unviable for these two main MSP of a large variety of other crops being that the liberal market logic is based certainly sought a more viable alter - based crops in Punjab and Haryana. grown on the fertile land of the pre- on profit and only profit. And the native for overcoming the challenge It is further argued that the central green revolution phase in Punjab? profit follows the logic of accumula - of the national scarcity of food. Now, government finds it difficult to create Punjab farmers were lured under var - tion of wealth at one end and prolif - and especially when farmers are more storage facilities for the ious schemes of mechanised agricul - eration of poverty at large in the keenly aware about the likely negative wheat/rice rotation crop yields of ture processes to enhance wheat and society. It does not care about any fallouts of the current legislation and north-western India, and neither does rice yields to extricate the nation from other value whatsoever. And since are correspondingly thoroughly op - it believe that the country needs any the ‘ship to mouth’ existence of the farmers did not chose the rotation posed to their implementation in more wheat and rice. It has asked those times. However, with the pas - crop system on their own, they whatever form, it would be in the farmers to shift to pulses and the cul - sage of time, the rotation crop system should not be so crassly abandoned larger interest of the country to with - tivation of seeds for edible oils. of wheat and rice became their main - now to fend for themselves at this draw this legislation first and then to Yet another argument raised stay. Until the threat of food scarcity crucial moment when they and their sit with all the stakeholders together in the support of the new agriculture was over, no one bothered about the land are enmeshed in the duality of to craft a comprehensive viable solu - laws, is the depletion of groundwater lowering level of groundwater in Pun - both a negative economic spiral, as tion to the immediate issues of the since rice is a water-guzzling crop. It jab and Haryana, or the disastrous im - well as an ecological one, from the overproduction of wheat and rice, means that the laws were enacted pact of pesticides and insecticides on cultivation of these two cash crops. storage crisis, depletion of groundwa - not keeping in views, as claimed, the the health of the soil and its crop An crucial aspect, to which no provi - ter, and deteriorating health of the benefit of the farmers but as a coun - products. Moreover, the overproduc - sion whatsoever has been extended soil, as well as mapping out workable termeasure to the lack of storage ca - tion of wheat and rice did not occur so far, is that during the transitional mechanisms for viable agricultural pacity by the government as well as overnight. Efforts could have been period the farmers’ current minimum markets for desired future produce, all to preclude the ongoing water deple - made long before in commensuration living standard needs to be vouch - in alignment with the long-term eco - tion process in states of Punjab and with the required average national an - safed for in the foreseeable event of logical sustainability of such Haryana. In other words, the abolition nual requirement of food grains and their shift to new crops and crop pat - trajectories. or the weakening of APMC and MSP the total area to be brought under terns. Such an ambitious scheme The legitimate centrality of in the long run will end the system of wheat rice cultivation. There should should, among other things like train - the paramount importance of the heit assured fixed prices of wheat and rice have been better planned regulatory ing and other contact (interest) of the kisans and their as - crops, and thus eventually force the mechanisms for the diversification programmes,provide adequate assur - sociated landless agricultural labour - farmers to stop the sole rotational and the optimal use of areas under ance for sufficient financial help to ersmust not be viewed onerous, but cultivation of them. There also lies cultivation, for instance for crops like compensate for the anticipated be both recognised and upheld in this another fear -- namely that since the pulses and seeds for edible oils. Farm - losses incurred by farmers due to the entire process - something which has central government is washing its ers in Punjab and Haryana have in the abandonment of wheat/rice crop been conspicuously absent in the hands off of the wheat and rice pro - past proven to be very forthcoming in cycle following the possible alternate government's current approach curement process, then concomi - adaptation to new agriculture skills. If enactment and implementation of which is widely seen to be both cor - tantly, the current supply of wheat they could convert their farms into suitable agriculture related laws. porate-friendly and Pilate-like during and rice to the poorest sections of the 'national food bowl', then the Moreover, the current crisis the ongoing farmers’ protests. the nation under the Public Distribu - same energies could have been chan - was the outcome of a one-sided de - **** Name Changed I, Virender Singh Dhillon I, Gurpreet Singh Ghotra s/o Jamer Singh I, Ranjeet Singh s/o Gurdev Singh I, Dilawar Singh Rai s/o Gian Singh s/o Parmjeet Singh Resident of: 1176 Bacchus Dr. Resident of: 234 Maypole Rd. Resident of: 3765 W Mckinley Ave. Resident of: 3469 W. Benjamin Holt Dr., Apt 498 San Jose, CA-95122 Upper Darby, PA 19082 Fresno, CA-93722 Stockton, CA-95219, USA Now I have changed my name Now I have changed my name Now I have changed my name Now I have changed my name From: Gurpreet Singh From: Ranjit Singh From: Dilawar Rai From: Virender Singh Dhillon To: Ranjeet Singh To: Dilawar Singh Rai To: Virender Singh To: Gurpreet Singh Ghotra All concerned kindly note it. All concerned kindly note it. All concerned kindly note it. All concerned kindly note it. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 3 Issue-42 www.deshdoaba.com December 30, 2020

By AchaFrya SUri J.B.N KripalDani AdomMs of theE peopNle. WhTen inA the thLir - RIIn tGhe lighHt of tThe PrS eamble country. [Select paragraphs from the ties, it was not possible to start a civil are formulated the Fundamental India is Thirteenth Rajaji Birthday Lecture resistance movement, Jawaharlal ini - Rights of our people. In India, there also a delivered on 7th January, 1978 tiated the formation of the Civil Lib - are additional and special circum - land of at the GIPA, Bangalore] stances for guar - many reli - History in India anteeing gions. Un - It must be remembered that fundamental less the the idea of Fundamental Rights of the rights. Ours is a right to citizen was nothing new in India. It big country, di - freely pro - had a long history. The All Parties vided into several fess, NEERAJ PAUL Conference under the Chairmanship States. It has a practise +91-99683-69972 of Motilal Nehru opined that: "It is ob - Federal Constitu - and prop - Email: [email protected] vious that our first law should be to tion. The old terri - agate have our fundamental rights guaran - torial divisions one's religion is guaranteed in the teed in a manner which will not per - had generated Constitution, the fanatical religious mit their withdrawal under any local loyalties to zeal of the majority may make short circumstances." (Italics mine). regional lan - of the liberty of conscience, belief, In 1945, a non-party Commit - guages and tradi - faith and religion of the minorities. tee under Sapru explained the need tions, customs This fact was realised only when the for fundamental rights. It said: "In the and conventions. 24th Amendment to our Constitution peculiar circumstances in India, fun - These had to be was discussed in Parliament in the damental rights are necessary, not reconciled with year 1972. At first, the Muslim mem - only as assurances and guarantees to the larger loyalty bers were in favour of supporting the the minorities but also for prescribing to the whole of amendment but, when they realised a standard of conduct for the legisla - India. It was, the full implication of the amend - ture , the Government and the judici - therefore, neces - ment, the Muslim and the Christian ary". (Italics mine) sary that such members of Parliament either re - In 1945, at Simla, when the provisions should mained neutral or voted against it. leaders of the Congress and the Mus - be made in the The danger to the minorities lim League met the Cabinet Mission, Constitution that is real and not imaginary. Even today, Jawaharlal insisted that, to the three an Indian citizen the overwhelming majority of mem - subjects, Defence, Foreign Affairs and should be able to bers in our Parliament are Hindus. If a Communications, which the Centre live in any part of wave of fanatical Hinduism sweeps would deal with, must be added the the country and over the country and Hindu members subject of the fundamental rights of be free to seek come under its influence, they can the citizen. This suggestion of his employment and declare India as a Hindu State, like was accepted. Even the Muslim carry on any trade Pakistan, which is a Muslim State. League did not object to it. and engage in any There, even the members of a Muslim The Working Committee of erties Union. profession without let or hindrance, in sect, the Ahmediyas, have become the Congress, too, emphasised the Gandhiji, when he did not any part of the motherland. Such and second-class citizens. need for the "guarantee of fundamen - want to hamper the war effort of the other like rights, if they were declared Therefore, for safeguarding tal rights of each individual, so that Allies in India, decided to start the in - as inviolable, would work for the over - the religious rights of the minorities he may have full and equal opportu - dividual civil resistance movement on all unity of India. It is a fact that some and for the smooth working of our nities of growth and further, that the issue of freedom of speech in State Governments have put various democracy, it was necessary that each community should have oppor - connection with the war. By its his - restrictions in some such matters certain natural and basic rights of the tunity to live the life of its choice tory and tradition, the Congress al - even today. Fundamental Rights individual be declared as inviolable, within the larger framework". ways stood for the safeguarding of which could be enforced in law beyond the power of interference by Congress was always anxious the citizens' Fundamental Rights. courts would put a stop to the fissi - the governments and the legislatures. to safeguard the fundamental free - Conditions in India parous tendencies present in the ---- DECLARATION OF RIGHTS All Parties Conference Delhi, 1928 The Committee recommend that the hereby guaranteed for purposes not involving torture of any kind shall be Srinivasa Iyengar was of opin - following articles be incorporated in opposed to public order or morality, lawful. ion that the following articles should the Constitution of the Common - or the law relating to defamation for 11. There shall be no state religion for be added and if necessary the Hindu wealth as the fundamental rights of the time being. the Commonwealth of India or for any Law be modified to that extent. the people:- 5. All citizens in the Commonwealth province in the Commonwealth, nor "All castes are hereby de - 1. All powers of Government and all of India have the right to free elemen - shall the State either directly or indi - clared and guaranteed to be on a authority, legislative, executive and ju - tary education, and such right shall rectly endow any religion or give any footing of perfect equality, no superi - dicial, are derived from the people be enforceable as soon as due preference or impose any disability on ority or inferiority of any caste and no and the same shall be exercised in the arrangements shall have been made account of religious belief or religious hierarchy of castes shall be recog - Commonwealth of India through the by competent authority. status. nised or given effect to by the State organisations established by or under, 6. All citizens are equal before the 12. No person attending any school, for any purpose." and in accord with, this Constitution. law and possess equal civic rights. receiving State aid or other public "The State shall not treat or 2. No person shall be deprived of his 7. There shall be no penal law money shall be compelled to attend allow to be treated any community in liberty nor shall his dwelling or prop - whether substantive or procedural of the religious instruction that may be India as an untouchable community erty be entered, sequestered or con - a discriminative nature. given in the school. but shall recognise it as having the fiscated, save in accordance with law. 8. Every citizen shall have the right to 13. No citizen shall by reason of his same status as other communities." 3. Freedom of conscience and the a writ of habeas corpus. Such rights religion, caste or creed be prejudiced J. Nehru agreed with this proposal. free profession and practice of reli - shall not be suspended except by an in any way in regard to public employ - gion are, subject to public order or Act of the Central Legislature in case ment, office of power or honour and Source Courtesy: Resolutions of morality, hereby guaranteed to every of war or rebellion. the exercise of any trade or calling. the Conference and Report of person. 9. No person shall be punished for 14. Every citizen shall have the right the Committee of the Conference 4. The right of free expression of any act which was not punishable to keep and bear arms in accordance regarding a Swaraj opinion, as well as the right to assem - under the law at the time it was com - with regulations made in that behalf. Constitution for India ble peaceably and without arms, and mitted. 15. Men and women shall have equal to form associations or unions, is 10. No corporal or other punishment rights and citizens. February-March 1928 www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 4 Issue-42 www.deshdoaba.com December 30, 2020 LIST OF PERSONS WHO SERVED AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY Committee on the Dip Narayan Sinha Frank Anthony Hifzur Rahman* P. Govinda Menon Rules of Procedure Nandkishore Das M.V.H. Collins* Ali Zaheer* M.A. Srinivasan Rajendra Prasad (Chairman) Mohan Lal Saksena Homi Mody* Abdul Qayum Ansari* B.H. Zaidi Jagjivan Ram R.R. Diwakar M.R. Masani Khaliquzzaman Sarat Chandra Bose Muhammad Hassan R.K. Sidhva Ismail Chundrigar Ad hoc Committee on Frank Anthony Upendra Nath Barman Rup Nath Brahma* Muhammad Saadulla the Supreme Court Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar Jainarayan Vyas Abdul Ghaffar Khan Kameshwara Singh of Darb - S. Varadachari* (Chairman) Bakshi Tek Chand B. Shiva Rao Abdul Samad Khan hanga Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar Rafi Ahmad Kidwai H.V. Kamath J.J.M. Nichols-Roy Govind Das B.L. Mitter Joseph Alban D'Souza Mrs. Ammu Swaminathan Mayangmokcha* Kasturbhai Lalbhai* Bakshi Tek Chand N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Deshbandhu Gupta Phool Bhan Shaha* Lakshmi Kanta Maitra K.N. Katju Purushottamdas Tandon Devendra Nath Samanta Thakurdas Bhargava B.R. Ambedkar Gopinath Bardoloi Order of Business Jaipal Singh K.M. Munshi B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Committee J.B. Kripalani Fundamental Rights Mehr Chand Khanna K.M. Munshi (Chairman) Abul Kalam Azad Sub-Committee Provincial Constitution K.M. Munshi N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar C. Rajagopalachari J.B. Kripalani (Chairman) Committee Harnam Singh Biswanath Das Rajkumari Amrit Kaur M.R. Masani Vallabhbhai Patel (Chairman) Mrs. G. Durgabai Mrs. Hansa Mehta Rajkumari Amrit Kaur P. Subbarayan Ad hoc Committee Govind Ballabh Pant Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Steering Committee on the National Flag Gopinath Bardoloi K.T. Shah B.G. Kher Rajendra Prasad (Chairman) Rajendra Prasad (Chairman) Purushottamdas Tandon K.M. Munshi Brijlal Biyani Abul Kalam Azad Abul Kalam Azad Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar Harnam Singh K.N. Katju Vallabhbhai Patel C. Rajagopalachari K.T. Shah Abul Kalam Azad Phulan Prasad Verma Ujjal Singh Mrs. Sarojini Naidu K.M. Munshi B.R. Ambedkar Harekrushna Mahatab Mrs. G. Durgabai K.M. Panikkar Amritlal V. Thakkar Jairamdas Daulatram Kiran Shankar Roy S.H. Prater K.M. Munshi M. Ruthnaswamy* Mrs. Hansa Mehta Jairamdas Daulatram Kiran Shankar Roy B.R. Ambedkar Rajkrishna Bose K.M. Panikkar Ujjal Singh Satyanarayan Sinha Frank Anthony K.M. Panikkar Rohini Kumar Choudhury M. Ananthasayanam B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Aliba Imti* North-East Frontier Tribal Chaman Lal Ayyangar Hiralal Shastri Hifzur Rahman* Areas and Assam Excluded P.K. Sen Chaman Lal Satyanarayan Sinha Ali Zaheer* and Partially Excluded Areas C.M. Poonacha K. M. Munshi Baldev Singh* Abdul Qayum Ansari* Sub-Committee Radhanath Das S.N. Mane S.N. Gupta* Khaliquzzaman Gopinath Bardoloi (Chairman) Satyanarayan Sinha P. Govinda Menon Muhammad Saadulla J.J.M. Nichols-Roy Rafi Ahmad Kidwai C.S. Venkatachar Committee on the Functions Ismail Chundrigar Rup Nath Brahma* Mrs. Hansa Mehta Muhammad Saadulla of the Constituent Assembly Jafar Imam* Aliba-Imti* H.C. Mookherjee Abdul Kadar Mohammad G.V. Mavalankar (Chairman) Abdul Sathar Haji Ishaq Sait A.V. Thakkar Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Shaikh Hussain Imam Kasturbhai Lalbhai J.B. Kripalani Surendra Mohan Ghose Purushottamdas Tandon Kameshwara Singh of Excluded and Partially Shankarrao Deo Balwant Rai Mehta B.R. Ambedkar Darbhanga Excluded Areas (other than R.R. Diwakar R.M. Nalavade Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar N. Madhava Rau those in Assam) S. Nagappa Suresh Chandra Mazumdar N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Mohan Sinha Mehta Sub- Committee Jagat Narain Lal B.L. Mitter M.S. Aney A.V. Thakkar (Chairman) Committee on Chief J.B. Kripalani Gopaldas Desai Jaipal Singh Commissioners Provinces Gurmukh Singh Musafir States Committee Gokulbhai Bhatt Devendra Nath Samanta B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya K. Chengalvaraya Reddy Jawaharlal Nehru (Chairman) K. Chengalvaraya Reddy Phool Bhan Shaha* (Chairman) Abul Kalam Azad Govind Das Jagjivan Ram N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Finance and Staff Vallabhbhai Patel Lakshmi Kanta Maitra Rajkrishna Bose K. Santhanam Committee B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Thakurdas Bhargava Profulla Chandra Ghosh Deshbandhu Gupta Rajendra Prasad (Chairman) Shankarrao Deo Gurmukh Singh Musafir Mukut Bihari Lal Bhargava Satyanarayan Sinha N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Begum Aizaz Rasul Union Powers Committee C.M. Poonacha Jaipal Singh Hussainbhoy A. Lalljee* Jawaharlal Nehru (Chairman) Hussain Imam V.I. Muniswami Pillai Advisory Committee on Tajamul Husain Sarat Chandra Bose C.E. Gibbon Fundamental Rights, Sarangdhar Das B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Drafting Committee N.V. Gadgil Minorities and Tribal and Govind Ballabh Pant B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman) Sri Prakasa Excluded Areas Sub-Committees of the Jairamdas Daulatram Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar Govind Das Vallabhbhai Patel (Chairman) Advisory Committee Biswanath Das N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Jairamdas Daulatram Minorities Sub-Committee N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar K.M. Munshi Harnam Singh Mehr Chand Khanna H.C. Mookherjee (Chairman) Bakshi Tek Chand Muhammad Saadulla H. C. Mookherjee Gopi Chand Bhargava Jagjivan Ram Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar B.L. Mitter V.T. Krishnamachari Bakshi Tek Chand Abul Kalam Azad D.P. Khaitan D.P. Khaitan** Bhawanji A. Khimji Profulla Chandra Ghosh B.R. Ambedkar M.R. Masani N. Madhava Rau K. Santhanam Surendra Mohan Ghose Jogendra Singh B.L. Mitter T.T. Krishnamachari Syama Prasad Mookerjee Syama Prasad Mookerjee K.M. Munshi Credentials Committee Prithvi Singh Azad Ujjal Singh V.T. Krishnamachari Expert Committee on Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar Dharam Prakash Harnam Singh Maharaj Himmat Singhji the Financial Provisions of (Chairman) H.J. Khandekar H.J. Khandekar A. Ramaswami Mudaliar the Union Constitution P.K. Sen Jagjivan Ram P.R. Thakur Nalini Ranjan Sarkar* Bakshi Tek Chand P.R. Thakur Homi Mody* Union Constitution (Chairman) Sarat Chandra Bose B.R. Ambedkar P.K. Salve* Committee V.S. Sundaram* Frank Anthony V.I. Muniswami Pillai S.H. Prater Jawaharlal Nehru (Chairman) M.V. Rangachari B. Pocker Jogendra Singh Frank Anthony Abul Kalam Azad Ram Sahai Baldev Singh* C. Rajagopalachari Syama Prasad Mookerjee Linguistic Provinces Pratap Singh Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Govind Ballabh Pant Commission House Committee Harnam Singh Jairamdas Daulatram Jagjivan Ram S.K. Dar* (Chairman) B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya Ujjal Singh R.K. Sidhva B.R. Ambedkar Panna Lall* (Chairman) Kartar Singh Rup Nath Brahma* Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar Jagat Narain Lal Radhanath das H.C. Mookherjee M. Ruthnaswamy* K.M. Munshi Abdul Ghaffar Khan Joseph Alban D'Souza M.V.H. Collins* K.T. Shah * Not an Assembly Member Akshay Kumar Das P.K. Salve* Joseph Alban D'Souza V.T. Krishnamachari ** Died in 1948 Jairamdas Daulatram J.L.P. Roche-Victoria* K.M. Munshi K.M. Panikkar Shri Ram Sharma S.H. Prater Govind Ballabh Pant N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 5 www.deshdoaba.com Issue-42 December 30, 2020 PATEL'S SPEECH (At the first meeting of the Advisory Committee, February 27, 1947) Gentlemen, I thank you most sin - our business stituent Assem - have seen the recent pronounce - cerely for the honour - the great hon - and we know bly has laid ments of the British Government. our - that you have conferred upon how to rule bet - down certain They have fixed a date within which me by reposing your confidence in ter than those directions and complete transfer of power is to take electing me as chairman of a commit - who claim that these commit - place and therefore it is our duty to tee which is composed of various in - they can rule tees have also act as expeditiously as possible and terests. This committee forms one of others. At least been asked to finish our task to help the main Con - the most vital parts of the Con - let us prove we finish their task stituent Assembly to have our report stituent Assembly and one of the can rule our - within a certain before it and our report may be such most difficult tasks that has to be selves and we period or to re - as would give them least possible done by us is the work of this com - have no ambi - port to the Con - trouble. mittee. Often you must have heard in tion to rule oth - stituent For the present, the President various debates in British Parliament ers. In this Assembly has been good enough to nominate that have been held on this question committee, within that pe - three members to the committee. The recently and before when it has been therefore, we riod. Our com - rest of the places have been kept va - claimed on behalf of the British Gov - begin our work mittee as a cant for a purpose which you all ernment that they have a special re - today with a de - whole has also know. We have a certain number of sponsibility - a special obligation - for termination and been asked to seats reserved for the Muslim minor - the protection of the interests of the a desire to report within ity provinces. Those seats - I think minorities. They claim to have more come to deci - three months. It seven - have to be filled in by the special interest than we have. It is for sions not by is quite possible Muslim League and it is better that us to prove that it is a bogus claim, a majority but by that we may we should give them more time to false claim, and that nobody can be uniformity. Let not be able, or take their position and then if they more interested than us in India in the us sink all our SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL the committees come in their names will be put up protection of our minorities. Our mis - differences and CHAIRMAN may not be and the President will be good sion is to satisfy every one of them look to one and able, to finish enough to nominate them. The three and we hope we shall be able to sat - one interest Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, their work names who have been nominated for isfy every interest and safeguard the only, which is Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas within that pe - the present are: Mr. A.V. Thakkar, Mr. interests of all the minorities to their the interest of riod because M. Ruthnaswamy, Mr. Raj Krushna satisfaction. Let us hope that our de - all of us - the interest of India as a the committees have to wait for their Bose. The rest will be nominated liberations will be so conducted that whole. full formation because the represen - later. So we now have 53. we can disillusion those who are Today's work is the work of tation is not full and therefore it is Source Courtesy: The Framing of looking with a critical eye from out - election to certain sub-comittees for possible that we may have to ask for India’s Constitution side that we know how to conduct which the Resolution of the Con - more time. But at the same time, you Select Documents, Vol.2 Right to Equality and Rights to Freedom Munshi's Note and Draft Articles on Fundamental Rights, March 17, 1947 SUB-COMMITTEE ON FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, February - April 1947 Article III colour, caste or language. what grounds he is Right to Equality (6) All citizens of the Union being so deprived. (1) All persons irrespective of have the right to reside in any part of (f) the right to the invi - religion, race, colour, caste, language the territories of the Union that they olability of his home; or sex are equal before the law and chose, to settle there, acquire prop - (g) the right to the se - are entitled to the same rights, and erty, and pursue any means of lawful crecy of his correspon - are subject to the same duties. occupation, subject only to the re - dence; (2) All citizens are entitled to strictions imposed by the law of the (h) the right to main - equal opportunities in all spheres, po - Union. tain his person secure litical, economic, social and cultural. (7) Every citizen has the right by the law of the (3) Women citizens are the to emigrate to countries outside the Union from exploita - equal of men citizens in all spheres of Union and the right of expatriation. tion in any manner political, economic, social and cultural (8) All citizens within and contrary to law or pub - life and are entitled to the same civil without the territories of the Union lic morality; and rights and are subject to the same are entitled to the protection of the (i) the right of free civil duties unless where exception is Union. movement and trade made in such rights or duties by the (9) No citizen may be handed within the territories of law of the Union on account of sex. over to a foreign government for trial the Union. (4) (a) Untouchability is abol - or punishment. (2) The press shall be ished and the practice thereof is pun - (10) No person shall be de - free subject to such ishable by the law of the Union. nied equal protection of the laws restrictions imposed (b) All persons shall have the within the territories of the Union. by the law of the right to the enjoyment of equal facili - Union as in its opinion ties in public places subject only to Article V may be necessary in such laws as impose limitations on all Right to Freedom the interest of public persons irrespective of religion, race, (1) Every citizen within the limits of order or morality. colour, caste or language. the law of the Union and in accor - (3) The conduct of re - (5) All citizens are entitled to dance therewith has: search and/or the pub - equal opportunity: (a) the right of free expression of lication of the results (a) in matters of public em - opinion; thereof shall be free ployment and office of power and (b) the right of free association and subject to the restric - honour; combination; tions imposed by the law of the (5) Every citizen has the right to (b) in the exercise of trade, (c) the right to assemble peacefully Union in the interests of a fair return choose the government and legisla - profession or calling; and and without arms; to those responsible for the results tors of the Union and his State on the (c) in the exercise of franchise (d) the right to personal liberty; and of national defence. footing of equality, in accordance according to the law of the Union; (e) the right to be informed within (4) No person shall be deprived of his with the law of the Union or the unit and no citizen shall be denied the twenty-four hours of his deprivation life, liberty or property without due as the case may be, in free, secret right on grounds of religion, race, of liberty by what authority and on process of law. and periodic elections. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 6 Issue-42 www.deshdoaba.com December 30, 2020 Greetings and Good wishes to The Ambedkar Times and The Desh Doaba "The media's the most powerful en - ing the much needed in - moved for - tity on earth. They have the power formation and bring into ward the to make the innocent guilty and to focus the interests of the caravan in make the guilty innocent, and that's society particularly the the USA. It power. Because they control the weaker sections. is a matter minds of the masses." - Malcolm X The Ambedkar Times of great There is no point in mentioning about and The Desh Doaba are satisfac - the importance of media in our lives rightly dedicated to the tion. particularly for those who live and mission and thought of It enjoy freedom of expression in the Babasaheb Ambedkar and is a matter open and democratic set up. It gives Babu Mangu Ram Mu - of concern birth to ‘Expressions of Freedom’ as gowalia. Both these cham - that in my senior colleague in the diplomatic pions of equality and India the fraternity, Ambassador Bal Anand has fraternity were aware of under privi - Ramesh Chander asserted in his book “Expressions of the importance of media leged and Ambassador - I.F.S. (Retired) Freedom”. The Ambedkar Times and and started their own pa - marginal - 91-99885-10940 the Desh Doaba has done well in this pers like The Mooknayak ized do not regard both in freedom of expression and The Adi Danka which have access to the main stream and expression of freedom over the became the mouthpieces media. It is not good for our demo - years particularly with reference to of the concerns and inter - cratic polity and unequal society. We the rights and aspirations of the ests of the downtrodden should support and appreciate the under-privileged and marginalized in in those difficult days. It good job done by the small players India and abroad. It is not an easy job may not be out of place to like The Ambedkar Times and The to launch and run a paper particularly mention that another Desh Doaba in filling the gap. More is in a foreign land. But my friend Prem scion of Chumber family, needed to be done as Corazon Aquino Chumber and his associates could do C.L. Chumber elder rightly said, “The media's power is it in California in the USA with a great brother of Prem Chumber frail. Without the people's support, it success. I thought of taking this op - Editor Prem Chumber and the was also a dedicated ac - can be shut off with the ease of turn - portunity, when we generally greet Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba tivist. He also started and edited The ing a light switch.” our friends and relations and wish further success and prosperity in the Qaumi Udariya in Jalandhar which Happy New Year to the readers of them all the best on Christmas and years to come. These media organs was dedicated to Manyawar Kanshi The Ambedkar Times and New Year, to greet and applaud Chief have been of great help in disseminat - Ram. Prem Chumber carried on and The Desh Doaba J.C. JOHARI ON THE CONSTITUTION AS A CONGRESS DOCUMENT "As already pointed out, the Consti - sumed a form infinitely meaningful normally refrained from placing an un - and, as Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya paid tution of India is a Congress docu - for India. duly heavy hand on the voice of the his glowing compliment, "a steam- ment for the simple reason that the "The statement that the In - members speaking against its wishes. roller intellect, he brought to bear Congress not merely acted like a na - dian Constitution is virtually a gift of The main desire of the top leaders upon his magnificent and tremendous tional political organisation in winning the Congress Party in return for the was to achieve somehow the consen - task, down all palms and short pup - seats for the grand Consembly. More great confidence that the nation re - sus invariably on matters of great sig - pies. Whenever he felt to be right, he than that it became the Parliament posed in it and by virtue of which it nificance. (From J.C. Johari's "Indian stood by regardless of all conse - and the Interim Government in addi - became the repository of the power Government and Politics") quences." "Ambedkar himself re - tion to serving as the sovereign con - transferred by the British after a lot of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on the alised this fact and at one stage he stitutional convention at work. That political wrangling, does not imply Congress Party in the Constituent As - said: The task of the Constituent As - is, the Congress was all - the party, that it was the Congress as a whole sembly (according to J.C. Johari). sembly would have been a very diffi - the Government, the Constituent As - that should have credit of being the "The fact of the leadership of cult one if it had been merely a sembly - even the country. In fine, the architect of the Basic Law of the the Congress oligarchy with the most motley crowd, a tasselled pavement Congress came to serve like a great Land. Rather, it was a small section prominent role of Nehru, in collabora - without cement, a black stone here political organisation of a great nation of the top leaders like Nehru, Patel, tion with Patel, dismisses the case of and a white stone there in which entrusted with the great work of Prasad and Azad - what Austin calls Ambedkar's being the "Father of the each member of each group was a framing the fundamental rules of the the 'Congress oligarchy'. Constitution". Ambedkar was a non- law unto itself. There would have Fundamental law of the land. "It was the small section of Congressman having no place in the been nothing but chaos. The possibil - "It is rightly said: "The Con - the top leadership that constituted real decision-making body of the Con - ity of chaos was reduced to nil by the stituent Assembly was a one party the core of the Congress Working gress oligarchy. The real role of this existence of the Congress Party in - body in an essentially one-party Committee and that first took all im - great constitutionalist should, there - side the Assembly which brought into country. The Assembly was the Con - portant decisions and then prompted fore, be discovered in his unparalleled the proceedings a sense of order and gress and the Congress was India. the Drafting Committee to shape the skill and competence in giving the discipline. It is because of the disci - There was a third point that com - language of the Draft Constitution ac - form of draft constitutional provisions pline of the Congress Party that the pleted a right triangle, the govern - cordingly. More than that, it was this to the wishes of the top Congress Drafting Committee was able to pilot ment (meaning the apparatus of top leadership that played a very ef - leaders and then defending the work the Constitution in the Assembly with elected government both provincial fective role in the debate of the As - of the Drafting Committee in the the sure knowledge as to the fate of and national), for the Congress was sembly. The result was that either the House with such a force of argument each article and each amendment. the government too. The Assembly, House was taken under influence by that the draft provisions eventually The Congress Party is, therefore, en - the Congress, was, and the govern - these leaders, or the whip was issued became parts of the Constitution. As titled to all the credit for the smooth ment were, like the points of a trian - to keep the possible opponents under a matter of fact, he was a 'constitu - sailing of the Draft Constitution in the gle separate entities, but linked by control. It should, however, be borne tional manoeuvrer whose industry Assembly". - Source Courtesy: overlapping membership, they as - in mind that the Congress oligarchy and diligence was a wonder to all' Socialist India, Vol.X, 1975 www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 7 Issue-42 www.deshdoaba.com December 30, 2020 Why the farmers’ protest is led by Sikhs of Punjab The Khalistan movement in the ers from across India join them in the They are also fairly well-educated tionalists. Without promoting the dig - 1980s may have limited support for movement. They understand the tac - than the Dalit community in any other nity of labour by the nation’s ruling Punjab’s Sikhs in the battle with the tics deployed by the likes of Kangana, part of India. They have an independ - class, no nation can develop. The Indira Gandhi govt. But in Modi who repeatedly uses terms like ‘Khal - ent spiritual and social identity, government doles out slogans like govt's farm laws, they have a wor - istani terrorists’. though largely part of Sikhism. Al - Swachh Bharat and Atmanirbhar thy cause. But the film industry from dif - though the Hindutvawadis want to Bharat but they would mean nothing The ongoing farmers’ protest ferent regions, including Bollywood, is portray Sikhism as part of Hinduism, without injecting the dignity of labour against the Narendra Modi govern - turning towards the farmers’ fight for their efforts don’t bear much fruit be - in the spiritual-religious system. ment’s new agricultural laws isn’t justice and survival. They have rightly cause Sikhs realise these are just just a battle to secure a legal guaran - described the farmers as ‘food sol - methods of co-opting. Sikhism has al - A living contrast tee for minimum support price, or diers’ of India. Without the ‘farming ready got global recognition as an in - Sikhism lays stress on ‘Sarbat da seek repeal of the three legislations. soldiers’ producing food, there won’t dependent religion. bhalla’ (working towards the common The battle is also to stop India’s rich be ‘standing soldiers’ on the borders. Moreover, any Sikh with suf - good of all) and kar seva (doing phys - capitalists from smuggling out farm - The RSS-BJP government never ficient knowledge of Guru Granth ical work for the common good). ers’ labour power without paying the recognised the farm soldiers as na - Sahib, irrespective of gender, can be - These two ideas are part of the Guru cost – and there are several reasons tionalists but only adored big busi - come a Granthi, unlike in Hinduism. Granth spiritual ideology, which runs why farmers from the Sikh commu - ness families as real nationalists. Though Arya Samaj allows women counter to the varna dharma ideology nity are at the fore - of the Hindutva front. forces. The Sikh The Sikh Gurus estab - farmers of Punjab lished the con - were the first to cept of dignity of grasp the danger labour at a time when Parliament when the idea passed the three was almost un - controversial bills in known to the a great hurry, with - Brahminical spiri - out a discussion or tual, social and taking farmers’ political ideology. unions into confi - The dence. Shudra/Dalit The last farmers and time Sikhs of Pun - labourers in the jab were locked in a Hindutva ideol - battle with the gov - ogy are disre - ernment was in the spected and early 1980s, when considered the Indira Gandhi undignified administration had human beings, sent troops into the despite being the state to curtail the pillars of India’s rising insurgency. food production But if the emerging system outside Khalistan move - Punjab. The Modi ment restricted government has wider support then, the Sikh farmers priests to recite shlokas and perform not done anything to change this fun - now have a worthy cause – and they Dignity of labour marriages, there is no liberation for damental belief of caste and varna, have galvanised the country’s farm - Another reason why Sikh farmers women in labour participation in that and make farm work dignified in the ing community and generated nation - have taken up the cudgels is to de - sect too. Such gender-neutral involve - spiritual and social system. What it wide support. They will go down in fend the labour, which is accorded ment in spiritual and production has done instead is brought laws that India’s history as the frontline heroes great dignity in Sikhism. And it has process in Sikhism, unlike in Hin - would allow monopolistic capitalists of the farmers’ movement. roots in the relative undermining of duism and also Islam, and their col - to exploit the poor farmers even casteism among Sikhs. lective labour participation and though they never participate in the Toe to toe Majority of Sikh farmers are efficiency in farm production, made socio-economic changes or spend The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Jats. Historically, they too belonged Punjab India’s food basket. The RSS- their wealth on the wellbeing of the Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya to the Shudra varna who suffered in - BJP never called for such caste-free people at large. Janata Party (BJP) government – dignities at the hands of Dwijas and gender-neutral participation in The Sikh farmers are now with help from its campaigners like (Brahmins, Baniyas and Khatris) in agrarian production. On the contrary, part of a strong global community Kangana Ranaut – are trying to por - united Punjab. Once Guru Nanak Dev they emphasise on maintaining the with agrarian production knowledge tray Punjab’s Sikh farmers as ‘Khalis - established Sikhism and his and other parampara of varna dharma. as their backbone. They have mi - tani terrorists’. But it won’t be easy. Sikh Gurus’ teachings and hymns The advancement of Punjab grated to the US, Canada and Aus - The Sikh farmer-youth are not only were compiled together into the reli - agriculture is rooted in the social base tralia to furrow the forest lands and more educated, they are also globally gious scripture Guru Granth Sahib, it of everybody working on the farm have become respectable citizens of spread out and can give a fitting reply laid the foundation for the commu - with dignity. Thus, Punjab has those countries. They are a major po - to the Hindutva army. If the RSS-BJP nity’s liberation from the varna order evolved as a separate cultural entity litical force in Canada now. India must allow their loose cannons to go after and the indignity of labour. within Indian federalism. The state learn from them with humility. And them as they did against Kashmiris, It brought self-respect among produces a lot of wheat and milk, and the RSS-BJP too must rein in its after the abrogation of Article 370, the Shudra labourers, changing their the notion of ‘Kar Seva’ (labour serv - forces that are constantly working to India as a nation will be in danger. status from that of an undignified ice) even in gurudwaras has attracted demonise the Sikh community. The The Sikh farmers can fight the battle community in a hierarchical system global attention. more they do that, the more they will better than any other state’s farming into one of equal and dignified mem - The gurudwaras – particularly the be exposed before the world, not just community in the country. bers. Today, no farming community of Golden Temple of Amritsar – are in India. They are equally aware of India is as self-respecting as that of known for their langars where any what might constitute as a political the Jat Sikhs. This is not to say that visitor can have free food and even KANCHA ILAIAH SHEPHERD gimmick. Modi rushed to one of the Dalit Sikhs, who are also known as rich members of the Sikh community 28 December, 2020 gurudwaras in New Delhi and kneeled mazhabi Sikhs, do not face social dis - freely participate in labour. Such a The author is a political theorist, with before the Guru Granth Sahib but the crimination in Punjab. They do. culture of labour service without in - an upcoming new book The Shudras Sikh farmers know why he was doing But the Sikh community is voking the caste cultural indignity in — Vision for a New Path co-edited it. They remained unmoved. not as casteist and varna dharma temples is not there on the agenda of with Karthik Raja Karuppusamy It is this awareness and con - practitioners as the Hindutvawadis the RSS-BJP, even though their mem - (Penguin). Views are personal. viction that has blunted the Hindutva are. Dalit Sikhs have their own Ravi - bers and supporters routinely project attack on them and also made farm - dasi gurudwaras around the world. themselves as authentic Hindu na - Source Courtesy: The Print www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 8 Issue-42 www.deshdoaba.com December 30, 2020

WThen hin 1e91 5 Anadtion aliDsts lhed bay Lralma Har daMyal. Boy vfore feamr of ebeinng itnte rcaeptned.d Tak inDg Drh.ar mA Manmdal wbere edstabklishaedr in Dr. B. R. his sheer devotion and sincerity to him, therefore, as dead, his wife mar - Jalandhar city from where the move - Ambedkar was the cause of India’s freedom, he ried Mangu Ram’s elder brother, who ment was organized in a systematic giving final came to be regarded as the most de - was a widower. The validity of the manner, and the devoted missionaries touches to his pendable and reliable member of the death warrant issued by the British spread the message far and wide in Ph.D. thesis at organization. In 1915, Mangu Ram Government lapsed in 1924. Then the Punjab, and even beyond. Since Columbia Uni - volunteered to be one of the five Mangu Ram thought of returning to the Mandal had accepted Sahib Shri versity in New Ghadarites accompanying a shipload India. Accordingly, he came back to Guru Ravidass Ji as its spiritual York, a Punjabi of guns and propaganda material Punjab in 1925. Soon thereafter, leader, the movement became prima - youth, who headed for India. This ship was unfor - Mangoo Ram became involved in an - rily popular amongst the Chamars, had gone to America a few years ear - tunately intercepted by the British as other kind of freedom struggle, the and they readily adopted the nomen - lier, was involved in a dangerous mis - Batavia, and was sealed. It remained liberation of the untouchables, the clature of Ad Dharmi. sion of smuggling suns from sealed for nearly a year, with the five people among whom he was born, At the time, Babu Mangu Ram California to the Punjab for inciting Ghadarites as prisoners inside. In the and the people who were meekly suf - was organizing the untouchables of mutiny in India. This Punjabi youth meanwhile, they were prosecuted in fering the atrocities of the Hindus. the Punjab under the banner of Ad later became famous as Babu Mangu absentia, and sentenced to death for Babu Mangu Ram’s association with Dharm; Dr. Ambedkar was fighting a Ram, the founder of the Ad Dharm taking out the weapons illegally on the Ghadar Party had broadened his similar battle in another part of the Movement. Mangu Ram was born in the ship. On hearing the capital pun - outlook, and sharpened his skills as country. Though they were thousands a small village Mugowal in district ishment, some patriot Indians in Ger - an organizer. Soon he found a band of miles apart, yet their ideas and Hoshiarpur, Punjab on 14 January, many decided to help the imprisoned of like-minded young men involved in methods of struggle were almost 1886 in an untouchable family; his Ghadarites. Somehow, they managed the social work, and began organizing identical. Both believed that the pres - father was a leather merchant. As by to smuggle the prisoners out from the them in order to liberate the down - ent day Scheduled Castes are not then the doors of education had been sealed ship, and sent them in differ - trodden from the clutches of the Hindus, and that their salvation lies opened to all by the British rulers, ent directions. Mangu Ram was put Hindu social slavery. only in being independent of the Mangu Ram was sent to the school in a ship going to Manila. By mistake, Encouraged by the response to his Hindu religion. Both believed in self- in the nearby village, Mahilpur, but help and advocated peaceful the treatment meted out to him by means to achieve their goal. Both the Hindu teacher was far from laid the greatest emphasis on ‘ed - human. Like Bhim Rao in Satara, ucation’. Babasaheb considered Mangu Ram too was made to sit “education” the key to all outside the classroom. Not only progress, and Mangu Ram says that, even the teacher would not that only “education can lead us teach him directly; he was invariably to Sachkhand (the realm of given lesson through a Muslim stu - truth).” Again, Babasaheb ex - dent. Somehow, Mangu Ram horted the people to follow the passed his middle examination and Three Commandments of ‘Educa - joined high school at Bajwara, a tion, Agitation and Organization’ nearby town. Here too. He was sub - to gain power. According to jected to the same humiliation, and Mangu Ram, the poor have three was made to sit outside the class - kinds of power: “Qaumiat (collec - room. One day, it rained so heavily tive solidarity), Mazhab (spiritual - that in spite of taking shelter under ity) and Majlis (organization)”. a tree, Mangu Ram was completely Within a year of its founding, drenched. And when the snow-balls, the Ad Dharm movement created accompanied by high velocity quite a stir in the Punjab by con - winds, fell like missiles on him, he stant rallies and conferences, if was unable to bear it any longer. So, forced the Government of the day he ran to take shelter inside the to take notice of the problems of classroom. As soon as he had en - the untouchables. One of the rea - tered the room, the teacher saw him, however, the ship reached Singapore. ideas, Babu Mangu Ram convened a sons of the poverty and exploitation and instead of showing any sympa - Unfortunately for Mangu Ram, here Conference at his village Mugowal in of the untouchables was the perni - thy, he started beating him with a he was recognized by some traitor In - district Hoshiarpur on 11-12 June, cious system of beggar, the system stick for having come inside. Weeping dians who had earlier worked for the 1926. Addressing the largely at - under which they were forced to live and crying, Mangoo Ram went out, Ghadar Party. They informed the Po - tended Conference, Babu Mangu Ram at the beck and call of others and and somehow reached his home. lice. By now, for running away from proclaimed that the Untouchables were obliged to do a great deal of Unmindful of the insult and Batavia, death warrants had been is - constituted a separate Qaum, a reli - work without any remuneration what - beating, Mangu Ram again went to sued by the British Government to be gious community like the Muslims, soever. The Ad Dharm Mandal agi - the school next day. As soon as he executed wherever any one of them Sikhs and Hindus, and those they tated against the system of beggar, reached there, he was surprised to was found. Accordingly, the Singa - were the original inhabitants of this and demanded its abolition. The Man - see the teacher in the process of pu - pore Police began preparing for his country. Hence, the movement was dal also agitatedfor repealing the Pun - rifying the classroom by sprinkling execution. Then a miracle happened. named as Ad Dharm; and its leaders jab Land Alienation Act which water on the wooden table, chair and Just half an hour before his execu - devised distinctive costume, bright prohibited the untouchables from the tats on which the students used tion, a gentleman named Barde, red turbans and shashes; coined a buying even a small piece of land. to sit. On seeing him, Brahmin whom Mangu Ram had never seen or new sacred mantra or symbol, “So - The Ad Dharm movement reached its teacher cried out, “Oh Chandal, you met, came, caught him by the arm, hang” and exhorted the people to call peak at the time of 1931 Census. As have come again”. Fearing another took him out of the Thana, and put - themselves as Ad Dharmis. a result of their sustained propa - beating, Mangoo Ram hastened back, ting him on the same ship in which The primary object of the Ad ganda, more than half a million un - never to go again to the school. And Mangu Ram had come, he asked the Dharm was to give the untouchables touchables declared themselves as that was the end of his education. Caption of the ship to sail for Manila. an alternative religion. Its another ob - Ad Dharmis. This showed the organi - With his education coming to By the time the Police swung into ac - ject was to reform the society from zational skill of its leaders. “The mas - an abrupt end, Mangu Ram became tion, the ship had crossed the Singa - within. As social movement, the Ad sive support”, as says Mark unemployed, and bit frustrated too. In pore Port Limits. Having failed to Dharm exhorted the people to abstain Jueregensmeyer,“created political 1909, he, along with some other intercept the ship, the police caught from immoral practices; to lead a life capital, and Mangu Ram used that young men from the village, went to hold of some drunkard; executed him of purity and piety; to discard the use capital in political ways. Ad Dharmi California, U.S.A. in order to earn to cover up their lapse, and an - of alcohol, drugs, give education to candidates stood for public offices some money by working in the Peach nounced that Mangu Ram had been boys and girls, and to treat all men and an alliance was created with the Orchards of Fresno and elsewhere in executed. This news was later pub - and women equal in the society. On Unionist Party. In both instances, the San Joaquin valley of central Cal - lished in the Indian Newspapers. the whole, the movement was aimed scheduled caste leaders supported by ifornia. Instead of earning money, he, For the next 7-8 years, Mangu at giving the untouchables a sense of the Ad Dharm organization achieved however, became involved in the ac - Ram hid in the Philippines, and during pride and dignity as members of the public positions”. tivities of the Ghadar Party, an inter - this period he had no contact with his Ad Dharm. Courtesy: Dr. Ambedkar and Punjab national network of militant Punjabi family as no letters could be written The headquarters of Ad by D. C. Ahir