The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 35
35 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN safeguards were necessary for a community which was in a very much weaker position than ourselves. So after a good deal of discussion, backwards and forwards, we decided to inform Mr. Gandhi that in case our demands were conceded, we would be very glad to take the position that any arrangement with regard to the scheduled castes was an internal matter for the Hindu community, because Mr. Gandhi had insisted that any special arrangements provided for the scheduled castes would disrupt Hindu society. We were prepared to adopt the position that they were a part of Hindu society, and that, therefore, it was a domestic matter for Hindu society to decide among themselves, and that whatever they agreed upon between themselves, we would accept, but that we could not take up the position that in our view no safeguards were needed for the depressed classes. After all, they had put themselves forward as a distinct and separate entity for the purpose of political representation and allied matters. How could we take up the position that they must be treated as part of Hindu society, and that no separate consideration should be given to their case? It was on this that the conversations broke up. Mr. Gandhi was irrevocably opposed to any special arrangement for the scheduled castes. It will be recalled that subsequently, when the so-called "communal award" was published in July or August of 1932, he started what was called, "a fast unto death" in protest. Then the leaders of the scheduled castes and the Hindu leaders, who were all very fearful that Mahatma Gandhi would carry his fast right through to the bitter end, got together at Poona, where he was fasting, and a settlement was reached between them. That was accepted by all concerned, and that was how the matter was settled. Mr. Gandhi's feeling on that matter was extremely strong and thus no settlement could be reached between us, not because he was opposed to any of our demands - at least he professed he was willing to accept them and would plead for their acceptance by the Congress - but because he could not reconcile himself to special arrangements by which separate representation and other safeguards would be provided for the scheduled castes. Question : Mr. Ambassador, I note that you were elected President of the All India Muslim League. Would you like to go into the details of that particular event ?