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Hoping that you will respond back to this letter immidiately, I am writing this letter to you. I am aware of the information that you have love, faith, belief towards bhangi castes as you have for other indians. The love and affection that you have towards our society is reflected in your magazine "Harijan". Recently I had read your views on scavengers in one of the issue of "Harijan".
(1) To draw your attention I am pointing out some questions and I want to know what is the exact position of scavenging castes in todays political scenario.? The day on which you will receive this letter will be the last day to file membership for the constituent assembly. I think that by the end of this month everything will be over. For the constituent assembly congress party legislatives and non-legislatives are going to be elected. Will the untouchables get kind consideration for membership? Have you or congress party had given any notice towards bhangi community for representation in the constituent assembly.? I assure you that, we will give our full co-operation in making the future constitution of independent India, giving consideration to the rights of every citizen.
(2) Looking towards your love, affection and liberal sight for the bhangi community, I believe that, you will not become sad for representing myself for the bhangi community, in the constituent assembly.
(3) Who will be the constituents of advisory committe? Wheather it will be upper caste hindu or untouchables or minority castes?
(4) Will the notice issued by the advisory committe be binding on constitutent assembly? I feel that it will not be binding. If this is so and constituent assembly will not give due consideration towards the notice then what is the necessesity of appointing such advisory committe.? Is this not done for making minority class happy ?
You are doing everything for us and I hope the same in future, but still in a demographic way I will get representation or not is my question. I hope that you will reply immediately, fully and satisfactorily. I also request you, to publish your answer in the weekly magazine. "Harijan".
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The letter writer is an unsatisfied graduate youth. He had not put the good and bad in front of Bhangi Community. He wants to represent his community by isolating from the community.
If he would like to have graduate in improving the skills in scavenging work, then he could have mine "Guru". I have a doubt that he might not be doing the scavenging work. I also feel that he have no idea how scientifically the scavenging work can be done. Like this if he would have been expert in doing scavenging work, then his services would have been utilised in various districts of India. If the bhangis had woke up through their long lasting sleeps, than their services had to be utilised in different parts of India. They will remove all the waste in different places successfully. By doing this India will become the most neat and clean country. Due to the dust, wastage and improper sanitation, India is suffering from plague and other diseases.
In Bombay, where I am residing, all the rooms are very neat and clean but outside my room there is lot of wastage and smell. I had short of time to clean all the wastage outside my room. Like my room in Delhi, here also is so much of dirt and wastage. If the graduate bhangi would have expert in scavenging then his services could have been utilised to clean the area outside my room, and no doubt he could be one of my guide and helper to me.
Considering todays scanrio, I can't help him. Not only this, he should never think of entering constituent assembly or legislatire assembly, and I take over all his sadness towards me. Those who deserve it, only should get it. Hence, I am are not of the opinion that Bhangi community should got my chance.
The work, which is not in my hand is expected by the graduate bhangi. I am not for this big organisation. I am nobody in elections of legislative assembly. I was not present in the meeting in which the members were going to be elected. Whatever is going on, I came to know only through newspapers. I myself had become "Bhangi". The reason being the business of every hindu. When every hindu will become Bhangi by heart, will be non casteist, then only untouchability, which has taken adverse turn can be abolished. Seeking membership is not going to solve this problems.
(Courtsey : "Harijan". 14-7-1946)
(Translated from "Asprushyancha Mukti Sangram" in marathi writer Shankarrao Kharat, Pg. 95 to 97.)
Compiled by : Mrs. Vidya Prakash Lankeshwar, Bhimanager, Tal-Madha - Disst. : Solapur (M.S.)
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