INDIA: Dr. Ambedkar Speaks Out

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the Columbia-educated Minister for Law in Nehru’s cabinet, is an “untouchable,” and heads the largest group of India’s 60 million untouchables, the sub-basement of the towering Hindu caste system. In New Delhi last week, testy little Dr. Ambedkar strode on to the floor of Parliament, and demanded the privilege of explaining to the House why he was quitting. When he was refused by the Deputy Speaker, he angrily stalked out and gave his statement to the press.

It was a 4,000-word indictment of the government’s policies, at home & abroad.

Dr. Ambedkar railed against what he has termed Nehru’s “quixotic policy of saving the world.” India’s support of Red China, he said, was alienating her from the free world and choking off foreign aid to India’s languishing millions. Then Dr. Ambedkar turned to local matters.

He was angry at delays in the passage of the new Hindu Code Bill (which he drew up), which forbids polygamy, liberalizes inheritance laws for women, and legalizes inter-caste marriage.

All in all, it was quite an indictment.

Dr. Ambedkar is the first important Indian official who has openly attacked Nehru for being too friendly to China and not friendly enough to the U.S. But diplomats in New Delhi did not expect Dr.

Ambedkar to attract many supporters.

They regard him as too peevish and prejudiced to rally much strength, and the untouchables too unorganized and inarticulate to follow his lead, even though he claims to speak for them.