Petitions
The Hind Harijan Sangha
6 May 1947.
The President of the Hind Harijan Sangha, Kalimpong, Darjeeling district, wrote to the President of the Constituent Assembly on 6 May 1947, requesting that one seat in the Assembly be given by nomination to a representative of the local Harijans and Scheduled Castes.
The Sangha pointed out that Darjeeling district had a population of about 3,60,000, of which nearly 2,00,000 were Scheduled Caste and Harijan. Most of these were Nepali Scheduled Castes, whose position among Nepali caste Hindus was no better than it was in Nepal itself, which still held to what the letter called the most abominable type of hatred and orthodox conventions. Their condition, the letter argued, was worse than that of Harijans in Madras and other parts of India. The district’s representation in the Bengal Legislative Assembly had been totally ignored, possibly because no well-organised Harijan institution existed in Darjeeling when the Government of India Act 1935 was being enacted. A Nepali caste Hindu representative in the Constituent Assembly could not be expected to guard their interests.
The letter asked the President to exercise his discretion and nominating power to afford the community one seat, and requested a reply so the Sangha could take up the question of whom to put forward. It is a brief, deferential petition from a small local body in a remote hill district, asking not for broad constitutional provisions but for a single nominated seat.
From
The President,
The Hind Harijan Sangha,
Kalimpong (Dist. Darjeeling),Bengal.
To
The President,
Constituent Assembly of India,
New Delhi.
Dated, Kalimpong the 6th May 1947.
Respected Sir,
I have been directed by the local Hind Harijan Sangha to approach you with an earnest request to take into considere[unclear]tion the following facts touching the welfare and xxxxxxx interest of the local Harijans and the members of the scheduled[unclear] caste in the district of Darjeeling, whose representation from this district in the Bengal Legislative Assembly has been totally ignored or left out of consideration though a representation hadwas made, or perhaps owing to the absence of any well organised institution of the Harijans and scheduled caste people at the time when the Government of India Act 1935 was being enacted.
The local Harijan Sangha, now understand that there is yet a hope for their representation in the constituent Assembly through your nomination, if not through any other usual channel of election. As it is a question affecting the interest and well being of a most backward, ignorant and depressed class of Hindus. I have every hope that you will exercise your discretion and special power in affording one seat to their representative particularly from this place when the prevailing conditions nd circumstances of the depressed class people call much more attention of the Social and Political leaders of the country than of any other place, labouring as they are under the most conservation and worst type of Nepali Social xxxxxxxxx aristocratic and disabilities.
The present population of the Darjeeling district is near about 3,60,000 in which nearly 2,00000 are the members of the scheduled caste and Harijan and the local scheduled caste are mostly Nepalie[unclear]s and their position amongst the Nepali caste[unclear] Hi du of the place is nothing better than that in Nepal which still holds on to the most abominable type of hatred and orthodox conventions in the matter of social status of the Harijans. The Nepali caste Hindu representative if any in the Constituent Assembly is not expected to xxxxx look after and guard their interest to the extent to which their existing conditions demand.
The ailing condition of the Harijans and depressed class people in general are much more hated and looked down upon than their brethern in Madras and other parts of India.
I would the efore request you to be kind enough to let me know if you could make any provision for a ‘seat’ for a special representation of the local Harijans. On hearing from you the question of representation will be taken up for consideration by the Sangha[unclear].
I beg to remain, respected
Sir,
Yours fraternity,
[signature]
President,
The Hind Harijan Sangha[unclear],
Kalimpong.