Madan Lal, an MBBS graduate based in Patna who identified himself as a member of the backward community, wrote to Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, on 22 January 1947.
Lal had learned that the Assembly was creating an Advisory Committee that would split into sub-committees, one of which would deal with the protection of minorities. He asked that when selecting members for this sub-committee, people from backward communities be given due consideration, whether or not they were members of the Constituent Assembly.
The letter is very short, polite, and makes a single request. It carries no detailed argument or supporting evidence, just a brief appeal from a citizen that the backward communities have a voice in the body that would decide their protections.
Mahendru,
Patna
22nd. January 47
President
Constituent Assembly
Sir,
I am glad to learn that the Constituent Assembly has decided to create an Advisory Committee which in due course will split up into several sub-committees, I am particularly interested in one which will be entrusted with the responsibility to give due protection to the minorities’ communities.
I am sure the interest of the minorities’ communities is safe in your hand, and to give it a proper place I may suggest that while selecting members of such communities due consideration will be given to put in such people who belong to backward communities irrespective of the fact whether they are in the Constituent Assembly or not.
I hope you will kindly acknowledge my letter.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
22/1/47
(Madan Lal,M.B.B.S.)
Member of the Backward
Community
To,
The Hon’ble
Dr. Rajendra Prasad,
President
Constituent Assembly
New Delhi
