Petitions
Shri Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Sabha - 'Re- Advisory Committee'
23 January 1947.
Chhogmal Chopra, President of the Delhi branch of the Shri Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Sabha, wrote to Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, on 23 January 1947. The letter followed up on an earlier discussion between the Sabha and Prasad, and enclosed a telegram already sent to him on the same matter.
The Sabha’s grievance was that the Advisory Committee of the Constituent Assembly, which was to have 72 members, had made no provision for Jain representation. Communities numbering below two lakhs had reportedly been allotted three to four seats, while the Jains had been ignored altogether. Chopra argued that Jain philosophy, religion, culture, and literature were in many respects different from those of the Hindus, despite a prevailing wrong notion that Jains were part of the Hindu fold. If the Congress insisted on that position, then Jains should at least be included in the committee as Hindus. But if the Assembly simply chose to appease big and noisy elements, it would be going against its own declared principles.
The Sabha asked for seats in both the Constituent Assembly and the Advisory Committee. The telegram embedded in the letter accused the Congress of sacrificing fundamentals to please those who were obvious enough to be noticed, while neglecting a scattered, politically backward minority that had been given no voice anywhere in the constitution-making process.
Grams : Bothra
Shri Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Sabha
DELHI (Branch)
Rukmanand Jaichandlal Bhawan,
Naya Bazar,
Delhi, 23rd Jan. 1947.
The Honourable Dr.Rajendraparsad,
President of Constituent Assembly,
1 Queen Victoria Road,
New Delhi.
Dear Sir,
Re:- Advisory Committee.
I have to revert to the above subject again in as much as I find from the reported decision of the Assembly party meeting that although the advisory committee shall consist of 72 members there is no mention for giving any representation to Jains. When we discussed the matter with you, you were pleased to assure us that you will consider our case. As the personnel of the committee is yet to be decided, I have sent the following telegram to you to remind you of our claim:
“Reference formation of advisory committee[unclear] while communities numbering below two lacs are reported to have been allotted three to four seats[unclear] most regrettable that a minority of our standing and importance has been utterly neglected stop Indeed it is sorry spectacle to find the Congress aptly acquiescing into sacrificing fundamentals to please only those who are obviously big and noisy enough to be ignored stop Pledged as you are to espouse the cause of the politically backward and as an earnest of implementing the clause rela-ting to minorities in the objectives resolution it is plainly your responsibility to do justice to us who have so far been given no voice any-where in the Constitution Machinery stop Our demand based on equal opportunities for all and favourtism or patronage to none stop We pin our hopes on you and trust you will not disappoint us
Jain Swetamber Terapanthi Sabha”
Jain philosophy, religion, culture and literature is in many respects different from that of Hindus although there is prevailing a generally wrong notion that Jains are part of Hindus. If however you persist in saying that, then you should also include Jains in the committee and justify your contention. But if you simply try to appease only the very big and noisy elements you would be going against the fundamental principles which the Indian National Congress has declared all along.
In any case as we are scattered all over India and are everywhere in the minority some provision should be made to safeguard our rights and interests. as well. You have decided to give seats to other Hindus and less numerical sects but ignored Jains altogether.
We therefore request you to consider over the matter again and to arrange for giving us seats in the assembly and the Advisory Committee.
Yours faithfully,
[signature]
(Chhogmal Chopra)
President.
HRJ.