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All Bengal Namashudra Association a forum to espouse the demands for separate political representation of the untouchable communities in the society. It was formed prior to the bengal depressed classes association, in 1926. Namashudra Association was greatly involved in mobilising the Namashudras of Eastern Bengal. Leaders of the Bengal Depressed Classes Association, belonging mostly to the Namashudra community, tried to integrate their movement with the All India Depressed Classes movement and supported Dr BR Ambedkar's demand for a separate electorate.
Both the Bengal Depressed Classes Association and the
All Bengal Namashudra Association firmly espoused the demands for separate
political representation of the untouchable communities in the society
when Macdonald announced his Communal Award in 1932. In fact both the
organisations strongly criticised the nationalist demand for a joint electorate.
The All Bengal Namashudra Association in its memorandums
sent to the government clearly stated that creation of separate electorate
would give a great deal of political advantage to the depressed classes
in Bengal. In other words, they felt that by gaining more political power,
the depressed classes would be able to free themselves from much of the
social and economic disabilities. The All Bengal Namashudra Association
strongly criticised Ambedkar's decision to sign the Poona Pact in September
1932 and demanded separate electorates and reservation of seats for scheduled
castes in proportion to their numerical strength. The Association believed
that it was a suicidal decision on the part of Ambedkar, since it sacrificed
the interest of millions of untouchables in the Indian society. But since
the Poona Pact could not be abrogated, the All Bengal Namashudra Association
later reluctantly favoured its acceptance. [Raj Sekhar Basu] |
