The Bombay Province Depressed Classes Youth Conference was held on 12th February 1938 at 8 p. m. under the Presidentship of Dr B. R. Ambedkar in the vast pandal erected for G. I. P. Railway Depressed Class Workmen’s Conference. After the welcome1 speech by Shri Murlidhar Pagare, Chairman of the Reception Committee, Dr B. R. Ambedkar delivered a very informative, inspiring and thrilling speech.
He said, “The rule in life, he said, they should keep in mind, was that they must cherish a noble ideal. Whatever might be one’s ideal of national progress or self-development, he continued, one should patiently exert oneself to reach it. He observed that all great things in the world were achieved by patient industry and undergoing toil and tribulations. He further said that one should concentrate one’s mind and might on one’s goal. Man must eat to live and should live and work for the well-being of society. Turning then to the problem of education, Dr Ambedkar said that education was a sword and, being a double-edged weapon, was dangerous to wield. An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of the poor, he remarked, the educated man was a curse to society. Fire upon such an educated man !” “Character is more important,” he emphasized, “than education. It pains me to see youths growing indifferent to religion. Religion is not opium, as some hold it. What good things I have in me or whatever has been my education benefits to society, I owe them to my religious feelings. I want religion, but I do not want hypocrisy in the name of religion.” The conference was a great success. It showed that, given a chance, the Depressed Class leaders also could organize the masses.”
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches; Volume No.17; Part-3
Discussion about this post