Who is a minority?

Who is a minority? The debates widened the question.

• N. G. Ranga, a peasant leader, argued that the real minorities were the poor masses: they had rights on paper, but could not use them, because they were too poor and oppressed.
• Jaipal Singh, a tribal leader, spoke for the tribals: neglected and dispossessed for centuries, they needed reserved seats in the legislature, and the walls between them and others had to be broken down by social mixing.
• J. Nagappa pointed out that the Depressed Castes were not small in number: they were 20-25 per cent of the population. Their problem was marginalisation, not their numbers.

The Constitution responded: untouchability was abolished, Hindu temples were thrown open to all castes, and seats in legislatures and jobs in government were reserved for the lowest castes.

Women were also heard. Hansa Mehta asked for justice for women, not special privileges or reserved seats. There were 15 women members in the Assembly.

Rights need ladders: help for those who cannot climb on their own.