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Volume : III, Issue : VI, July - 2013 M.C. Rajah -a Precursor Of B.r.ambedkar, And Rajah- Moonje Pact –a Forerunner Of Poona Pact P.Nagoorkani Published By : Laxmi Book Publication Abstract : M.C.Rajah , a prominent Dalit leader of South India emerged even before the rise of B.R.Ambedkar as
national leader. Certainly, he was a pioneer to B.R.Ambedkar in the socio-political renaissance movement of the
Depressed Classes in the first half of the Twentieth Century. He was the architect of the Rajah-Moonji pact which
once he thought that it would solve the woes of the Depressed Classes and they would attain social equality in par
with caste Hindus in the passage of time. This fact favoured joint electorates for Depressed Classes. Like this Pact,
Poona Pact, signed between Gandhi and Ambedkar also favoued joint electorates for Depressed Classes. Hence the
Rajah-Moonje Pact was a precursor for the Poona Pact, the Magna Carta of Depressed Classes. M.C.Rajah who had
been fervently criticizing Gandhi and Congress party throughout his political career suddenly became moderate
towards them in the wake of Round Table Conferences. When Mahatma Gandhi christened the Depressed Class as
'Harijans', it was M.C.Rajah who directly quarreled against Gandhi, and refused to accept the term 'Harijan'. When
Gandhi claimed that he was the only champion to safeguard the rights of Harijans, Both M.C.Rajah and
B.R.Ambedkar were the front rank leaders of India who laid firm foundation for the elevation of Depressed
Classes in India. They were the 'Messiahs of the lakhs and lakhs of the Depressed Class population'. Keywords : Article : Cite This Article : P.Nagoorkani, (2013). M.C. Rajah -a Precursor Of B.r.ambedkar, And Rajah- Moonje Pact –a Forerunner Of Poona Pact. Indian Streams Research Journal, Vol. III, Issue. VI, http://oldisrj.lbp.world/UploadedData/2608.pdf References : - Kshirsagar, R.K., Dalit Movement in India and Its Leader, M.D.Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1994, p.303.
- Dhananjay Keer, Life and Mission of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, Bombay, 1981, p.195
- Chandrashekar, S., Colonialism, Conflict and Nationalism , South India, 1857-1947, New Delhi, 1995, p.170.
- Geetha , V., and Rajadurai, S.V., Towards a Non-Brahmin Millenium : From Iyothee Thass to Periyar, Calcutta, 1998, p.243; Indian Annual Register, Vol.I, 1932, pp.331-332.
- Indian Annual Register, Vol.I, 1932, pp.133-134.
- Raj Sekhar Basu, Nandanar's Children, The Paraiyans 'Tryst with Destiny, Tamil Nadu, 1850-1956, New Delhi, 2011, pp286-287.
- Thangavelu, G., M.C.Rajah, The Morning Star of Dalits' Uprising of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 2009, p.148.
- Under Secretary Safe File No.804, Tamil Nadu State Archives.
- Raj Sekhar Basu, op.cit., pp.290-291.
- Ibid., p.196.
- Vasant Moon , (ed.), Writings and Speeches of Babasaheeb Ambedkar, Vol. V. Bombay, 1982, p.352.
- Ravindra Kumar, 'Gandhi, Ambedkar and the Poona Pact, 1932' in Jim Masselos, (ed.), Struggling and Ruling; The Indian National Congress, 1885-1985, New Delhi, 1987, p.5
- Ibid., pp.37-38.
- Adi-Dravida Mitran, February, 1935, pp-282-289.
- Nagoorkani, P., Struggle for Social Justice in Tamil Nadu, 1916-1939, Madurai, 2006, p.237.
- Ibid., p.265; G.O.Nos.284-285, Legal Department, 8 December 1938.
- Thangavelu, G., op.cit., p.153.
- Chandrashekar, S., op.cit., p,276.
- Kshirasagar, R.K., op.cit., p.304.
- Ayula Gopala Jeevaratnam, Political Implications of Untouchability, Hyderabad, 1973, p.165.
- Kshirsagar, R.K., Dalit Movement in India and Its Leader, M.D.Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1994, p.303
- Dhananjay Keer, Life and Mission of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, Bombay, 1981, p.195
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