Nehru Insulted Dr. Ambedkar for Asking Help to Publish The Buddha and His Dhamma
Read it in Hindi from नेहरू ने डॉ अम्बेडकर का किया अपमान जब उन्होंने ‘बुद्ध और उनके धम्म’ को प्रकाशित करने के लिए मदद मांगी
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar struggled his whole life to publish his writings. Most of his books were published by Thacker and Co., a publisher from Bombay. It’s a little-known fact that Dr. Ambedkar didn’t have any money to publish his last book “The Buddha and His Dhamma”.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14th September 1956, exactly a month before he left Hinduism and embraced Buddhism, wrote a letter to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who in his whole life treated Dr. Ambedkar badly, asking for help in the publication of the book – The Buddha and His Dhamma.
Read below the conversation through letters exchange between Dr. Ambedkar and Nehru. Nehru with full of arrogance and hatred asked Dr. Ambedkar to set up a stall and hawk his own books!
A letter to Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the book ‘Buddha and His Dhamma’
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had written a letter, on 14th September 1956 to Pandit Jawahadal Nehru regarding a book on “The Buddha and his Dhamma”. It is as follows –
My dear Panditji,
I am enclosing herewith two copies of a printed booklet showing the Table of Contents of a book on “The Buddha and His Dhamma” which I have just finished. The book is in the press. From the table of the contents you will see for yourself how exhaustive the work is. The book is expected to be in the Market in September 1956. I have spent five years over it. The booklet will speak for the quality of the work.
The cost of printing is very heavy and will come to about Rs. 20,000. This is beyond my capacity and I am, therefore, canvassing help from all quarters.
I wonder if the Government of India could purchase about 500 copies for distribution among the various libraries and among the many scholars whom it is inviting during the course of this year for the celebration of the Buddha’s 2500 years’ anniversary.
I know your interest in Buddhism. That is why I am writing to you. I hope that you will render some help in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed).
B. R. Ambedkar,
26, Alipur Road, Civil Lines,
Delhi
Read also – For Dalits – What Jawaharlal Nehru, What Gandhi, What Modi; All Stink Equally
Jawaharlal Nehru’s Reply
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had responded to the letter of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. He expressed his inability to purchase the Book “Buddha and His Dhamma”. He referred this to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the Chairman of Buddha Jayanti Committee.
Following is the reply by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru-
Shri Jawaharlal Nehru,
Prime Minister of India,
Delhi
No. 2196-PMH/56.
September 15, 1956.
My dear Dr. Ambedkar,
Your letter of the 14th September.
I rather doubt if it will be possible for us to buy a large number of copies of your book suggested by you. We had set aside a certain sum for publication on the occasion of the Buddha Jayanti. That sum has been exhausted and, in fact, exceeded. Some proposals for books relating to Buddhism being financed by us had, therefore, to be rejected. I am, however, sending your letter to Dr. Radhakrishnan, the Chairman of the Buddha Jayanti Committee.
I might suggest that your book might be on sale in Delhi and elsewhere at the time of the Buddha Jayanti celebrations when many people will come from abroad. It might find a good sale then.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) Jawaharlal Nehru
—
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan informed on the phone to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar expressing his inability to do anything in this regard. Further, Dr. Ambedkar was kept out of the committee to observe the 2500th birth anniversary of the Buddha.
Source – Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Vol. 17, Part 1, 2014 English edition, page no. 444-445
I am interested to follow the comments .
The hatred and resentment is visible if only looked through a Bahujan eye. ‘What Gandhi and COngress have done to the untouchables’ says it all.
Has he told Ambedkar to put up a stall there. No. The book is a personal effort and not written at the behest pf the Govt. It has become a fashion to blame Nehru and Gandhi for all ills prevailing in the Country now. No one did as much for the Dalits as the Congress. The Dalits and Muslims voted down Congress in 2014 and the results are there for everyone to see.
Everyone knows what Congress did to Dalits and Muslims. The reason that the situation for Dalits and minority communities is worse today is just because of Congress.
Dr Ambedkar should not have approached Nehru. Nehru’s reply is not good at all.
there’s nothing insulting in this letter. .. before concentrating on the last line you should read and understand that its in the context with above paragraph. ..
please send me references from where you got this letters. ..
I did not find anything insulting in that letter from J. Nehru.
What would you call it when someone asks one of the highest educated person in India to put up a stall and hawk for selling his book?
As a follower of Dr.Ambedkar ,we can’t depend upon the higher caste, we know their mind set even in the grave yard , forget any where else.As a matter of fact they resent our younger generation walking with cellphone with Dr.Ambedkar ring tone, goggle ( look at Mr.Chandershekar, the Bhaim Army leader) fancy T-shits , jean pants, english speaking, NO more in Hindi,”Jee Hajoori, Mai – Pap “of the upper caste.That explain Saharanpur riots by the so called ,Thakurs/Rajputs.
History tell me that same Rajput clan gave their daughters to Mughals.
So as Dharkoli villages says “The Great Chamar’ is a new Dalit assertiveness it would be difficult to suppress even though the BJP is using oppressive police power.
Historically, to put in perspective what is the status of Nehru and late Mahatami Gandhi,it it is in oblivian. Gandhi ji is kept alive by Government who so ever is in power, artificially. It is only Dalit assertiveness keep us going.