Recently, the co-author of this article (Dipankar Kamble) found an interesting letter sent by Barrister Khobragade to his grandfather Marotrao Kamble on 30th October 1965 from Atlanta, Georgia. To his amazement, the letter was a significant discovery when the Black Lives Movement (BLM) is at the peak and many Blacks activists have started talking of caste discrimination. Historically, Babasaheb Ambedkar was a keen student of the black movement, and he played an interesting part in the black movement indirectly by inspiring Woodward to write “The Strange Law of Jim Crow” which Martin Luther King Jr. considered his bible.

Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to have a copy of the appeal that W.E.B. Du Bois edited and presented to the UN as “An Appeal to the world” in 1947 to highlight address denial of human rights to blacks in the USA. Both great icons exchanged letters. Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted to draft a similar appeal for the Scheduled Caste and send it to the UN. Barrister Khobragade worked very closely with Babasaheb Ambedkar and he was one of his trusted lieutenants. Therefore, it is not surprising that Rajabhau was interested in the problems of Blacks. He was visiting the USA on behalf of the Indian Government to study the problems of the Blacks (as told by Mr.Marotrao Kamble to Dipankar). 

He visited the USA and that to Georgia when the Civil Rights Movement was at the peak. His desire to meet Martin Luther King Jr is acute and his actual visit to a ghetto in Lincolnton shows the extent of his solidarity with the movement of blacks then. The account of discrimination and segregation he left behind in a few paragraphs is an eye-opener for many numbers of reasons, but for one reason, it stands out: he must have felt deep connection and solidarity with his black brothers and sisters. He is also referring to changes in the early 1960s in the policies of Kennedy and then Lyndon Johnson’s administration brought after the burgeoning movement of blacks under MLK, Malcolm X, and thousands of unsung heroes and organizations. Unfortunately, we do not know if Rajabhau met MLK. Probably, he did not. This missed opportunity could have led to deeper solidarity among the Blacks and the Dalits for sure as during this time MLK was becoming acutely aware of the problems of untouchability and untouchables and identified blacks with them. During his visit to India, he was not told of Babasaheb Ambedkar by the Nehru regime though MLK admired the constitution of India and perhaps modelled his Pro-poor campaign based on it. Had Rajabhau briefed MLK in 1965 about the great life and movement of Babasaheb Ambedkar and had MLK known about Babasaheb Ambedkar, the solidarity between the anti-race movement in the USA and anti-caste movement in India would have seen much strength and unshakable solidarity today.

Here is the transcription of the letter and find the image of the letter below: Dipankar Kamble and Mangesh Dahiwale 

Atlanta
October 30th 1965. 

My Dear Marotrao, 

                                 Thanks very much for your letter of the 18th October. I had intended to write you earlier. But as you are a nomad wandering from one place to another, I did not know the address where I should send the letter. Anyway I am taking advantage of  your letter which indicates that you have become a good boy and are staying at home and looking after your farm and other domestic problems. However, I am disturbed to learn that due to failure of rains the crop is not satisfactory. But I hope, you will be able to get good returns. 

I don’t remember that I have met BBC correspondent on London. I had addressed London ….. (Organisation of Indian Students) the subject being Indo-Pakistan relation. I addressed two public meeting one in Birmingham and another in South hall where there are many Indians and some of them are Buddhists and Scheduled Castes. I have established Indian Republican Organisation at Birmingham and South Hall. I would like to know the exact words used by the BBC and Pakistan Radio. There might be some person who have actually listened to this news broadcast. 

I am having wonderful time here in the U.S. So far I have visited Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Buffalo (Niagara Falls), Detroit, Madison, Tennessy valley and now I am in Atlanta capital of Georgia State where the Negro problem is most acute. Incidentally, Dr. Martin Luther King has his office in this city. He is not present here. But he may return here tomorrow or day after. In that case I may see him and discuss the problem of Negroes with him. Yesterday I observed a peaceful demonstration of Negroes, organised by Dr. King’s organisation, South Christian Leadership Conference, against segregation in schools in Lincolnton a small town with 2500 population about 120 miles from Atlanta. I visited Ghetto (i.e. Negro locality) in Lincolnton was amazed to find appalling poverty and deliberate callous attitude of the local council in not providing good roads lights or drainage and sanitation. The atmosphere in this little town was very tense. But there was protection given by the state police and therefore the demonstration was complete without any untoward incident. You come across many shops restaurants and toilet rooms indicating they are for whites only. However most of the Negro workers and leaders whom I have met, agree that there has been great improvement during the past four five years, mainly due to Mr. Kennedy’s onslaught on segregation and visionary policies and President Johnson’s determination to enact the laws and enforce them vigorously.

I am scheduled to leave this country at Honolulu (Hawaii) on the 26th November and reach Tokyo on the 27th November. It is difficult to say when I will reach Bombayas my stay in Tokyo, Hong kong, Singapore and columbo depends on the money that I may have. But I may reach Bombay on the 8th or 9th or may be on the 10th of December. I hope you will be able to reach Bombay in time. 

I am not sure whether I will be able to get anything as I have no money and secondly one has to pay exorbitant custom duty. I don’t think it will be advisable to bring these articles and pay the customs. 

I am glad to learn that Shri. Uke has a Son now. The occasion calls for celebration and I hope we will have one on my return to Chanda. 

If you desire to write, write to the address mentioned above up to 10th of November.  After 10th November send letters to the following address. 

c/o Mrs Catherine Norrell, Director,
Department of State Reception Centre
Suite ,209, 2227-A Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu (Hawaii) U.S.A. 

Yours Sincerely
B.D. Khobragade