Gandhi denied Untouchables separate electorates to protect them from village retaliation

Evidence

Muslims and Sikhs are all well organised. The ‘Untouchables’ are not. There is very little political consciousness among them, and they are so horribly treated that I want to save them against themselves. If they had separate electorates, their lives would be miserable in villages which are the strongholds of Hindu orthodoxy. It is the superior class of Hindus who have to do penance for having neglected the ‘Untouchables’ for ages. That penance can be done by active social reform and by making the lot of the ‘Untouchables’ more bearable by acts of service, but not by asking for separate electorates for them. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 371

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gandhi’s paternalistic rationale: separate electorates would endanger Untouchables in orthodox villages; he demands caste Hindus do ‘penance’ via benevolent reform instead of power-sharing.