J. Nagappa of Madras, a member of the Constituent Assembly, pointed out that numerically the Depressed Castes were not a minority. According to him, what was the real cause of their suffering?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Their systematic marginalisation in society
Option (1) Their systematic marginalisation in society — Correct. Nagappa said their suffering came from <strong>systematic marginalisation</strong>, not small numbers. Marginalisation means being pushed to the edge of society: <strong>no access to education and no share in the administration</strong>.
Option (2) The denial of separate electorates to them — Incorrect. Separate electorates were Ambedkar's earlier demand, which Gandhi opposed. Nagappa did not trace their suffering to the loss of this demand.
Option (3) The weakness of legal safeguards under colonial rule — Incorrect. Safeguards were discussed, but some members held that safeguards alone could not solve the problem. Nagappa traced the suffering to their exclusion from education and the administration.
Option (4) The violence that followed the Partition — Incorrect. The Partition violence changed Ambedkar's stand on separate electorates. Nagappa traced the suffering to long exclusion from education and the administration.
NCERT (2026-27): “3.3 “We were suppressed for thousands of years” … |