Bhavika Mittal
” The largest democracy in the world. The lengthiest written Constitutional document in the world. A land of a highly diverse population is India’s word of identity. “
The embroiders of the Indian acknowledgement fabric are exhaustive but are largely known to us. Our nation-builders had differences in ideology but the desired result was alike. Towards the end and on the fateful hour of our independence they were seen to join hands, into making India what it is today. The invite received by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar for occupying the chair of the First Minister of Law and Justice by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru despite him being a Gandhi critique proves the point made. Later, the Constituent Assembly entrusting the monumental responsibility of him chairing the Constitutional Drafting Committee weighs the factor of unity further.
Why was Dr Bhimraoji Ramji Ambedkar (earlier, Ambavadekar) bestowed with the opportunity? What makes him extraordinary?
Well, to begin with, some well-known facts about Babasaheb. He was born in Mhow (now, Dr Ambedkar Nagar), Madhya Pradesh into a Mahar Dalit (an untouchable caste) family. But originally hailing from Dapoli Taluka of the Ratnagiri District of the Bombay Presidency. He was exposed to sheer brutality from an early age. His autobiography “Waiting for a Visa”, which is used as a textbook at Columbia University, is a twenty-page book vividly describing the discriminatory experiences faced by the Depressed Class and himself.
Babasaheb at a tender age learned the lesson of “knowledge is the key to success”. From the lesson learned and with perseverance, he become the first to graduate from high school in his community, the first Indian to receive a doctorate from abroad, and the first lawyer from a backward caste. His education qualifications consist of all social science disciplines. In 1917, the war and termination of Babasaheb’s scholarship marred his academics and he was obliged to return home.
On his arrival, the inhuman treatment experienced in his childhood which had spread like a plague came rushing back to him. The discrimination faced by him as a professor at a college in Bombay further escalated the agitation. Thus, embarking on the initiation of the fight against untouchability and oppression by upper castes. The 1920s saw the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924), the first organization to achieve political and social ideals and place grievances before the government. The Mahad Satyagraha (1927), the only Satyagraha for drinking water in the world. To spread awareness and help understand the drawbacks of the prevailing social evils, launched a weekly newspaper ‘Mooknayaka’ (the leader of the silent). As the years progressed the movements gained momentum and Babasaheb formed numerous other organizations like Samata Sainik Dal, Depressed Classes Movement, and Temple Entry Movements. Also, along with this, numerous speeches and books further contributed to reinforcing the movements.
Apart from being the flag bearer of Dalit Activism, Babasaheb played multi-faceted roles. The architect of the Indian Constitution, his outstanding legal expertise and acumen, his capability to understand the approach of his countrymen, and his clarity on the concept of power moulded our Constitution into the richest document of the nation. By ensuring the inclusion of elements like building a just society based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The introduction of reservation reflects the ideology of equity before equality. His strong advocacy for Universal Adult Franchise, and assistance in establishing the principle of “equal pay for equal work” irrespective of any sex, showcases his actions towards gender parity. The reduction of work hours from fourteen to eight per day, the introduction of overtime provisions, paid leave, and minimum wage. The introduction of a Bill for abolishing the serfdom of agricultural tenants. His recommendation for the establishment of the Central Water Commission. Such farsightedness in every section and sector of society is beyond applaudable.
The contemporary world has a sufficient amount of space for its ideologies to fit in. Firstly, the persisting caste-based inequalities which he had indicated in his speech “Annihilation of caste” wherein he stated that the deep-rooted caste system and practice of untouchability cannot be reformed, it requires complete elimination to erase every trace of discrimination and exploitation. Thus, an attempt to reform these systems with time still has the presence of ancient and a few new flaws. Secondly, Babasaheb’s perspective of Constitutional morality is effective coordination between conflicting interests of different people and administrative cooperation. This addresses the persisting communal problems by giving an amicable resolution route. Thirdly, the Government of India initiating numerous pro-people, pro-vulnerable welfare policies and programs are nothing but an evident reflection of Babasaheb’s thinking. Lastly, the writings of Ambedkar held great relevance then and now. His doctorate thesis titled “The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution” (1923) was used as a reference to conceptualize The Reserve Bank of India. So, simply put Babasaheb was the brain behind the functioning of Indian banking. His essay titled “Small Holdings in India and their Remedies” (1918) proposed the concept of industrialization. Therefore, it can be said that he was a Renaissance man.
Dr Ambedkar once said, “Though I was born a Hindu, I solemnly assure you that I will not dies as a Hindu”. Babasaheb converted to Buddhism in 1956, the year he boarded for his heavenly adobe. He certainly was a man of his word. Which certainly is fading in the current times.
For citizens to acknowledge his legacy, the birth of a legendary leader like himself should be celebrated even posthumously. Thus, commemorating April 14th annually as “Ambedkar Jayanti” or “Bhim Jayanti”.