ES eco 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Inspirational Facts Background: $Y) | Dr BR. Ambedkar, popularly known as Babascheb “Ambedkar, was one of the architects of the In- dian Constitution, He was a well- known politician and an eminent Mukesh Shankar] Ju"st. Ambedkar’s efforts to eradi- Bharati. | cate the social evils hike untouc Research Scholar] ablity and caste restnctons were [JNU and Erasmus) remarkable. The leader, throughout Mundus Fellow, | his life, fought for the rights of the oT ulgatia ' | dalits and other socially backward a classes. Ambedkar was appointed as the nation's first Law Minister in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru, He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest avilian honor in 1990, Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was an outstanding leader of our freedom struggle and a staunch crusader for the rights of the downtrodden and backward sec- tions of our society. Arecipient of the Bharat Raina, he was a scholar, joumalist, educationist, legal luminary, social reformer and political leader, He was the prinai~ pal architect of the Indian Constitution and shall always bbe remembered for his role in painstakingly drafting our founding document In July 1924, Ambedkar founded the ‘Bahishkrut Hitkaraini Sabha, to fight the evil of untouchabality. The Sebha started free school for the young and the old and ran reading rooms and libraries. Ambedkar took the grievances of the ‘untouchables’ to court, seeking jus- fice and equality. Soon he became a father figure to the poor and downtrodden and was respectfully called Babasaheb, Ambedkar became more sceptical of the Congress's commitment to safeguard the nights of the depressed classes, He pressed for a separate electorate for the depressed classes, When a separate electorate was announced for the depressed classes, Gandhiji ‘went on a “fast onto death’ against this decision. Lead- ers rushed to Ambedkar to drop his programme, Ambedker held counter fast, but did not buckle under the immense pressure from the Gandhians and others. In consequence, on 24 September 1932, Ambedkar and. Gandhi signed the Poona Pact, According to the pact, the separate electorate demand was replaced with spe- cial concessions like ‘reserved seats? in the regional legislative assemblies and Central Council of States. It was a major compromise that Ambedkar was com- pelled to make, as he regretted later on. ‘Aspatt ofhis political activity, Ambedkar set up the In- dependent Labour Party in August 1936 to contest elec- tions in the Bombay province. The British govemment held elections at the provincial level in 1937. On 17 February 1937, Ambedkar and many ofhis candidates ‘won with a thumping majority, notwithstanding serious opposition from potential rivals belonging to Congress and other parties. On August 29, 1947 Dr. Ambedkar was appointed the Charman of the Drafting Committee that was consti- tuted by Constituent Assembly to draft a Constitution for independent India. The draft Constitution was the result of the collective efforts of a galaxy of great lead- ers and legal scholars in the Constituent Assembly such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, BR. Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, B.N, Rao, Alladi Knshnaswamy Ayyar ete Dr Ambedkar played a seminal role in the framing of the Indian Constitution, He used all his experience and Jnowledge in drafting the Constitution, In his capacity as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he ham- mered out a comprehensive workable Constitution into which he incorporated his valuable views. He gave free India its legal framework, and the people, the basis of their freedom. To this end, his contribution was signif- icant, substantial, and spectacular, Dr Ambedkar’s con- nbution to the evolution of free Indialies in his stiving for ensuring justice-social, economic and political-for one and all, Fundamental Rights ‘Ambedkar was a champion of fundamental rights, and Part III of the Indian Constitution guarantees the fun damental rights to the citizens against the state, Some of the fundamental rights contaned in Articles 15(2), 17, 23, and 24 are also enforceable against individuals as they are very significant rights relating to the prohi- bition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth etc, The text prepared by ‘Ambedkar provided constitutional guarantees and pro- tections for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability and outlawing all forms of discrimina- tion. Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and so- cial nights for women, Parliamentary Democracy DR, Ambedkar was a strong advocate ofthe parliamen- tary form of govemment right from the inception of the Government of India Act of 1935. He firmly believed that the parliamentary system of government alone can usher in an egalitarian society through the application of the principles of social democracy. Dr. Ambedkar’s social democracy comprised politicians, political par- ties with high standards of political morality, honesty and integnty and strong and highly responsible Oppo- sition party or parties committed to the cause of the WOd'EEALE NAA,Esl eon downtrodden and depressed classes, The Preamble of the Indian Constitution echoes the principles of parlie mentary democracy. Dr, Ambedkar saw education as a tool for the liberation of the socially backward from illiteracy, ignorance and superstition, He founded the People's Education Soci- ety in 1945 with the aim of advancing the educational interests of weaker sections of society. Dr, Ambedkar was also a crusader for gender equality and fought for equal nights for women in inhentance and mamage, He resigned from the Cabinet in 1951 when his draft Hindu Code Bill failed to receive the support of the Parliament, Dr. Ambedkar saw great potential in using the Indian Constitution as a powerful instrument of socio~ nomic transformation and with this intention, intro- duced into the draft Constitution a variety of provisions which would enable full accountability of the Govem- ment, checks and balances, protection of fndamental nights, independent institutions and consistent move- ment towards social democracy. Dr. Ambedkar’s speeches in the Constituent Assembly are of great educational value to students of our Con- stitution and modem political history, Dr, Ambedkar explained to the Constituent Assembly in a speech introducing the draft Constitution on November 4, 1948 the pros and cons of the Parliamentary form of Gov- emment vis-a-vis the Presidential system, He also ex- plained why the Draft Constitution, in recommending an Executive based on the Parliamentary system pre- ferred ‘responsibility’ to ‘stability’. Dr, Ambedkar ensured the inclusion of a well defined and comprehensive chapter on Fundamental Rights which specifically abolished untouchability, guaranteed equal nights to all citizens and prohibited discrimination of all kinds in social relations, Dr. Ambedkar believed that protection of minonities and their religion was of paramount importance, Thus, the Constitution grants each person the freedom of faith, religion and worship and gives the minonties freedom to manage their religious affairs. Dr, Ambedkar played a crucial role in laying down the Directive Principles of State Policy, a unique feature of the Indian Constitution, These principles mandate that the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the peo- ple by securing and protecting ajust social order, These prinaples lay the foundation for a social democracy. Dr, Ambedkar called upon the socially and economi- cally disadvantaged to ‘educate, agitate and organ- ise’, Nevertheless, his commitment to constitutional methods was unwavering and he advocated a path of informed and reasoned public engagement. Dr. Ambed- kkar believed that strong independent institutions con- stituted the findamental pillars of a democracy and it is they who would ensure its survival. Dr. Ambedkar called for an independent Election commission and in- stituted the same through Article 324 of the Constitu- tion. Dr, Ambedkar was clear that no Constitution is perfect and ultimately the working of the Constitution will de- pend upon the people, the political parties and their pol- itics, He stated emphatically about the Constitution, Dr. ‘Ambedkar’s commitment to the building of strong in- stitutions and constitutional methods has resulted in many interesting modem day manifestations, For ex- ample, the Right to Information Act is a unique and powerful instrument created by law to empower people and enable them access information from any depart- ment of the Govemment. Ambedker’s major contribution towards reconstituting the Indian social structure was dismantling the hierar- chical Indian society based on abstractive and particu- laristic cultural traits and establishment of parliamentary democracy. He saw that democracy would ensure equality, liberty, fratemity, prosperity and happiness to common man, Therefore, he emphasized that social and economic democracies are sine quanon for a successful political democracy, But, he cautioned against leaders taking a superficial view of democracy. Ambedkar envisaged establishment of equality, social, economic and political, not just as a slogan but also as a concrete policy, He made equality of opportunity a fundamental right, But, he was conscious that in an unequal society, equality of opportunity could lead to further production of inequality because those groups which were already ahead in the social ladder would always have an advantage. Conclusion Dr, Ambedkar’s message, work and life are a constant reminder of the outstanding Constitution, strong democracy and effective, independent institutions we have inhented from the founding fathers of our nation. ‘Atthe same time, it also reminds us of the distance we still need to travel in building an egalitarian society where there will be no distinction between man and man, Till this populationis left behind, Ambedkar and his vi- sion will remain relevant, Finally, Baba Saheb Ambed- ear has more ideological followers than any leader ‘bom in the last 1,000 years. There are more stahues and busts of Ambedkar than any individual born after Lord Buddha and Jesus Chnst, Ambedkar the true rebel and rationalist played amajor role in the creation of new India, He has shown to the Indians that the goal under the fabric of Constitution is nothing but to establish social, economical and political democracy for the betterment of all Indians, In May 1956, shortly before his death, Ambedkar announced that he was embracing Buddhism, With him his wife and some three lakh (30, 0000) followers also con- verted to the faith, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is true so- cial reformer of great India and also an incamation of humanity. ®) WOd'EEALE NAA,