Voice of Backwards: Ambedkar & Reservation Policy in Indian Constitution

Article by Kanhaiya Singhal

Voice of Backwards: Ambedkar & Reservation Policy in

Indian Constitution
Article by- Kanhaiya Singhal
PES1UG19AL003
INTRODUCTION
“If our political progress was to be real, the underdogs of our society must be
helped to become men”
-Rabindranath Tagore1
India is the country of diversity. Since the ages, various people regardless of their caste, creed,
color, race, religion and language are living together with unity and integrity. And still living
with the same dignity and harmony but from a century or so, certain marginalized people are
facing certain problems. From the mid of British rule in India people here are discriminated on
the basis of their religion such as Hindu and Muslims under the British policy of divide and rule.
The reservation or affirmative action came into picture since the independence struggle of India.
Many of the political leaders made their own parties to support their own group interests such as
Hindu Mahasabha, Muslim League, Dalit Sangh, etc. As they were supporting their own
interests, they started demanding reservation for their own group as they were not politically
conscious to represent themselves and also they were not in enough numbers to get their own
representatives in the decision making process.2

Indian constitution defines reservation as “a positive measure in order to provide the Backward
Classes of the citizens an opportunity to improve excellence in the service”. 3 But there must be a
clear division among the society regarding who all will be considered as “backward class” here,
so that the other should restrain from taking the benefit from reservation. The objective is of
ensuring an “equal” playing field of opportunities for the citizens.4

Therefore special provisions were enacted in the Indian Constitution to achieve a dynamic,
democratic and republic society. Under the guidance of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the policy which the
Constitution framers chose for the upliftment of backwards classes was of Reservation.5
DR. BHIMRAO RAMJI AMBEDKAR
“We must begin by acknowledging the fact that there is complete absence of two
things in Indian society. One of these is equality. On the social plane, we have in
India a society based on the principle of graded inequality which means elevation

1
Shastri, M. (2007). Reservation Policy in India - A Critical Evaluation. SSRN .
2
Gang, I. N. Caste, Affirmative Action and Discrimination in India.
3
Mulla. (2018). the Constitution of India. Delhi: universal.
4
Andre Beteille (Delhi:, 1. 4. (1996). Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore
Village. Oxford University Press , 46.
5
Shastri, M. (2007). Reservation Policy in India - A Critical Evaluation. SSRN .

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 Voice of Backwards: Ambedkar & Reservation Policy in Indian Constitution
Article by Kanhaiya Singhal
for some and degradation for others. On the economic plane, we have a society in
which there are some who have immense wealth as against many who live in abject
poverty”.6

- Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in the year 1881. His family was from a
depressed class. They were considered as untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar was very sharp minded
and hardworking right from his beginning years. He loved reading. He went to England for
higher studies and became a barrister. Then he started working for the upliftment of the
depressed classes. Ambedkar was also the chairman of the drafting committee of Indian
constitution.7 He died in the year 1956 even today he is remembered by the people for his
contributions all over the country.8

Ambedkar took up the task of fighting for religious, social and economic equality of the
depressed class in the Indian society. He did not restrain himself with highlighting the theory of
castes which conclude in the idea of graded inequality; he also worked to end the untouchablity
in the society. 9

AMBEDKAR AND RESERVATION POLICY IN CONSTITUTION

“It is a wise man who said that there is no greater inequality than the equal
treatment of unequals.”
-Felix Frankfurte10
Ambedkar’s role in ensuring protection of depressed class in constitution is well recognized. He
joined the Constituent Assembly with the motive of safeguarding the interests of the depressed
classes. He got universal recognition for the way he drafted the Indian Constitution. Following
are his contributions in this regard-
 Dr. Ambedkar’s statements in constitutional debates clarifies that the purpose of Article
16[4] is to provide adequate representation to the under privileged backward
communities and also to see that a wholesale reservation does not destroy the guarantee
of equality of opportunity contained in Article 16[1] of the Indian Constitution, so the
reservation should be of a minority of posts.11
 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar decided to make this policy a time bound (10 years) policy, so that
with regular check up and review; the government will be able to decide about changes

6
Ambedkar, B.R. 1949. “SPEECH AT THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF INDIA”, Indian National Congress,
November 25. [https://www.inc.in/en/media/speech/speech-at-the-constituent-assembly-of-india].
7
Habib, S. ( 2018). Dr. Ambedkar as visionary educationalist. IJTSRD , 1418-1421.
8
Singh, M. (2016). Affirmative Action and Dr. Ambedkar. Research Reinforcement .
9
Meena, A. K. (2018). RIGHT TO EQUALITY AND PROTECTIVE DISCRIMINATION. kota (R.J.).
10
Ahamed, R. D. (2019). Constitutional Law and Reservation: A Critical Study . IJRAR , 730-734.
11
Deshpande, A. (2012). Social Justice Through Affirmative Action in India: An Assessment. Northampton, MA:
Edward Elgar Publishing Inc.

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 Voice of Backwards: Ambedkar & Reservation Policy in Indian Constitution
Article by Kanhaiya Singhal
needs to be done in this policy in favor of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
backward classes. 12
 Ambedkar said “…my ideal would be a society based on Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity… [The caste system] means a state of slavery … a society in which some men
are forced to accept from others the purposes which control their conduct”. He constantly
deals with the question of strategies and instruments which would lead to the
annihilation of caste altogether. 13

CONCLUSION
"It is against the fundamental principles of humanity, it is against the dictates of reason that a
man should, by reason of birth, be denied or given extra privileges"
-Mahatma Gandhi14
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is also popularly known as the “father of Indian constitution”. He was also
from a Dalit family15; he has seen the difficulties which Dalit community is facing from long
time very closely, unlike other political leaders who mostly belong to the higher classes. He
became “the voice of the backwards” as he took up the issue of discrimination against the
marginalized class and work for their welfare very rigorously and by his conduct for the
underprivileged class he become a well known leader.16

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was a noted National leader, the Champion of Dalit community, he was the
one who realized about the status and needs of the marginalized people of India. There was no
single leader other than Ambedkar who felt the same and spoke on the subject of rights and
welfare of depressed classes at the time of independence struggle. He made efforts for protection
of the rights and welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.17

Dr. Ambedkar aimed at forming a casteless and classless society. He aimed at uplifting the under
privileged section of the society and providing them with a dignified life by focusing upon
employment, education and social status.18 Thus in a nutshell, the very foundation of the concept
of reservation lies into Equity and Justice.

12
P.Gokulraja, M. S. (2015). An Analysis of Reservation System in India. Dindigul: International Journal of
Research (IJR).
13
Jaffrelot, C. (2009). Dr. Ambedkar’s Strategies Against Untouchability and the Caste System. Working Paper
Series Indian Institute of Dalit Studies .
14
JANGIR, D. K. (2013). Reservation Policy and Indian Constitution in India . American International Journal of
Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences .
15
Mahars of Maharastra
16
Rhudra, S. A. (2012). RIGHT TO EQUALITY IN INDIA VIS-À-VIS RESERVATION IN FAVOUR OF
BACKWARD CLASSES. International Journal of Law and Legal Jurisprudence Studies , 302-313.
17
Jaffrelot, C. (2009). Dr. Ambedkar’s Strategies Against Untouchability and the Caste System. Working Paper
Series Indian Institute of Dalit Studies .

18
Singh, M. (2016). Affirmative Action and Dr. Ambedkar. Research Reinforcement .