A reformer par excellence

On April 14 every year, we celebrate the Jayanthi of Dr B R Ambedkar.  This year it is his 127th birth anniversary.  He is now hailed as a ‘Modern Manu,’ especially because he was a scion of the defeated peoples who were banished from touch, sight and even hearing of cultured people.  

Born of an untouchable Mahar family of Western India, as a boy he was humiliated by high caste schoolfellows.  He is the official draftsman and spokesman of the Constitution of free India and he will live forever in the minds of every thought-provoking Indian.  Ambedkar was the uncrowned king of the Scheduled Castes in India who considered him as a saviour.  He was an opponent to Gandhiji because Gandhiji wanted the Hindus and the Scheduled Castes while Ambedkar denounced Hinduism and considered it as a curse of his people.

Ambedkar hated the separate quarters for Harijans in our villages like American ghettos for Negros he protested against that social separation.  Ambedkar was a combination of a scholar, revolutionary and statesman that we rarely come across in democratic societies. His criticism of Gandhiji’s campaign against untouchability and Harijan uplift seems to be uncharitable to many persons.  He Ambedkar opposed Gandhiji till the end and ultimately found salvation in Buddhism.

Who is Supreme — Gandhiji or Ambedkar? Instead of wasting our energies over such an argument, it is always advisable to consider these two personalities, who were responsible for epoch-making events and were great and magnificent in their own spheres.  The Hindu society underwent a considerable change with the advent of democracy in India.

We have been trying to keep the caste forces alive to serve the personal ends of some people.  The growth of industrialisation and urbanisation has helped in disintegrating the caste structure. The impact of western education modernised the outlook of people and they came to realise that the caste structure was hindering the integrated growth of the country.  

Rapid industrialisation provided work on the principle of common employment and naturally the caste factor was being shunned by the management.  The different castes working under common employment and naturally caste factor have amalgamated into an industrial force.  Similarly, townships were created and the employee’s colonies overcame the orthodox caste barriers and began living in harmony. Everybody was treated alike in the eyes of law for the same offence committed. 

This shattered the basic philosophy of caste.  Caste federations and caste societies are very unhealthy in the process of national integration.  In the larger interests of the society and the nation, it is desirable to ban such conferences.  Inter-caste marriages should be encouraged as part of the philosophy adumbrated by the late Ambedkar.

Ambedkar did his BA from Bombay and in 1918 he went to Columbia University, USA.  He did his MA in Economics in 1915 and PhD in 1916.  The same year he got enrolled in the London School of Economics and Law.   In 1923, Ambedkar was called to the Bar and he set up his legal practice in Bombay.  In a few years, he built up a formidable reputation as a lawyer who championed the cause of the untouchables.  Ambedkar himself launched several papers and weeklies like Mook Nayak (1919), Bahishkrit Bharat (1927) and Janata (1930).   

Given Ambedkar’s impressive legal background, it is quite surprising that he became a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1942 and held the portfolio of law.  As Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, he piloted the Bill.  As the first Law Minister of Free India he sponsored an important piece of social reform legislation the Hindu Code Bill.  Contesting Mahatma Gandhi’s claim to speak for Harijans, he wrote “What Congress and Gandhi have done to the untouchability in Hindu doctrine.” He renounced Hinduism and became a Buddhist, together with 2,00,000 fellow untouchables at a ceremony in Nagpur.

Mahatma Gandhi objected to the provision of separate electorates for the Scheduled Castes (Untouchables) which in his view separated them from the whole Hindu Community.  Though in prison, Gandhi announced a fast-unto-death, which he began on September 10.  The Poona Pact (1932), an agreement between the Hindu leaders in India granting new rights to untouchables was signed ultimately.

Ambedkar was a unique phenomenon.  He was truly a colossus, humane and progressive. His life and mission will continue to be relevant and remain a source of inspiration.  By his hard work, keen intellect, perseverance and sound judgement he was able to overcome humiliation he faced in student days.  Ambedkar believed that education was an effective instrument for the uplift of the downtrodden.  Thanks to Dr Ambedkar, the dalits have been able to become top civil servants, engineers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, scientists and so on.

The greatest homage one can pay to Dr Ambedkar is to introspect by remembering his prophetic observations, and initiate pragmatic and practical social action to establish an egalitarian society in India, a cherished dream of his.  

By: Dr Agarala Eswara Reddi
(Writer is Former Speaker of AP Legislative Assembly)