By Tarunkumar G. Singhal
Raman Jokhakar
Chartered Accountants
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The UN observed Bhim Rao ‘Babasaheb’ Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary on 13.04.2016 – showcasing the universal appeal of the principal architect of India’s Constitution, who fought caste injustice. Indeed, from being an icon solely of Dalit parties in yesteryear, Ambedkar’s legacy is enjoying a revival with political parties across India’s ideological spectrum fighting to appropriate it. And now, with inequality a rising concern and cause for political turmoil in Western countries, Ambedkar’s appeal has reached Western shores as well.
The continuing re-imagination of Ambedkar reflects as much on his immense contributions in defining the Indian republic as it does on the contemporary relevance of themes he became synonymous with: equality, social justice and rule of law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Ambedkar’s birthplace in Mhow, MP tomorrow to observe Social Harmony Day. In a bid to steal Modi’s thunder Congress organised a big rally on Monday in Nagpur, the headquarters of RSS.
Ambedkar was a crusader against untouchability and the caste system, eventually embracing Buddhism in 1956. By putting up banners and posters of Ambedkar, BJP hopes to portray itself not only as a champion of social engineering, but also take advantage of the fading of Nehru’s lustre in post-liberalisation India. However, BJP’s Hindu-first agenda is contradicted by Ambedkar’s belief that caste hierarchies are an intrinsic part of Hinduism (that is why he converted to Buddhism). Likewise, Ambedkar resists appropriation by contemporary leftist causes as well. He disagreed with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of self-governing villages as India’s foundation, viewing them instead as dens of inequality. He opposed insertion of the terms ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the preamble to the Constitution. He opposed Article 370 and was an ardent supporter of the Uniform Civil Code.
It’s welcome that political parties are debating Ambedkar today. What’s less welcome, however, is their attempt to project their own beliefs on to Ambedkar. He stood, for example, for the total annihilation of caste. Were he to witness today’s permanent and expanding regime of caste quotas, which all political parties appear to be agreed on, he could well be turning over in his grave. He was, above all, a modern thinker, a practitioner of pragmatic politics who refused to be bogged down by any particular ideology or religion. Leaders who invoke him today would do well to learn from that legacy.
(Source: Times of India dated 13.04.2016)
