Translate Ambedkar’s novel ideas into practice

Dr BR Ambedkar’s ideas and thoughts are not discussed these days and translated into practice as much as importance is given on installing his photos and statues. Again, the Fascist forces are destroying and disfiguring his statues in a few places, which is unacceptable.

Dr Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 at Mhow in MP. Today, it is a fact that irrespective of political ideologies, Dr Ambedkar is accepted as the most revered visionary leader of the Indian masses because of his great ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity and human dignity.

Many of his great ideas are reflected in the Constitution of India which we all should follow to build the nation.

The Government of India has declared five important places relating to memories of Dr Ambedkar such as his birth place at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, Diksha Bhumi in Nagpur, Chayatya Bhumi in Mumbai of Maharashtra, Mahaparinirban Bhumi in Allipur Road of Delhi and memorial residence in London where Dr Ambedkar was staying for study.

In a very critical phase of our country along with others, Dr Ambedkar played a historic role in building Indian nationalism which brought together people from diverse identities through unity of bondage which could emerge with Constitutional governance and morality acceptable to all citizens of the country. He defined nationalism as not just identity but a set of ideas to be practiced in building a nation. He said castes are anti-national because they bring separation in social life; a nation can’t be built with a caste divided society. How can people divided into several thousands of castes be a nation? So it is paramount to break social barriers to build a nation, he said.

He also said, “Untouchability is not a simple matter; it is the mother of all our poverty and lowliness.” India needs a social revolution against untouchability and caste system, not just for the benefit of the untouchable but for the benefit of the nation. He made seminal contribution towards understanding of caste and its abolition by writing two important books such as ‘Caste in India’ and ‘Annihilation of Caste’. These books must be widely discussed to bring social democracy in India.

He expanded the concept of democracy as political, social and economic. In the Indian context which is not just limited to right to vote but democracy is a way of life that must be reflected in our social relations centering human dignity, brotherhood and respect for fellow citizens. Social democracy is the basis and is as important as economic and political democracy without which it is impossible to realize human rights and dignity. It is a fact that the citizens of India have partly realised political democracy through universal adult voting rights but very little has been done to build up social and economic democracy. The wealth, education, governance and social relationships in India need to be democratised for the realisation of basic human rights by all citizens of the country. The land, forest, water, mineral resources, budget and finance capital must be equally available to all its citizens for a dignified livelihood and decent living. The education and health system of the country must be universal, free and accessible to all without discrimination and restriction. It is the duty of the State to ensure education and health facilities for all its citizens and the scope of quality education must be available to all, irrespective of their class, caste and gender and religious identities.

The people of the country must have meaningful participation in the decision making process of the country through representation in governance, decision making bodies, legislature, executive and judiciary and organs and institutions that are responsible for the implementation of laws and programmes. Our workplaces in the country must have full of diversity through representation of our wide-ranging identities based on religion, language, region, caste, ethnicity and gender to make it inclusive of Indian character. Similarly, the dignity of human beings must be respected in our family and social life where each adult individual must be free to choose their life partner without fear and discrimination.

Unfortunately, the great ideas of Ambedkar and the golden words of Constitution placed in its Preamble, fundamental rights, fundamental duties and directive principles of State policy have not been fully materialised even after 70 years of our constitutional governance. We have not achieved social and economic democracy, making our political democracy vulnerable in the hands of the rich and powerful dominant sections. Our executive and judiciary are not adequately represented by people from the marginalised sections and the candidates for legislative bodies are largely dominated by the rich people. Election is fought on money, muscle, caste and religion line and voters are induced with illegal means to get elected. The demand for proportional representation system, State funding of elections and internal democracy and transparency in political parties has not been achieved which continues to pose a threat to build an inclusive democracy.

The marginalised sections are not feeling secured in social life as untouchability and caste-based atrocities and gender based violence continue unabated in the rural belt. Access to justice is out of the reach of the poor and the marginalised. The national resources are not used by the people for their livelihood and to live a life with dignity as landlessness, homelessness, illiteracy, unemployment, distress migration and poverty affect a vast section of our population.

Dr Ambedkar had faith on parliamentary democracy and party system and he gave stress not on the nature of the Constitution but on role of people and parties implementing it. He said howsoever good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it out happen to be a bad lot.

He formed a political party in 1936 in the name of the Independent Labour Party and changed its name as the Scheduled Caste Federation of India and later the Republican Party of India. He opposed the hero worship in politics and said it may lead to degradation and directorship.

While our country is struggling with issues of nationalism and democracy, Dr Ambedkar’s words in the Constituent Assembly are prophetic and people of the country must know more about his ideas rather than worshiping his statues. The implementation of the Constitution of India is itself the biggest tribute to Dr Ambedkar which the Government must follow in letter and spirit to build a great nation with great ideas.

(manasbbsr15@gmail.com)