Ambedkar was ‘Mahatma of Mahatmas’, says theatre artiste

Mysuru: ‘Mahatma of Mahatmas’ was how veteran theatre artiste Janardhan, fondly known as Jenni, described the architect of the Indian Constitution BR Ambedkar. Janardhan, who participated at a ceremony organised to commemorate Ambedkar’s 128th birth anniversary at the University of Mysore (UoM) Law School on Friday, said, “The United Nations recently declared April 14 (Ambedkar’s birthday) as World Knowledge Day. But, the whole world knew of the extensive breadth of his knowledge when he drafted the Constitution.”
Crediting Ambedkar with uniting the country, Janardhan said, “Had Ambedkar thought along the lines of the founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah, India would have been fragmented. He brought the country together through his broad-mindedness. This is the reason Ambedkar must be revered as a Mahatma.”
Ambedkar understood the problems of the oppressed classes were faced with, Janardhan said. “He responded to the needs of the poor and working classes, which to me, is what a Mahatma is. He emphasised the need to cleanse the mind. Swachh Bharat must promote cleansing of one’s mind followed by cleaning the environment. Otherwise it will be reduced to a mere slogan. Caste hierarchy is crystallising, and peace and harmony of society is under siege today. Ambedkar dreamt of a secular India but caste remains a social evil,” the theatre artiste said.
Janardhan pointed out that Reservation, as envisaged by Ambedkar was at variance with what was practiced in the country today. “Nobody has studied what Ambedkar’s vision for Reservation was,” he rued.
UoM vice-chancellor Prof G Hemantha Kumar, who inaugurated the ceremony, said that Ambedkar was the one responsible for fixing the eight-hour schedule for workers. “If people are entitled to provident funds, it is because of him,” said Kumar.
Head of UoM Law School Prof C Basavaraju attended the ceremony.