In the world the great man first has to be born in the form of the great man and then he has to prove himself the great man by his enriched personality with virtues and by his great capability. According to such a rule of the world Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in the form of the great man, on 14th April 1891 at Mahu in Madhya Pradesh of India. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist, jurist, Dalit, political leader, activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary, and the revivalist of Buddhism in India. He was also the chief architect of the Indian constitution. Born into a poor untouchable family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna – the Hindu categorization of human society into four varnas – and the Indian Caste System.
The great man Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s active life, glorious personality, and great capability these characteristics forever are worthy of writing with the golden letters, in the useful history of the nation India of the entire world and of the universal mankind.
Childhood and Early Life of B.R. Ambedkar: The ancestral village of Dr. Ambedkar is Ambavade, which is located in Rathagiri District of Maharashtra state and is located about 5 miles from Madhavgarh, which is a small village. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on 14th April 1891 in village Mahu in a Mahar Caste, which was considered to be of the untouchables. His father’s name was Ramji Sakpal and he was married to Bhimabai who was from murbadkar family. Ramji Sakpal had 14 children out of which Bhmrao was the 14th Bhimrao started experiencing the pangs of untouchability right from his childhood Bhimrao’s father was working in a distant village named Gorgaon. One summer he, along with his brother and cousin, went to Gorgaon to meet his father. They had written a letter to his father but his father had not received it in time and, therefore, he did not come to the railway station to receive his children. The boys facing the difficulty of transport requested the station master for help, who after persuasions could rent a bullock cart for these children. Hardly has the cart gone few yards when the cart man came to know that the well-dressed children sitting in his cart were untouchables, and in a fit of rage he threw them out on the road as one overthrows the dustbins; for he felt that his bullocks had got polluted by the touch of the untouchables. But the boys soothed the cart man’s anger by paying double the fare and Bhim’s elder brother drove the cart, the cartman following the cart up to Gorgaon he was the first rude shock to the budding mind of Bhim. After few days Bhimrao faced another bitter experience. He was very thirsty, one day and was drinking water from a public watercourse. Savarns saw this and felt that this kid has polluted their drinking water, and they beat Bhimrao black and blue.
However, all Brahmins are not alike. There are exceptions. There was one Brahmin teacher in his high school. He loved Bhimrao very much. He dropped portions of his meals into the hands of Bhim daily during his recess. This teacher has left a permanent impression on Bhim’s life. The original family name of Bhim’s father was Sakpal. But Bhim’s village was Ambavade from which in his school, his family name was written as Ambavadekar. But the family name of the teacher who loved Bhimrao was Ambedkar. The teacher loved Bhim so much that he changed Bim’s family name from Ambavadekar to Ambedkar. And in the school register, he noted it according. Bhimrao very gracefully accepted this new family name given to him by his beloved teacher. And for the rest of his life, he lived with that last name. Dr. Ambedkar has always remembered this teacher for his lifetime.
Education of B.R. Ambedkar: Dr. Ambedkar was the most ambitious leader, pursuer of the target, strong-willed, determined, discreet, courageous, hardworking, studious thoughtful, self-respecting, expert in work, dutiful, devoted recipient of the highest degrees, manifold knowledgeable, the good use of the knowledge for the welfare of the people. The Maharaja Sayaji Rao of Baroda, a progressive untouchable student for higher studies Ambedkar welcomed the opportunity and joined Elphinstone College. He was granted a scholarship of rupees twenty-five per month. Professor Muller lent him books and gave him clothes. But the insulting environment never changed. The college hotel-keeper who was a Brahmin would not give him tea or water. Ambedkar did not mind such inconveniences and humiliating treatment. He concentrated his energy on studies and passed his B.A. examination in 1912 with English and Persian as his subjects. An opportunity came Ambedkar’s way when the Maharaja of Baroda thought of sending some students to the U.S.A. for higher studies at the Columbia University. Ambedkar was one of them. On June 4, 1913, he signed an agreement with the Baroda State authorities, and in the third week of July 1913, he joined Columbia University as a Gaekwad Scholar. He was the first Mahar to study in a foreign university. In June 1915, he obtained the M.A. degree for his thesis, “Ancient Indian Commerce” In May 1916, he read a paper on ‘The Castes in India, their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development, at the Anthropology Seminar sponsored by Dr. Goldenweiser. It was published in the Indian Antiquary in May 1917.
In June 1916, Ambedkar submitted his thesis for the degree of Ph.D. entitled ‘National Divided for India” A Historic and Analytical Study. Ambedkar left Columbia University to join the London School of Economics and Political Science as a graduate student in June 1916. In October 1916, he was admitted to Gray’s Inn for law. In July 1917, Ambedkar was made Military Secretary to the Maharaja of Baroda with a view to be groomed for the post of the State’s Finance Minister. In November 1918, he joined as Professor of Political Economy in Sydenham College, Bombay, and resigned in March 1920 from his post to resume his studies in law and economics in London. On January 31, 1920, Ambedkar started a weekly paper Mooknayak (Leader of the Dumb) to Champion the cause of the Depressed Classes in India. In September 1920, Ambedkar rejoined the London School of Economics and Political Science and also entered Glay’s inn to quality as a barrister. In June 1921, the University of London accepted his thesis ‘Provincial De-Centralization of Imperial Hnauce in British India.’ Fro the M.Sc. (Economics) degree.
In March 1923, he submitted his thesis: ‘The Problem of the Rupee – Its Origin and Its Solution’, for the degree of D.Sc. (Economics). The thesis was published in December 1923, by P.S. King and Company, London. This book had an introduction by Professor Cannan. Ambedkar was called to the Bar in April 1923. In London, he met E.S. Montagu, Secretary of State for India, and Vithalbhai Patel, and had talks with them in respect of the grievances of the untouchables in India. The University of Columbia had highly respected Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by awarding him the honorary degree of LL.D. in the New York city of America on 5th June 1942. In India also the University of Osmania had gracefully honored Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, in the Hyderabad city of Andhra Pradesh by awarding the highest degree of D.Litt. on the 12th January 1953.
Thus, the great man Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had obtained B.A., M.A., Ph.D., M.Sc., D.Sc., Bar-at-Law, LL.D., and D.Lit. such as the higher and highest degrees. Their degrees were like the very attractive jeweled ornaments of the gold, which were growing the respect, glory, and dignity of the Shining Personality of Dr. Ambedkar.
B.R. Ambedkar and Drafting of the Constitution: On 29th August 1947 passing one resolution the Constituent Assembly appointed a ‘Drafting Committee” with the seven members including Dr. Ambedkar for preparing a draft of the Constitution of independent India. It is said when the drafting of the Constitution of India was embarked upon, Pandit Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel thought of inviting and consulting Sir Guor Jennings, as internationally known constitutional expert of those times. When approached for advice in the matter Gandhiji is reported to have told them why they should be looking for foreign experts when they had the right within India an outstanding legal and constitutional expert in Dr. Ambedkar who ought to be entrusted with the role which they badly need as he so richly and rightly deserved. The Law Minister Dr. Ambedkar was appointed the Chairman of the Drafting Committee. The seven members, including the Chairman of the ‘Drafting Committee were as follows:
1) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman
2) N. Goipalswami
3) Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
4) K.M. Munshi
5) Saijio Mola Saadulla
6) N. Madhava Rao and
7) D.P. Khaitan
Dr. Ambedkar was honored to step by step. At the first step, he was honored as a member of the Constituent Assembly. At the second step, he was honored as the first ‘Law Minister’ of independent India and at the third step he was honored as the chairman of the ‘Drafting Committee’. Because of his bright characteristics, as his deep and vast study, tremendous knowledge, amazing command of the English language, expertness in explaining the subject, and ideal patriotism, he had got these pleasant honors.
“Thought-provoking and provocative, his life is high, instructive to everyone who yearns for human dignity and equality in human relationships in society.” These words of one of his biographers describe the essence of what he stood for and what he achieved.
Dr. Ambedkar had a charismatic personality. He was pragmatic par excellence, who never allowed himself to be swayed by abstract ideas and ideals. He strongly believed that political independence cannot assure either social solidarity or national integration in the absence of social justice. Being a democratic socialist, he propagated that fundamental rights have little meaning to people in the absence of social democracy.
Dr. Ambedkar was one of the very few Indian Statesmen-politicians who actively participated in the discussions on Constitutional matters from the Monsford Reforms (1919) to the Cabinet Mission (1946) proposals.
He was the first and foremost leader of the depressed classes, and the struggle of the depressed classes for Human Rights and socio-political equality from the twenties to the fifties of the 20th century is woven round his name Being elected Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr. Ambedkar played a key role in viewing the structure of the government and the forms of the Constitution.
The Round Table Conference: The Round Table Conference was a landmark in the history of the Indian Constitution. Being invited to discuss constitutional matters Dr. Ambedkar demanded independence and hoped that the people of India would be able to redress their grievances by political power and this political power will come to them under the ‘Swaraj’ constitution.
At the first session of the Round Table Conference, he gave a clear warning to the British Government, saying: “I am afraid it is not sufficiently realized that in the present temper of the country, no Constitution will be workable which is not acceptable to the majority of the people. The time when you were to choose and India was to accept is gone, never to return. Let the consent of the people and not the accident of logic be the touchstone of your new Constitution if you desire that it should be worked…”
He advocated for a government which was a responsible government formed by the representatives of the people. Dr. Ambedkar did not want to impose a Constitution on the Indians, but he submitted that the opinion of the people about the manner in which they desired to be governed must be accepted.
“The best government rests on the people, and not on the few on persons and not on property, on the free development of public opinion and not on authority.
George Bancroft Role Of The Constituent Assembly: In the constituent Assembly Dr. Ambedkar played a very significant role with a lofty responsibility of drafting the Constitution. He examined the functioning of a democratic government on the basis of stability and responsibility.
However, the Draft Constitution recommended that the parliamentary of the executive must have more responsibility to stability. As regards the character of the Constitution, it was Federal in form and Unitary in Spirit”. It established a dual polity with the Union at the Centre and the States at the periphery, each endowed with sovereign powers to be exercised in the field assigned to them respectively by the Constitution.
Concept Of Federalism: His concept of federalism meant that the State was a federation in normalcy, but unitary in an emergency.
Centre Was Made Strong: In the Draft Constitution Dr. Ambedkar offered more powers to the Centre and made it strong. Some members of the constituent assembly criticized him on the ground that since Dr. Ambedkar postulated – the rights and values of each individual and the development of each province and each–village, it was contradictory on his part to make the Centre strong. Justifying the provisions for a strong Central authority Dr. Ambedkar said that he made the center strong not only to ‘save minorities from the misrule of the majority’ but also “for it is only the center which can work for a common end and for the general interests of the country as a whole.”
Equality Of Opportunity: In the Draft Constitution the “Fundamental Rights”, prescribed were justifiable in the Court of Law. Of all the rights, Dr. Amebedkar observed “Equality of Opportunity” as the most important one. Regarding the constitutional remedies, he characterizes Article 32 as the very soul of the Constitution and the very heart of it.
To him, fundamental rights would mean the establishment of equality and liberty in order to reform our social system, which is so full of inequalities discriminations, and others that conflict with our fundamental rights.
Directive Principles Of State Policy: The Directive Principles of State Policy contained the positive obligations of the state towards its citizens. The Directives were meant to ensure social and economic democracy which was secured by the provisions of fundamental rights in a written Constitution.
Dr. Ambedkar said: “What is called Directive Principles is simply another name for Instruments of instructions to the legislature and the executive…as to how they should exercise their power.”
Constitution: A Dynamic Document: The Constitution is a dynamic document it should grow with the growth of the nation and should suit the changing needs and circumstances. So Dr. Ambedkar urged the necessity of amendment. “The Draft Constitution has eliminated the elaborate and difficult procedures such as a decision by a convention or a referendum. The power of amendment lies with the legislatures, Central and Provincial …”
Dr. Ambedkar was doubtful on the Constitutional mortality of the legislatures. So he wanted to incorporate the forms of administration in the Constitution.
Concept Of Sovereignty And Suzerainty: Dr. Ambedkar’s concept of sovereignty and suzerainty and of the Indian States, i.e., integration of the native Indian Princely States which gave the shape to the rap of India as if is today, has indeed been prophetic. So also were his explicitly and outspoken views on what he called the biggest blunder of Partition of India. Dr. Ambedkar forewarned his countrymen of the Consequences of partition. His questioning of the rationale of the two-nation theory which gave birth to Pakistan was born of deep interest in and compassion for his compatriots esp., the Scheduled castes settled for centuries within the territorial jurisdiction of the new notion of Pakistan.
National Integration: In the Draft Constitution Dr. Ambedkar prescribed single citizenship, a single judiciary, and uniformity in fundamental Laws to integrate Indian society which was not only divided into caste and class but also into regions, religions, languages, traditions, and cultures. Therefore, a strong Centre was indispensable to maintain territorial integrity and administrative discipline.
However, in the Draft Constitution, he suggested the acceptance of Hindi in the ‘nagiri’ script as the National Language of India. When it was finally decided that India should be divided into India and Pakistan, Dr. Ambedkar at that time demanded the division of Punjab and Bengal, and the territories to be added to India.
A pragmatist to the core, Ambedkar believed that in the absence of economic and social justice political independence would not bring about their social solidarity or, national integration. He advocated the abolition of privileges on the basis of caste or status and vigorously fought for the liberty and dignity of the individual. At the same time, he was equally forceful in his advocacy of the unity of the nation. Ambedkar sought to achieve their objectives through the constitution of India by incorporating in it the following principles.
(1) Making the Indian constitution workable, flexible enough, and strong enough to hold the country together both in peace and wartime.
(2) Providing special safeguards to the minorities and certain classes who are socially and educationally backward.
(3) Incorporating the principle of one man, one value, and one man, one vote. Thus, the constitution of India accepted one individual and net on the village as a unit.
(4) Incorporating exceptions and qualifications to the FRs while advocating, preventive detention and energy way powers of the president of India.
(5) Abolishing untouchability and forced labor to achieve the ideal of “one man, one value, and one man, one vote’, and placing all people equal before the law; securing equal protection of laws for every citizen as also freedom of profession and equality of opportunity.
(6) Incorporating the right to constitutional remedies for making the right real.
Conclusion: The contribution of Dr. Ambedkar in Indian Democracy is not to be forgotten. As a chairman of the Constitutional Committee, he gave shape to our country of a complete Sovereign, Democratic, and Republic based on adult franchise. Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s name will be written in golden letters in the history of India as a creator of social justice. This fact is doubtless. He was not only the man of age and builder of the Constitution but also the creator of social justice and the betterment of the downtrodden. He was one of the few sons in the History of India that he can be said to the gift of the Indian freedom movement. If Mahatma Gandhi gave direction and lesson of morality then Baba Saheb gave shape to social aspect without exploitation. In the true sense of the word, he gave democratic and anti-caste aims. He spent his whole life for the betterment of the poor, exploited, untouchables, and troubled classes. Thus, Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution to the Indian Constitution is undoubted of the highest order. Indeed he deserved to be called the “father or the Chief Architect” of the Indian Constitution.
Written by Ms. Kavita, Assistant Professor, Institute of Law, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana
Source: India in Cambodia (Embassy of India, Phnom Penh)
