Dr Ambedkar

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Dr. Ambedkar and constitution

Due to his seminal role in the framing of the Indian Constitution, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar is popularly known all over India as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. His efforts to eradicate social evils were remarkable and that is why he is called the “messiah” of the Dalits and downtrodden in India. Dr Ambedkar was appointed the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. The text prepared by Ambedkar provided constitutional guarantees and protections for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, including freedom of religion, the Abolition of Untouchability and outlawing all forms of discrimination. Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and social rights for Women, and also won the Constituent Assembly’s support for introducing a system of reservations of jobs for members of the SC and ST. Ambedkar kept the clauses of the Constitution flexible so that amendments could be made as and when the situation demanded. He provided an inspiring Preamble to the Constitution ensuring Justice, social, economic and political, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The creation of an egalitarian social order, however, remains an unfulfilled wishful thinking to this day.

Dr Ambedkar was not only a learned scholar and an eminent jurist but also a revolutionary who fought against social evils like untouch-ability and caste restrictions. Throughout his life, he battled social discrimination while upholding the rights of the Dalits and other socially backward classes. He was not only a great national leader but also a distinguished scholar of international repute. He not only led various social movements for the upliftment of the depressed sections of the Society/”>Indian Society but also contributed to the understanding of the socio-economic and political problems of India through his scholarly works on caste, religion, culture, constitutional law and Economic Development. As a matter of fact he was an economist and his various scholarly works and speeches indicate his deep understanding of the problems faced by the Indian society. He was appointed as the nation’s first Law Minister and was posthu-mously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1990-91.

On August 29, 1947 Dr. Ambedkar was appointed the Chairman of the Drafting Committee that was constituted by Constituent Assembly to draft a Constitution for independent India. The draft Constitution was the result of the collective efforts of a galaxy of great leaders and legal scholars in the Constituent Assembly such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, B.R. Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, B.N. Rao, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar etc. The purpose of this paper is to examine the contribution of Dr Ambedkar only to the Indian Constitution.

Dr Ambedkar played a seminal role in the framing of the Indian Constitution. He used all his experience and knowledge in drafting the Constitution. In his capacity as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he hammered out a comprehensive workable Constitution into which he incorporated his valuable views. He gave free India its legal framework, and the people, the basis of their freedom. To this end, his contribution was significant, substantial, and spectacular. Dr Ambedkar’s contribution to the evolution of free India lies in his striving for ensuring justice—social, economic and political—for one and all.

Fundamental Rights  

Ambedkar was a champion of fundamental rights, and Part III of the Indian Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights to the citizens against the state. Some of the fundamental rights contained in Articles 15(2), 17, 23, and 24 are also enforceable against individuals as they are very significant rights relating to the Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth etc. The text prepared by Ambedkar provided constitutional guarantees and protections for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability and outlawing all forms of discrimination. Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and social rights for women.

According to Ambedkar, the most significant feature of the fundamental rights is that these rights are made justiciable. The right to move to The Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights under ARTICLE 32 is itself a fundamental right. Article 32 authorises the Supreme Court to issue directions, orders or writs in the nature of Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, certioraris etc. or any other appropriate remedy, as the case may be, for the enforcement of funda-mental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Parliamentary Democracy

Dr. ambedkar was a strong advocate of the Parliamentary form of government right from the inception of the Government of India Act of 1935. He firmly believed that the parliamentary System of Government alone can usher in an egalitarian society through the application of the principles of social democracy. Dr Ambedkar’s social democracy comprised politicians, Political Parties with high standards of political morality, honesty and Integrity and strong and highly responsible Opposition party or parties committed to the cause of the downtrodden and depressed classes. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution echoes the principles of parliamentary democracy.

Protective Discrimination/Reservation

The real contribution of Ambedkar is reflected in the protective discrimination scheme or the reservation policy of the government envisaged under some provisions of Part III and many of Part IV dealing with the constitutional mandate to ameliorate the condition of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the other backward classes. Provisions like Article 17 prohibiting untouchability, Article 30 dealing with the protection of minorities are some of the notable examples.  Articles 15(4) and16(4) of Part III and Part XI, and Schedule V and VI dealing with the upliftment of the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes speak clearly about the substantial and significant contribution of Ambedkar for the development of untouchables.5 Ambedkar made it his life’s mission to uplift the untouchables and other downtrodden masses from the unequal position of inferiority to that of equal position of parity in socio-economic status with high-caste Hindus. For achieving this goal the reservation policy or the scheme of protective discrimination was advocated and implemented by him for ten years at least to ameliorate the conditions of the various depressed and down-trodden sections of Hindu society.

 


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Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician, and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination against Dalits (formerly known as “Untouchables”) and women. He was the principal architect of the Constitution of India and the first Minister of Law and Justice of India.

Ambedkar was born into a Dalit family in the town of Mhow in the Bombay Presidency (now in Madhya Pradesh). He was the son of Ramji Sakpal, a subedar in the British Indian Army, and Bhimabai. Ambedkar had three brothers and two sisters.

Ambedkar was educated at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and the London School of Economics. He received a doctorate in economics from Columbia University in New York City.

After returning to India, Ambedkar became a lawyer and a professor at the University of Bombay. He also began to work for the rights of Dalits. In 1920, he founded the Bahujan Samaj Party, a political party that represented the interests of Dalits.

In 1930, Ambedkar led the Dalit community in the Salt March, a protest against British rule. He also campaigned for the right of Dalits to enter temples and to use public water sources.

In 1947, Ambedkar was appointed the principal architect of the Constitution of India. The Constitution, which was adopted in 1950, guaranteed the rights of all Indians, including Dalits.

Ambedkar was also the first Minister of Law and Justice of India. He served in this position from 1947 to 1951.

Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956. He was cremated at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai.

Ambedkar is considered one of the most important figures in Indian history. He is revered by Dalits and other marginalized groups for his work to improve their rights. He is also respected by many other Indians for his contributions to the development of India.

Ambedkar’s early life was marked by POVERTY and discrimination. He was born into a family of Mahar Dalits, who were considered to be the lowest caste in Hindu society. As a child, Ambedkar was denied access to Education and was often subjected to abuse and violence.

Despite the obstacles he faced, Ambedkar was determined to succeed. He studied hard and eventually earned a law degree from Columbia University. After returning to India, he became a prominent lawyer and activist. He fought for the rights of Dalits and other marginalized groups, and he played a key role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution.

Ambedkar was a brilliant scholar and a gifted orator. He was also a devout Buddhist, and he converted to Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism in 1956. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of Buddhism in India.

Ambedkar’s legacy is immense. He is remembered as a champion of social justice and equality. He is also revered as a symbol of hope and inspiration for Dalits and other marginalized groups. His work has had a profound impact on the development of India, and his ideas continue to inspire people around the world.

Here are some of Ambedkar’s most famous quotes:

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, without mentioning the topic:

Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of social justice, education, and women’s Empowerment, without mentioning the topic of Dr. Ambedkar:

  1. Which of the following is not a goal of social justice?
    (A) To ensure that all people have equal rights and opportunities
    (B) To create a society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect
    (C) To eliminate discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation
    (D) To promote economic equality

  2. Which of the following is not a benefit of education?
    (A) Increased earning potential
    (B) Improved Health outcomes
    (C) Reduced crime rates
    (D) Increased social mobility

  3. Which of the following is not a barrier to women’s empowerment?
    (A) Gender inequality
    (B) Lack of access to education and EMPLOYMENT
    (C) Violence against women
    (D) Stereotypes about women’s roles

  4. Which of the following is not a way to promote social justice?
    (A) Advocating for policies that promote equality
    (B) Supporting organizations that work to fight discrimination
    (C) Educating others about the importance of social justice
    (D) Participating in protests and demonstrations

  5. Which of the following is not a way to promote education?
    (A) Advocating for increased funding for education
    (B) Supporting organizations that work to improve education
    (C) Volunteering in schools or tutoring programs
    (D) Participating in parent-teacher conferences

  6. Which of the following is not a way to promote women’s empowerment?
    (A) Advocating for policies that promote Gender Equality
    (B) Supporting organizations that work to fight violence against women
    (C) Educating others about the importance of women’s empowerment
    (D) Participating in protests and demonstrations

  7. Which of the following is not a goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?
    (A) To eradicate extreme poverty
    (B) To achieve universal primary education
    (C) To promote gender equality and empower all women and girls
    (D) To reduce inequality within and among countries

  8. Which of the following is not a target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education?
    (A) By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective Learning outcomes
    (B) By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education
    (C) By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve Literacy and numeracy
    (D) By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

  9. Which of the following is not a target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality?
    (A) By 2030, eliminate all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
    (B) By 2030, achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and its outcome documents
    (C) By 2030, eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
    (D) By 2030, ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for Leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life

  10. Which of the following is not a target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequality?
    (A) By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions
    (B) By 2030, ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic Resources, as well as access to basic Services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, Natural Resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance
    (C) By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income Growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national Average
    (D) By 2030, build resilient Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

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