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.
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. B.R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, British India (now in Madhya Pradesh, India). He was the 14th and youngest child of Bhimabai and Ramji Sakpal. His father was a subedar in the British Indian Army. Ambedkar was born into a Mahar family, which was considered to be one of the lowest castes in the Hindu caste system.
Ambedkar was a brilliant student and won a scholarship to study in the United States. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in economics and political science in 1915. He then went on to study law at the London School of Economics, where he earned a doctorate in 1923.
After returning to India, Ambedkar became a leading advocate for the rights of Dalits, or “untouchables.” He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party, which is a political party that represents the interests of Dalits and other marginalized groups. Ambedkar was also a key figure in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. He was the chairman of the drafting committee and played a major role in shaping the Constitution.
Ambedkar was a controversial figure, but he is also considered to be 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 Indian Constitution.
Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956, at the age of 65. He was cremated at Chaitya Bhoomi, a memorial complex in Mumbai.
Early life
Ambedkar was born into a Mahar family, which was considered to be one of the lowest castes in the Hindu caste system. His father was a subedar in the British Indian Army. Ambedkar’s mother was a devout Hindu, and she instilled in him a strong sense of faith and spirituality.
Ambedkar’s early life was marked by POVERTY and discrimination. He was often denied access to Education and other opportunities because of his caste. However, Ambedkar was a brilliant student, and he overcame these obstacles to achieve great success.
Education
Ambedkar was a brilliant student, and he won a scholarship to study in the United States. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in economics and political science in 1915. He then went on to study law at the London School of Economics, where he earned a doctorate in 1923.
Ambedkar’s education gave him a deep understanding of the world and its problems. It also gave him the tools he needed to fight for the rights of Dalits and other marginalized groups.
Career
After returning to India, Ambedkar became a leading advocate for the rights of Dalits, or “untouchables.” He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party, which is a political party that represents the interests of Dalits and other marginalized groups. Ambedkar was also a key figure in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. He was the chairman of the drafting committee and played a major role in shaping the Constitution.
Ambedkar’s work for the rights of Dalits was groundbreaking. He fought for their right to education, EMPLOYMENT, and political representation. He also campaigned against the practice of untouchability. Ambedkar’s work helped to improve the lives of millions of Dalits in India.
Contribution to Indian Constitution
Ambedkar was a key figure in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. He was the chairman of the drafting committee and played a major role in shaping the Constitution.
Ambedkar’s contributions to the Constitution were numerous. He ensured that the Constitution guaranteed the rights of all Indians, regardless of caste, religion, or gender. He also ensured that the Constitution provided for a secular and democratic government.
Ambedkar’s work on the Constitution was essential to the creation of a modern, democratic India. His contributions to the Constitution have helped to make India a more just and equal society.
Legacy
Ambedkar is considered to be 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 Indian Constitution.
Ambedkar’s legacy is one of courage, determination, and hope. He showed the world that it is possible to overcome even the most difficult obstacles. He also showed the world that it is possible to build a better future for all people.
Who was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a social reformer, politician, and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. He was born into a Dalit family in 1891 and faced discrimination and hardship throughout his life. However, he overcame these challenges to become one of the most influential figures in Indian history.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions to the making of the Indian Constitution?
Dr. Ambedkar played a key role in drafting the Indian Constitution. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting the Constitution. He also served as the chairman of the drafting committee. Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions to the Constitution were immense. He ensured that the Constitution included provisions for the protection of the rights of minorities, women, and the oppressed. He also ensured that the Constitution was secular and democratic.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s other contributions to India?
Dr. Ambedkar was a prolific writer and thinker. He wrote extensively on a variety of topics, including social reform, economics, and politics. He also founded the Republican Party of India, which was the first political party to represent the interests of Dalits. Dr. Ambedkar was a tireless advocate for the rights of the oppressed. He is considered to be one of the greatest leaders in Indian history.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s views on religion?
Dr. Ambedkar was a critic of Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism. He believed that Hinduism was a caste-based religion that discriminated against Dalits. He also believed that Hinduism was a religion that was based on violence and superstition. Dr. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism in 1956.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s views on women’s rights?
Dr. Ambedkar was a strong advocate for women’s rights. He believed that women should have equal rights to men in all areas of life. He also believed that women should be educated and empowered. Dr. Ambedkar’s views on women’s rights were ahead of his time.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s views on education?
Dr. Ambedkar believed that education was the key to social and economic upliftment. He believed that education would help Dalits and other oppressed groups to overcome the discrimination they faced. Dr. Ambedkar founded several educational institutions for Dalits. He also served as the minister of education in the first Indian government.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s views on economics?
Dr. Ambedkar was a socialist. He believed that the state should play an active role in the economy. He also believed that the economy should be based on the principles of equality and justice. Dr. Ambedkar’s views on economics were influenced by his study of Marxism.
What were Dr. Ambedkar’s views on politics?
Dr. Ambedkar was a democrat. He believed that democracy was the best form of government. He also believed that the rights of the individual should be protected. Dr. Ambedkar’s views on politics were influenced by his study of Western political thought.
What was Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy?
Dr. Ambedkar is considered to be one of the greatest leaders in Indian history. He is a symbol of hope and inspiration for Dalits and other oppressed groups. He is also a symbol of the struggle for social justice. Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy is one of courage, determination, and hope.
Here are some multiple choice questions about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, his life and contribution to making of Indian Constitution:
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Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born in:
(A) India
(B) Pakistan
(C) Bangladesh
(D) Sri Lanka -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a:
(A) Lawyer
(B) Politician
(C) Social reformer
(D) All of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the principal architect of the:
(A) Indian Constitution
(B) Pakistani Constitution
(C) Bangladeshi Constitution
(D) Sri Lankan Constitution -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the first:
(A) Prime Minister of India
(B) President of India
(C) Chief Justice of India
(D) None of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a member of the:
(A) Indian National Congress
(B) All India Muslim League
(C) Communist Party of India
(D) None of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a champion of the rights of:
(A) Dalits
(B) Muslims
(C) Women
(D) All of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was awarded the:
(A) Bharat Ratna
(B) Padma Vibhushan
(C) Padma Shri
(D) None of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar died on:
(A) April 6, 1956
(B) May 14, 1964
(C) August 15, 1947
(D) None of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birthday is celebrated as:
(A) Ambedkar Jayanti
(B) Dalit Day
(C) Constitution Day
(D) None of the above -
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s favorite book was:
(A) The Bible
(B) The Quran
(C) The Gita
(D) None of the above
Answers:
1. (A)
2. (D)
3. (A)
4. (D)
5. (A)
6. (A)
7. (A)
8. (A)
9. (A)
10. (D)