The
Constituent Assembly drafted, debated, enacted and finally
adopted the
constitution of India on November 26, 1949. Government of India has
thoughtfully decided to commemorate the adoption of the constitution and to honour
its chief architect of, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the Constitution Day by devoting a
two-day Special Session of the Parliament on November 26-27, 2015.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkiah Naidu, announcing the decision said,
“Since we are celebrating the birth centenary of Ambedkarji, we have decided
this. We will be discussing in parliament the commitment to the constitution
and the contribution of Ambedkar to it.” It is a welcome initiative by the
Government as it will not only provide an opportunity to the parliamentarians
to commit themselves to the lofty ideals and underlying philosophy of equality,
liberty and fraternity so laboriously enshrined in the constitution, but also
educate the Indian youth to understand and follow the constitutional methods to
conduct themselves to take India to further heights. The occasion will also be
utilized to remember and pay homage to the memory of the father of the
constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the greatest son of India, in commemoration of
his 125th birth anniversary. There was a media report that CBSE has
directed all schools and institutions to observe November 26 as the
Constitution Day by hosting events to commemorate the constitution and the
philosophy of its Preamble. It is an appreciative step which would tend to
instill a sense of respect and regard for the constitution of India in the
young minds. The decision of the Government would also tend to generate a much
needed debate in the parliament and the country at large on the constitution
and its philosophy of democracy, secularism, socialism based on the cardinal
principles of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity in these days of increasing
sense of hatred and strife both in the polity and society. According to media
reports, the CPI (M) has endorsed the special session and demanded that
Government should come prepared with legislation to extend the provisions of
reservation to the private sector “for carrying on the unfinished agenda and
vision of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on the issue of social justice.”
Much
water has flown in the Ganges after 68 years of
Independence. We have come a
long way but yet to reach our goal which we set for ourselves in the
constitution that is to transform India into a democratic, secular and
socialist republic in which governance is based on the lofty ideals of
equality, liberty and fraternity. Our secularism is under threat. It seems we
are working on the assumption, show me the face or tell me the name and I will
give and explain the meaning of secularism. It is not what our fore-fathers
wanted. As regards, socialism, it is a far cry till date. A vast majority of
our people are condemned to live below the poverty line. Income disparities are
increasing among haves and have-nots. It was not what our fore-fathers desired.
Coming to equality, liberty and fraternity enshrined so wisely in our
constitution, we could not realize the magic of these three cardinal words and
transform our political democracy into social and economic democracy as visualized
by the father of the constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It seems a casteless
society is yet far away. I hope the
parliamentarians, lifting themselves above the party lines, discuss these
issues and rededicate themselves afresh in these two days, November 26-27,
2015, of the special session in the 125th anniversary of Babasaheb
Ambedkar. It will be a befitting tribute to the memory of the great leader.
In
spite of the fact that the underlying current in the country at the
time of
independence in 1947 was against Dr. Ambedkar but, it seems, he was destined to
make history by coming to the Constituent Assembly. With great opposition and
difficulty, Dr. Ambedkar managed to get elected from Bengal, not from his home
state Maharastra, with the help of Joginder Nath Mandal who later like Dr.
Ambedkar became the first Law Minister of Pakistan. Dr. Ambedkar started his
sterling contribution in the making of the Indian constitution. Later when the
Congress Party and its leadership realized that it was Dr. Ambedkar alone who
was capable to undertake the onerous task of drafting and piloting the
constitution, he was helped to retain his seat in the Constituent Assembly from
Maharastra. Dr. Ambedkar’s speech on the Objectives Resolution moved by
Jawaharlal Nehru set the tone of his mind and soul which he intended to devote
to the job. Dr. Ambedkar said, “I know today we are divided politically,
socially and economically. We are in warring camps and I am probably one of the
leaders of a warring camp. But with all this I am convinced that, given time
and circumstances, nothing in the world well prevent this country from becoming
one, and, with all our castes and creeds, I have not the slightest hesitation
in saying that we shall in some form be a united people.” Commenting on these developments, the biographer
of Dr. Ambedkar, Dhananjay Keer wrote, “The sacrilege had become counsel, and
the scoffer had become a friend who cast a spell on the Congressmen. Few
speeches have given such a turn to the life of a speaker.” The rest is history.
Dr. Ambedkar was made the Chairman of the Drafting Committee to draft, pilot and
get passed by the constituent Assembly the new constitution of India. He
undertook the job with great élan and completed it in a record time to usher
India into the comity of civilized and dignified countries. The constitution
was finally enacted and passed and adopted on November 26, 1949 which is today,
November 26, 2015, celebrated by the Parliament of India to mark the 125th
Anniversary of its Chief Architect, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The very opening
sentence of the poetic Preamble of the constitution registers the caliber and
intellect of its father and I quote, “We the people of India have solemnly
resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Democratic, Secular and
Socialist Republic…” The destiny of India was sealed magnanimously. Summing up the sentiments of the members of
the constituent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Assembly, paid
glowing tributes to Dr. Ambedkar and said, “Sitting in the Chair and watching
the proceedings from day to day, I have realized as nobody could have, with
what zeal and devotion the members of the Drafting Committee and especially its
Chairman, Dr. Ambedkar, in spite of his indifferent health have worked
(Cheers). We would never make a decision which was or could be ever so right as
when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman. He has not
only justified his selection but has added luster to the work which he has
done.”
Dr.
B.R. Ambedkar made a beautiful speech on November 25, 1949, the day before the
Constituent Assembly formally finished its work. His tone was jubilant yet
somber and reflective. He gave some warnings – place of popular protest in a
democracy and termed unconstitutional methods as “Grammar of Anarchy”, the blind
following of charismatic leaders and limitations of only political democracy
and advised to transform the political democracy established by the
constitution into social and economic democracy with delay. These, I think,
retain their relevance, perhaps more, today than in 1949.
Greetings on the Constitution Day. Jai Bheem. Jai Bharat
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