Relevance of Ambedkar in the India of Today

Since independence in 1947 and becoming a constitutional democracy in 1950, India has come a long way in its development and progress. Today, India is the largest democracy of the world. India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world it could become possible only because of the constitutional arrangements made by our fore fathers spearheaded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, father of the Indian constitution and initiator of socio-economic-moral reform and up-turn in the society at large. . India has arrived but it is yet to reach.

Today is the Mahaparinirvana Diwas ( death anniversary ) of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Let us have a fresh look at the relevance of Dr. Ambedkar in the changing scenario on this day. I think Ambedkar is as relevant today as it was before. In fact, the internal progress and development and also due recognition in the international and regional matters and fora could be achieved and attained because of the political stability ushered through the constitutional arrangements made by the visionaries like Dr. Ambedkar. The constitutional mechanism is on track and India is on rails. It is tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his thought aptly explained by him when he said “My social philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words: liberty, equality and fraternity. My philosophy has roots in religion and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of my master, the Buddha."

The relevance of Ambedkar will remain – democratic system is working, institutions are getting strength, caste system is getting negated though slowly, dalits are increasingly getting their say and rightly so, social integration is coming around. All these positive traits in Indian system and establishment have come about due to sound edifice given by Dr. Ambedkar. The 2G scam and some wrong doing by the system are being pin pointed and checked by the CAG and other watchdog agencies. Dr. Ambedkar speaking in the Constituent Assembly highly placed the office of the CAG. The judiciary is active proactive. The executive is afraid of the parliament. The system of checks and balance is working. India has started asserting itself, as visualized by Dr. Ambedkar long before the relations with China and Pakistan went sore after our independence. Dr. Ambedkar’s thinking on our China policy was to assert on the issue of Tibet and sit and negotiate with Pakistan on the basis of ground realities on the border. These important aspects of our foreign policy have to given a fresh look. It is satisfying to note that the elections are being held regularly though not yet fully free from faults.

But all said and done, there are some dangers lurking around. One is to resort to extra constitutional methods to terrorize the duly elected government of the day. The Anna Hazares of India shall think it over and ward of the system of the “Grammar of Anarchy” as explained by Dr. Ambedkar to save the democratic system. The elected representatives shall also think and consider Dr. Ambedkar’s advice in this regard that ‘“Despotism does not cease to be despotism because it is elective”. Second the growing muscle and money power in the elections. We should try to eliminate and negate these ugly influences on our polity. It will be a good tribute to the memory of the greatest democratic Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Thirdly the hero worship in democratic politics is the undoing of the system. Dr. Ambedkar warned ‘Do not lay liberties at the feet of a great man; in politics, bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation. Make political democracy a social democracy; resolve the contradictions, else they will undermine, or blow up, democracy itself.’