Contribution of Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar to Nation Building
and Women Empowerment
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Samaj Sewak Trust of Hisar is bringing out a Souvenir to commemorate the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of India in the contemporary times. It is gratifying to note that the souvenir is dedicated to the theme ‘Contribution of Babasaheb Ambedkar
to nation building and women empowerment. It is an important subject about which our younger generations must be made aware and educated in the larger interest of the country and society. I appreciate and congratulate the Trust for taking the initiative in this regard. Moreover, it will also serve as a befitting tribute to the memory of the great leader, Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Babasaheb Ambedkar was a nationalist of the highest order who
always believed in the dictum of ‘India first and India last’. He was a
visionary leader. During the freedom struggle, he engaged himself in the nation
building by addressing the socio-economic problems of the weaker sections of
the society while working and interacting with the British rulers of the time
both by way of his intellectual and academic prowess and also in his capacity
as a senior functionary in the government side by side of the freedom movement
led by Mahatma Gandhi and others. As a profound economist, Dr. Ambedkar was a
great economic planner and thinker. As such he contributed immensely to
economic edifice of the country namely; Reserve Bank of India, big hydro
projects like Damodar Valley, Labour laws to bring about social security
elements in labour policies among others even before our independence in 1947.
Babasaheb’s biggest contribution towards nation building was his brilliant role
and contribution in making the Constitution of India. He is rightly remembered
as ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’.
Coming to Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution in emancipation and
empowerment of women, it is huge contribution which he made not only through
the relevant provisions in the Constitution of India – voting rights through
universal franchise, equality before law irrespective of gender etc. Even
before the new constitution, Babasaheb as Executive Member of the Viceroy’s Council
dealing with Labour, made provisions of maternity leave, regulated working
hours, women not going down the coal mines etc. to safeguard the interests of
women. In providing equal status to women, Babasaheb Ambedkar faced
considerable difficulties and challenges from the Hindu or even Sikh orthodoxy.
PM Jawaharlal Nehru though promised all support yet he could not defy the
hardcore orthodoxy and shelved the Hindu Code Bill proposed by Babasaheb
Ambedkar in the early years of 1950’s to reform the society and finish the
uncalled for discrimination against women in the social order of India.
Babasaheb Ambedkar was a man of conviction and dignity. He resigned from the
Cabinet of PM Nehru and registered his protest for ignoring the rights of
women. These efforts of Dr. Ambedkar resulted in the current rightful space and
share of women of India in the polity and economy of India and the society at
large.
I thought of sharing some of my, of the cuff, thoughts on the
subject. With this, I conclude with all best wishes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Samaj
Sewak Trust in their worhy efforts to take the ‘Caravan’ of the thought and
legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
