PrintFriendly
Nation builder Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar played the role of an architect in India, the mother of democracy, by combining constitutional values and embedding them in the values and culture of our country. Rising above the extremely adverse circumstances of his personal life, he paved the way for justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and empowerment for crores of people of the country. As the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Baba Saheb ensured that liberty, equality and fraternity became the strong foundation of independent India’s democracy by providing a framework for the upliftment of the oppressed of the society and eliminating institutional inequalities.
Despite his unique contribution in nation-building, people at the helm of political power denied rightful place, the respect and prestige Baba Saheb deserved not only during his lifetime but even after his Mahaparinirvana. Congress, in their pursuit of political dominance, reduced his monumental legacy to a footnote. By doing this the Congress leaders betrayed not only Baba Saheb but also the very ideals he stood for.
For decades, Congress has claimed to champion social justice, but their actions paint a different picture, one of resistance and indifference. Failure of Congress to honor him reflects this party’s betrayal of his vision. Congress, embroiled in ideological hypocrisy, is now forced to remember Baba Saheb Ambedkar under compulsion. This same Congress family insulted Baba Saheb time and again and continuously tried to destroy his legacy. It was the result of Congress’s jealousy towards Baba Saheb that Baba Saheb was posthumously honored only in 1990, there was a delay of 34 years in awarding him the Bharat Ratna. In contrast, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi of the same family received this award during their tenure. Similarly, Congress showed reluctance in installing the portrait of Baba Saheb in the Central Hall of Parliament and the demand for displaying his painting in the Central Hall was repeatedly rejected on the pretext of lack of space and protocol. It was only after mounting pressure from Baba Saheb’s followers that the picture could be installed in the Central Hall on August 9, 1989, which was later removed. Lakhs of followers felt cheated by this act of Congress. Later, on April 12, 1990, the Portrait of Baba Saheb was again installed in the Central Hall by the BJP-supported government. While the belongings of Nehru and Indira Gandhi were carefully preserved, Baba Saheb’s typewriter, books and other artifacts, were left to languish for decades. These are being preserved by the Modi government by building Dr. Ambedkar Socio-Economic and Cultural Center in Chincholi, Nagpur and his eternal legacy is being brought to life.
Dr. Ambedkar’s political journey was repeatedly obstructed by Congress, which reveals their discomfort with his transformative vision. In the 1952 general elections, instead of supporting Baba Saheb’s unopposed entry to Parliament, Congress fielded Shri Narayan Kajolkar against him, with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru personally campaigning to defeat him. The betrayal continued in 1953, during the Bhandara by-election, where Congress fielded Mr. Van Khede to block Baba Saheb again and spread vicious propaganda regarding the practice of double voting to mislead the public. It is quite relevant to know here that in the first general election of 1952, the total number of rejected ballot papers was 74,333, but Baba Saheb was defeated by only 14,561 votes which was the result of Congress’s planned propaganda.
Baba Saheb envisioned reservations as a tool to correct historical injustices and level the playing field, but Congress repeatedly obstructed these measures. Jawaharlal Nehru in his letter dated 27 June 1961 to Chief Ministers of the States criticised reservation and termed it “harmful to merit and efficiency”. His remarks dismissed the structural barriers faced by marginalised communities. The Kaka Kalelkar Commission’s 1955 recommendations, which aimed to identify and uplift backward classes, were similarly shelved under Congress’s leadership. The Mandal Commission’s findings further exposed Congress’s reluctance to embrace affirmative action. In an interview given by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in Navbharat Times on March 3, 1985, he said “Don’t promote idiots in the name of reservation.” This remark also shook the soul of the entire marginalized community. When V.P. Singh’s government implemented the recommendations of Mandal Commission in 1990, late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the then Leader of Opposition, opposed the move, calling it divisive and regressive and termed it a barrier for the progress of the country. Even today, Congress’s contradictions on reservations have persisted. Shri Rahul Gandhi, while giving his lecture at Georgetown University of America in the year 2024, regarding reservation, suggested that reservation should be abolished when the time comes. All these facts reflect the ideological hypocrisy of the Congress and its historical discomfort with the reservation system along with its selective approach towards the rights given to the Scheduled Caste people who have been victims of exploitation for centuries.
Often, Congress leaders claim that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Baba Saheb Ambedkar as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, but this distorts history. As revealed in a letter from Edwina Mountbatten, it was Eamon de Valera, the former Prime Minister of Ireland, who recommended Baba Saheb for the role. Recognising his unmatched brilliance and patriotism, Edwina hailed him as the only leader capable of ensuring justice for all classes and creeds. His appointment was a testament to his intellect and moral authority, earned through the sheer force of his ideas and unwavering commitment to justice.
On the contrary, the Modi government, following the principles and ideals of Baba Saheb, not only successfully implemented hundreds of public welfare schemes but also worked to provide the respect and prestige Baba Saheb deserved by considering sensitively all the aspects related to his life. Panch Teerth which commemorates key milestones of his life i.e. Janmabhoomi Mhow (Madhya Pradesh), Shiksha Bhoomi (London), Deeksha Bhoomi (Nagpur), Parinirvana Bhoomi (Delhi) and Chaitya Bhoomi (Mumbai) have been constructed. To honour Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and contributions, the Modi Government decided to celebrate 26th November every year as “Constitution Day” from the year 2015 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar. On the occasion of Constitution Day 2023, a 7-foot-tall Panch Dhatu statue in lawyer’s attire has been unveiled in the Supreme Court complex, the Supreme Temple of Justice. Baba Saheb’s vision has breathed new life through policies implemented keeping in mind financial inclusion and social justice. Beyond symbolism, the Modi government has implemented transformative policies aligned with Baba Saheb’s vision. Initiatives like Stand-Up India and the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) promote financial inclusion and entrepreneurship among marginalised communities, breaking cycles of dependency and exclusion. The introduction of reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) further reflects a commitment to correcting historical and economic disparities. With the inspiration of Baba Saheb, more than 25 crore people have come out of the poverty line in the last decade through the schemes implemented by Modi Government.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was far ahead of his time, envisioning a future where justice and equality were not just aspirations but lived realities. As the chief architect of the Constitution, he embedded safeguards to protect the dignity of every citizen, ensuring that systemic barriers could be dismantled through legal and institutional frameworks. The Modi government’s initiatives provide a roadmap for meaningful change, but the journey is far from complete. Institutions, civil society, and individuals must join in the effort to realise Baba Saheb’s dream of a nation where justice, equality, and fraternity are not just principles but lived realities.
Today, the name of Baba Saheb is being used by the opposition parties in the country, mainly Congress, for political gains and under the influence of vote bank politics. It is evident to everyone who honored Baba Saheb and who acted in real terms to honour him. The time has come to fully embrace Baba Saheb’s vision, not just in governance but in every aspect of society. Let this be our commitment, to honour his memory through action and to ensure that his ideals guide India’s journey toward justice and progress.
(The writer is MoS for Law and Justice (I/C)
and MoS for Parliamentary Affairs, GoI)