PrintFriendly
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s towering contribution to India’s constitutional framework and social justice discourse remains beyond dispute. But for too long, his name and work were relegated to the margins of history. Successive Congress governments paid little heed to the very principles of equity and inclusion that Dr. Ambedkar championed. Whereas, the Bharatiya Janata Party has stepped forward to restore him to his rightful place in the national consciousness, ensuring that his ideas on social justice continue to guide the nation’s policies.
The Congress party’s neglect of Dr. Ambedkar reveals a legacy of deep-seated indifference. Congress left no stone unturned to stop Dr Ambedkar from entering the constituent assembly, reflecting how Congress deemed Dr. Ambedkar’s intellect and social standing peripheral to their own political calculus. This neglect persisted even after India’s independence. The regions of Bengal like Barisal and Faridpur in Bengal that had supported Dr. Ambedkar’s entry into the Constituent Assembly were later allowed to go to Pakistan—a move that highlighted Congress’s willingness to sacrifice regions with significant Dalit population for the sake of electoral convenience.
Time and again, Congress orchestrated strategic alliances to exclude Dr. Ambedkar from electoral politics. The 1952 Lok Sabha elections demonstrated this tactic when Congress leaders, including S.K. Patil, joined forces with the Communists to defeat
The Congress party’s neglect of Dr. Ambedkar reveals a legacy of deep-seated indifference. Congress left no stone unturned to stop Dr Ambedkar from entering the constituent assembly
him on the instruction of Nehru. The hostility was laid bare yet again in 1954, when the party fielded the same candidate to thwart him in the Bhandara by-election. Even Jawaharlal Nehru personally campaigned against him, exemplifying how Congress was determined to stamp out any genuine challenge to its dominance—especially from a thinker of Dr. Ambedkar’s caliber.
Dr. Ambedkar’s time as a minister in Nehru’s cabinet likewise underscored Congress’s reluctance to embrace his vision. Despite being the first Indian to earn a doctorate in economics, he was deliberately kept out of major decision-making committees on economic policy, defense and foreign affairs. Dr. Ambedkar’s resignation was a forceful indictment of the Congress leadership’s unwillingness to combat entrenched caste barriers and its lack of commitment to robust reforms like the Hindu Code Bill. Worse still, Congress did not even see fit to archive his resignation letter, signalling its broader intention to erase Dr Ambedkar and his dissent from the official record.
Congress’s disregard for Dr. Ambedkar’s monumental contributions did not end with his life. Upon his demise in December 1956, the then government’s refusal to allow his cremation in Delhi spoke volumes about its insecurities concerning his enduring popularity among marginalized communities. His family was denied basic courtesies, forced to take his body to Mumbai, without any official assistance. Even more telling was the refusal to allocate a state plane for the journey—Dr. Ambedkar’s grieving wife was billed for the flight costs instead.
In the decades that followed, Congress spared no effort in memorializing the Nehru-Gandhi family but repeatedly neglected calls to honour Dr. Ambedkar with an equivalent sense of national gratitude. Memorials dedicated to his memory languished as mere afterthoughts in Congresss governments. It was only under a non-Congress government supported by the BJP in 1990 that Dr. Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna—an honour the Congress had steadfastly with held.
The BJP, recognizing Dr. Ambedkar’s transformative role in shaping India’s constitutional ethos, has taken significant strides to reestablish his rightful legacy. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Panchteerth initiative stands out for its comprehensive scope: it honours five sites linked to Dr. Ambedkar’s life and education—his birthplace in Mhow, the site of his studies in London, his conversion to Buddhism in Nagpur, Mahaparinivaran sthal in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai. By converting these sites into national monuments, the BJP underscores Dr. Ambedkar’s place as a guiding luminary in India’s journey toward genuine social justice.
Far from being mere symbolism, these projects represent a commitment to actualize his dream of equity and inclusion. The BHIM app—named to salute Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy—highlights the BJP’s emphasis on financial inclusion via technology.
Similarly, schemes like Stand-Up India and Mudra Yojana echo Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of an economy that favors the self-empowerment of the disadvantaged, rather than top-down patronage. The establishment of the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi and the preservation of his London residence serve as enduring testimonies to the BJP’s dedication to keep his insights accessible for future generations.
Dr. Ambedkar’s speeches and writings offers an unfiltered view of his deep frustration with Congress’s duplicity. He pinpointed the party’s reluctance to dismantle entrenched hierarchies, accusing Congress leaders of paying lip service to the cause of Dalits while doing little to challenge their systemic oppression. His criticisms, often dismissed as personal grievances, stemmed from witnessing firsthand how political elites remained unwilling to share power with India’s marginalized communities.
This ideological rift has persisted into the present day. While Congress occasionally invokes Dr. Ambedkar’s name, it comes off as an opportunistic gesture bereft of genuine intent. In contrast, the BJP has pursued a consistent course of integrating Dr. Ambedkar’s values into the larger framework of national governance, aligning developmental plans with the principles of social and economic inclusion he championed.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Dr. Ambedkar’s revival lies in the tangible transformation witnessed under the BJP’s stewardship. Where Congress failed to move beyond symbolic posturing, the BJP has placed his ideals of social justice and economic empowerment of marginalised at the heart of policy-making, bridging ideological, regional, and social divides.
By restoring Dr. Ambedkar to his rightful stature, the BJP has corrected a historical wrong. Rather than confine his contributions to perfunctory statues and token tributes, the party has woven his life’s work into the fabric of India’s governance. The renewed visibility of his principles—be it in promoting financial inclusion or challenging societal prejudices—attests to a commitment far deeper than mere rhetoric.
In the end, Dr. Ambedkar’s story is more than a record of personal achievements; it is a moral compass for a nation still grappling with social inequalities. His life and battles for justice continue to inspire countless Indians, and the BJP’s interventions have served as a clarion call: one cannot speak of India’s Constitution or its quest for equality without invoking the enduring spirit of Dr. Ambedkar. Through conscientious policy and unwavering resolve, the BJP stands as the truest custodian of his vision, ensuring that his legacy remains a living force driving the nation forward.
(The writer is Vice-President of National BJYM)