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Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar: A staunch nationalist
–Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar dedicated his life to the welfare of the marginalized communities.
–Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar background shaped this mission, as he came from a poor family and lived among the poor in an Improvement Trust Chawl in Bombay.
“I have come to believe that the purpose of my life is to struggle for the welfare of the downtrodden.”
– Excerpt from his address at the Ratnagiri District
Agriculturists Conference, Chiplun; 14th April 1929
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s Vision of a United, Strong Hinduism
–Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar advocated for abolishing caste to create unity and strength among Hindus.
–His vision of Hinduism is a united strong Hinduism, battle-ready and prepared to take on Abrahamic religions.
He said, “So long as caste remains, there will be no Sangathan, and so long as there is no Sangathan, the Hindu will remain weak and meek…”
– Annihilation of Caste (1944), authored
by Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
His critique of caste emphasized the damage it caused to Hindu unity
–This aligns with the BJP’s emphasis on overcoming social divisions and fostering a united, strong Hindu identity.
–It is in this context that one could understand why he was extremely appreciative of all genuine reform work by Hindu nationalists.
–He expressed open appreciation for the works of Veer V.D. Savarkar and Swami Shraddhanand—both Hindu Mahasabha leaders.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on Islam
–Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar viewed Islam as an alienating force.
–He explained that the brotherhood of Islam is “for Muslims only,” creating division, rather than promoting universal brotherhood.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in his writing,
“Pakistan Or The Partition Of India”, wrote, “The distinction that it makes between Muslims and non-Muslims is a very real… very alienating distinction.”
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s Condemnation of Purdah
–Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar strongly criticized the practice of purdah in his book “Pakistan Or The Partition Of India”, calling burkha-clad women “one of the most hideous sights one can witness in India.”
–He condemned the restrictive social practices that limited Muslim women’s rights and mobility, stating they could only see a few male relatives and were barred from praying in the mosque.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s Opposition to Religious Reservations
–Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar opposed religious or community-based reservations that favored certain groups, warning it would undermine equality of opportunity.
–He argued that the focus should be on uplifting those who have been historically oppressed, rather than creating separate categories based on religion which will be a threat to a unified national identity over sectarian interests.
While addressing the Constituent Assembly on 30th Nov 1948 he argued,
“Supposing, for instance, reservations were made for a community or a collection of communities… could anybody say that the reservation of 30 percent as open to general competition would be satisfactory from the point of view of giving effect to the first principle, namely, that there shall be equality of opportunity?”
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s Opposition to Special Status for Kashmir
–Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar strongly opposed the demand for special status for Kashmir, as it contradicted national unity and integrity.
–He felt that the provision would create another sovereignty within India which would be disastrous for the unity of the country.
His famous words to Sheikh Abdullah when he went to persuade Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar to grant special status to J&K were
“You want India to defend Kashmir, feed its people, and grant Kashmiris equal rights across India, but you want to deny India and Indians all rights in Kashmir. As the Law Minister of India, I cannot be a party to such a betrayal of national interests.” –
Dattopant Thengadi and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s Influence
–Dattopant Thengadi, a young RSS Prachark, worked as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s polling agent during the 1954 by-elections.
–Thengadi later recorded his experiences in the book Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar aur Samajik Kranti ki Yatra,’ showcasing the profound impact of Ambedkar’s ideas on the shaping of India’s social and political landscape.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar: a strong proponent of Uniform Civil Code
–During the Constitutional debates, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar highlighted that having diverse personal laws could lead to social discord and hinder national integration.
–Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar argued that personal laws based on religion often perpetuated gender discrimination.
–He argued that a UCC would promote unity among citizens by removing conflicting loyalties to different legal systems.
