The
Indian constitution drafted by Ambedkar (popularly known as Baba Saheb) is a
social document aimed at social justice for all the Indians. While India won freedom, Dalits (untouchables)
were still unable to fulfil their dream of freedom in free India. Baba Saheb
fought at two battle grounds simultaneously. One for India’s freedom and another for the
Dalits’ freedom.
Without
economic freedom, political freedom has no meaning, said Gandhiji. Without
social justice for all the Indians political freedom has no meaning opined Baba
Saheb. We have failed these two great
minds. In the present day scenario, Gandhiji has almost become irrelevant. The name Baba Saheb has become a tool for the present
day politicians to garner votes of Dalits and other backward caste people in
the elections.
Baba
Saheb served as a free India’s first law minister. He was appointed as chairman
of the constitution drafting committee. The
text prepared by Baba Saheb provided constitutional guarantees and protections
for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens including freedom
of religion, the abolition of untouchability and outlaws of all forms of
discrimination. He provided reservations
of jobs in the civil services, schools and colleges for scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes and other backward classes. This was meant to eradicate
socio-economic inequalities for India’s depressed classes.
Baba
Saheb studied Buddhism and travelled to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to attend the meeting
of the world fellowship of Buddhists. He organised a formal public ceremony for
himself and his supporters for conversion to Buddhism. Baba Saheb suffered from
diabetes and was bed ridden for a long period and died in his sleep on 6th
December 1956 at his home in Delhi.
India
achieved independence on 15th August 1947. Lord Mountbatten was the last British governor
general of India. On 26th January 1950, the constitution prepared by
Bab Saheb was adopted and India became an independent republic.
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