BR Ambedkar advocated for a truly free India. While he envisioned a document that would address the challenges of a modern, evolving society, he thought about the Constitution as a “workable”, “flexible” document, “strong enough to hold the country together in peace time and in war”. As we commemorate 75 years of the making of the Constitution, we revisit the man and his vision, and understand why he is regarded as the ‘father of the Indian Constitution’.
Ambedkar handled the task of presenting the draft, answering various questions, and making necessary changes according to the suggestions of the Constituent Assembly. “The role was pivotal in drafting and finalising; that is why he is called the architect of the Constitution,” says constitutional expert PDT Achary, who was also a former secretary general of Lok Sabha.
As per Achary, Ambedkar particularly added the word ‘fraternity’. His belief in Buddha was ultimate, as he knew it was because of this vision that India and the rest of the world would be an enlightened society.From his idea to provide reservation for the marginalised classes and his clear vision on the governors’ powers, Ambedkar was an uncompromising opponent for many reasons, says Achary. “Firstly, he advocated the abolition of the caste system in India and wanted the Manu Dharma Shastra to be burnt, as it propagated the caste system. As a representative of a different class, and for his vast knowledge of the Constitution and the laws, he was made the chairman of the drafting committee,” he explains.
Secondly, when we say he piloted the Constitution Bill, it means he led the debates and discussions, and that was not an easy task, says Achary. “It wasn’t an ordinary Bill.The way he presented his views, replied to the points raised by the members that would satisfy everyone and used minimum words to explain the intention behind a certain proposal in an article were extraordinary,” he adds.
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950. While drafting the Constitution, Ambedkar stayed at Kanika House, 1, Hardinge Avenue (now Tilak Marg), his residence in Delhi from 1947 to 1951—a fact that finds mention in the book, Princely Palaces in New Delhi, by author Sumanta K Bhowmick.
The Constitution was handwritten and signed by 284 members. Prominent members such as Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad, were part of the historic debates. BN Rau was the Constitutional adviser and prepared the draft, while N Gopalaswami Ayyangar and KM Munshi were famous for their ‘Munshi-Ayyangar formula’, a compromise solution that established Hindi as the official language of India and English as an associate official language for 15 years. But many names, especially the women, who helped draft the Constitution, have receded from public memory.
As per Ajay Gudavarthy, associate professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, “Any constitution making is a collective effort. Dr Ambedkar’s anti-caste politics got fully identified with the Constitution over its egalitarian vision and the provision for affirmative action. No other social group other than the Dalits, and later the OBCs, has a comparable identification with the Constitution.”
Gudavarthy further explains why women, dominant castes and tribes don’t have a strong identification with the Constitution. “Even Muslims began to identify with it strongly only after the impending threats of NRC and CAA,” he adds.
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