We, the people of India, have inherited a rich culture of legal critique and constitutionalism from our freedom struggle. This is no coincidence because many of our leaders in the anti-colonial movement were lawyers and legal scholars. Collectively, Indians care so much about the Constitution because following B R Ambedkar’s view, we recognise that it serves as a bulwark against tyranny and ensures the protection of citizen’s rights. For those trampled by small and large tyrannies in India, Babasaheb’s Samvidhan is not a mere legal document.
However, it would be a mistake to imagine that they view it like a holy book. Babasaheb’s Samvidhan is a social contract embodying the aspirations of the marginalised, poor and powerless people of India.
Central to Ambedkar’s vision of the Constitution was the pursuit of social justice. He believed that as a tool for social transformation, it would address historical injustices and thus empower the marginalised sections of society. Babasaheb recognised that society is constantly evolving and advocated for a robust system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power and to safeguard India against authoritarianism. His insistence on the independence of institutions such as the judiciary and the Election Commission was to ensure that the Constitution remains resilient in the face of societal upheavals.
It is this spirit of Babsaheb’s conviction regarding the culture of constitutionalism as a force of dignity and equality in India that is under threat from the current government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The unprecedented concentration of power has long moved to direct and full capture of various agencies of the state by the ruling party. BJP leaders have openly and brazenly spoken about changes in the Constitution.
Indeed, the BJP has made promises of such changes in its manifestos, forced its agenda in Parliament to enact such amendments without due deliberation, and indulged in practices that amount to gross disrespect of the Constitution of India.
By repeatedly using his own name and third-person pronouns, a now familiar trademark, the PM’s way of capturing attention feeds his need for validation as a person above all others. This is apparent in his claims that he is the one who “brought Ram”.
In his speech made at a recent election meeting in Barmer, Rajasthan, the PM said, “It is Modi who first started to celebrate the Constitution Day” and that, “It is Modi who has developed the five pilgrimage sites pertaining to Babasaheb”. He claimed that the INDIA leaders insulted the Constitution and Babasaheb, but he went on to say, “As far as the Constitution is concerned, you can rest assured, and mark Modi’s words, that if Babasaheb Ambedkar himself came he would not be able to end the Constitution”.
By invoking Ambedkar in such a manner, the PM not only violates inherent respect for the deceased leader and his legacy, but also undermines his contributions and memory.
At first glance, the PM’s argument relies on an “appeal to authority” of Babasaheb but it represents utter disregard for the complexity of his beliefs and the context of his work. Just because Babasaheb cannot physically come back to oppose the whittling down of the Constitution does not mean he would endorse the approach of this government if he were alive today. By attributing malafide intentions to statements and actions of deceased leaders, especially those who dedicated their lives to the empowerment of marginalised communities and to the development of a fledgling country after Independence, the PM has been exploiting their legacy for his political agenda since he became known as a public figure.
Attributing an intent of abolishing the Constitution of India to Dr Ambedkar is a misrepresentation. It implies a lack of understanding or deliberate disregard for the principles and objectives of Babasaheb. By portraying him as unable to abolish the Constitution even if he were to come back from the dead, the PM diminished Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s agency and ignored that he would never have wanted the abolition of the Constitution in the first place.
Babasaheb Ambedkar’s living memory in Indian politics is a testament to his commitment to empowering marginalised communities. We invoke his name and memory to underscore the importance of his work and the values he stood for. PM Modi’s invocation was not just an affront to Dr Ambedkar but also to the communities he served.
The writer is a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Rashtriya Janata Dal
BJP leaders misrepresent Babasaheb’s beliefs and misuse his image for their own ends
17
1
18.04.2024
We, the people of India, have inherited a rich culture of legal critique and constitutionalism from our freedom struggle. This is no coincidence because many of our leaders in the anti-colonial movement were lawyers and legal scholars. Collectively, Indians care so much about the Constitution because following B R Ambedkar’s view, we recognise that it serves as a bulwark against tyranny and ensures the protection of citizen’s rights. For those trampled by small and large tyrannies in India, Babasaheb’s Samvidhan is not a mere legal document.
However, it would be a mistake to imagine that they view it like a holy book. Babasaheb’s Samvidhan is a social contract embodying the aspirations of the marginalised, poor and powerless people of India.
Central to Ambedkar’s vision of the Constitution was the pursuit of social justice. He believed that as a tool for social transformation, it would address historical injustices and thus empower the marginalised sections of society. Babasaheb recognised that society is constantly evolving and advocated for a robust system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power and to safeguard India........
© Indian Express
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