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| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Constitution of India |
It is one of the greatest historical days in the history of India. It was the day of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" based Democracy had came on 26th November 1949 in India. The Constituent Assembly accepted the draft Constitution. Though born as an Indian, I never proud for being an Indian. On one thing I thank to one of the founding fathers of Modern India, Revolutionary Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar who gave 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' based Democracy in India irrespective of Caste, Class, Gender and Religion. Although India attained her independence on August 15, 1947, till 1949 it had no permanent constitution of its own and not functioning under the laws enacted. After many amendments the Constitution was approved and Revolutionary Ambedkar presented the draft Constitution was accepted on November 26, 1949. Then it was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in the name of the people of India that came into force on January 26, 1950 marking the beginning of a new era in the history of India. In fact it was the day that the Constitution of India came into effect.
In the 1946 Provincial Assembly elections, the AISCF won only two seats. Jogendranath Mandal of Bengal won the election. In Bombay Assembly, none of the AISCF candidates were elected. Because of this, Babasaheb contested from Bengal and was able to enter the Constituent Assembly with the support of Jogendranath Mandal and other independent members from the Scheduled Classes. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was the sole Scheduled Classes representative in the Constituent Assembly on behalf of the AISCF. Consequent upon the partition of Bengal, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar ceased to be a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1947. The work done by Babasaheb in various sub-committees ( Advisory Committee, Fundamental Rights sub-committee, Minorities sub-committee, Union Constitution Committee ) of the Constitutional Assembly was considered very useful. He submitted a memorandum to the Fundamental Rights sub-committee in which he gave concrete shape ideas. This memorandum was later published for wider circulation under the title 'States and Minorities, what are their rights and how to secure them in the Constitution of free India'.
The Congress Party which had earlier opposed tooth and nail his entry into the Constituent Assembly came forward and sponsored his candidature. In his letter dated 30th June 1947, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly requested Mr. B. G. Kher, the then Prime Minister of Bombay to elect Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar immediately. He wrote, "Apart from any other consideration we have found Dr. Ambedkar's work both in the Constituent Assembly and the various committees to which he was appointed to he of such an order as to require that we should not he deprived of his services. As you know, he was elected from Bengal and after the division of the Province he has ceased to be a member of the Constituent Assembly. I am anxious that he should attend the next session of the Constituent Assembly commencing from the 14th July and it is therefore necessary that he should be elected immediately". Accordingly, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was re-elected in July 1947 from Bombay as a member of the Constituent Assembly. Soon after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited him to join the Cabinet he formed on 15th August 1947 on the eve of independence. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar accepted the invitation and became India's first Law Minister. On 29th August the Assembly unanimously elected him as Chairman of the Drafting Committee which was assigned the task of framing the Constitution. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was a strong opponent of Congress had now become philosopher and guide in the Constitutional matters of India. After the completion of his work, Babasaheb said "I feel the Constitution is workable; it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace time and in war time".
T. T. Krishnamachari in his speech in Constituent assembly about Babasaheb's dedicatory contribution. He said that: "Out of the seven members selected to prepare the draft constitution, one resigned, one died, one left for America, one was busy with his work in princely state, one or two live away from Delhi, some had to be excused for health reasons, Dr. Ambedkar was the only one who had to bear the burnt."
The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, praised the services rendered by Babasaheb in the making of the Constitution. He said, "I have carefully watched the day-to-day activities from the presidential seat. Therefore, I appreciate more than others with how much dedication and vitality this task has been carried out by the Drafting Committee and by its chairman Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in particular. We never did a better thing than having Dr. Ambedkar on the Drafting Committee and selecting him as its chairman." V. I. Muniswamy Pillay from Madras said: "Mr. President, Sir, I stand before this August Assembly to support the motion moved by my Honourable Friend, Dr. Ambedkar. Sir, I proceed now to appreciate the great services that have been rendered by the Drafting Committee whose services are so valuable to us; they have not spared days and nights in coming to decisions on important articles. I must say a word of praise to the caliber and capacity of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee - Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Coming as I do from a community that has produced Dr. Ambedkar, I feel proud that his capacity has now been recognized, not only by the Scheduled Castes but by all communities that inhabit India. The Scheduled Castes have produced a great Nandanar, a Tirupazanalwar, and above all a Tiruvalluvar, the great philosopher whose name and fame is not only known throughout the length and breadth of India but of the whole world. To that galaxy of great men of Scheduled Castes now we have to add Dr. Ambedkar, who, as a man has been able to show to the world that the Scheduled Castes are no less important but they can rise to heights and give to the world their great services. I know, Sir, that he has served the community of the Scheduled Castes and also of India by his great service and sacrifice in preparing a Constitution which will be the order of the day from the 26th of January 1950 and I also feel. Sir, of the Chief Draftsman and of the staff that have worked in preparing the Constitution cannot be littled; they equally receive our praise."
Babasaheb in his speech in Constitutional Assembly, "I shall not therefore enter into the merits of the Constitution. Because I feel, however good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it, happen to be a good lot. The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of State such as the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the State depend are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. Who can say how the people of India and their parties will behave ? Will they uphold constitutional methods of achieving their purposes or will they prefer revolutionary methods of achieving them ? If they adopt the revolutionary methods; however good the Constitution may be, it requires no prophet to say that it will fail. It is, therefore, futile to pass any judgement upon the Constitution without reference to the part which the people and their parties are likely to play. The constitution I offered, may be good or bad, it will depend on how the men in office use it. India lost its independence because one of us, one in power, betrayed. We must spend the last drop of blood to defend the freedom of our country".
With Regards,
Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.
Jai bheem..!
Long Live Ambedkarism....!!
Reference:
* Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches: English Volume 13, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar – The Principal Architect of the Constitution of India.
The Congress Party which had earlier opposed tooth and nail his entry into the Constituent Assembly came forward and sponsored his candidature. In his letter dated 30th June 1947, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly requested Mr. B. G. Kher, the then Prime Minister of Bombay to elect Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar immediately. He wrote, "Apart from any other consideration we have found Dr. Ambedkar's work both in the Constituent Assembly and the various committees to which he was appointed to he of such an order as to require that we should not he deprived of his services. As you know, he was elected from Bengal and after the division of the Province he has ceased to be a member of the Constituent Assembly. I am anxious that he should attend the next session of the Constituent Assembly commencing from the 14th July and it is therefore necessary that he should be elected immediately". Accordingly, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was re-elected in July 1947 from Bombay as a member of the Constituent Assembly. Soon after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited him to join the Cabinet he formed on 15th August 1947 on the eve of independence. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar accepted the invitation and became India's first Law Minister. On 29th August the Assembly unanimously elected him as Chairman of the Drafting Committee which was assigned the task of framing the Constitution. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was a strong opponent of Congress had now become philosopher and guide in the Constitutional matters of India. After the completion of his work, Babasaheb said "I feel the Constitution is workable; it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace time and in war time".
T. T. Krishnamachari in his speech in Constituent assembly about Babasaheb's dedicatory contribution. He said that: "Out of the seven members selected to prepare the draft constitution, one resigned, one died, one left for America, one was busy with his work in princely state, one or two live away from Delhi, some had to be excused for health reasons, Dr. Ambedkar was the only one who had to bear the burnt."
The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, praised the services rendered by Babasaheb in the making of the Constitution. He said, "I have carefully watched the day-to-day activities from the presidential seat. Therefore, I appreciate more than others with how much dedication and vitality this task has been carried out by the Drafting Committee and by its chairman Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in particular. We never did a better thing than having Dr. Ambedkar on the Drafting Committee and selecting him as its chairman." V. I. Muniswamy Pillay from Madras said: "Mr. President, Sir, I stand before this August Assembly to support the motion moved by my Honourable Friend, Dr. Ambedkar. Sir, I proceed now to appreciate the great services that have been rendered by the Drafting Committee whose services are so valuable to us; they have not spared days and nights in coming to decisions on important articles. I must say a word of praise to the caliber and capacity of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee - Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Coming as I do from a community that has produced Dr. Ambedkar, I feel proud that his capacity has now been recognized, not only by the Scheduled Castes but by all communities that inhabit India. The Scheduled Castes have produced a great Nandanar, a Tirupazanalwar, and above all a Tiruvalluvar, the great philosopher whose name and fame is not only known throughout the length and breadth of India but of the whole world. To that galaxy of great men of Scheduled Castes now we have to add Dr. Ambedkar, who, as a man has been able to show to the world that the Scheduled Castes are no less important but they can rise to heights and give to the world their great services. I know, Sir, that he has served the community of the Scheduled Castes and also of India by his great service and sacrifice in preparing a Constitution which will be the order of the day from the 26th of January 1950 and I also feel. Sir, of the Chief Draftsman and of the staff that have worked in preparing the Constitution cannot be littled; they equally receive our praise."
Babasaheb in his speech in Constitutional Assembly, "I shall not therefore enter into the merits of the Constitution. Because I feel, however good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it, happen to be a good lot. The working of a Constitution does not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can provide only the organs of State such as the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the State depend are the people and the political parties they will set up as their instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. Who can say how the people of India and their parties will behave ? Will they uphold constitutional methods of achieving their purposes or will they prefer revolutionary methods of achieving them ? If they adopt the revolutionary methods; however good the Constitution may be, it requires no prophet to say that it will fail. It is, therefore, futile to pass any judgement upon the Constitution without reference to the part which the people and their parties are likely to play. The constitution I offered, may be good or bad, it will depend on how the men in office use it. India lost its independence because one of us, one in power, betrayed. We must spend the last drop of blood to defend the freedom of our country".
With Regards,
Ambeth,
Dharmapuri,
Tamil Nadu.
Jai bheem..!
Long Live Ambedkarism....!!
Reference:
* Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches: English Volume 13, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar – The Principal Architect of the Constitution of India.
Written: November 2012.
excellent .jaibheem
ReplyDeleteJay bhim sir..
ReplyDeletejai bhim friends
ReplyDeleteYesterday dtd.30/11/2016 I recd.one post on wa from a OBC guy questioning, is it possible to one man to do such a heavily work of drafting constitution? I fell very hurt. Surprisingly such doubts are not raised by Brahmins but by the OBC. Can anybody shuts mouths of such mentality people by bringing some concrete proofs in the form of books,literature, documentery etc. and give justice and credit to the great human being Dr.B.R. Ambedkar
ReplyDelete