Glorification of Ambedkar and Mandal in Politics

 

The present day followers of Ambedkar do not seem to have understood Ambedkar in right perspective. The Ambedkarites, Mandalites or Lohiaites have been proved to be shallow in understanding about their leaders, about their aims for  social transformation with SCs and OBCs being the base,  and about the realities of modern India – a massive shift in the power structure in favour of Dalits and OBCs has taken place allover India after it.

After 1990’s, the nation has witnessed an attempt to Ambedkarise and Mandalise the Indian politics. Now Ambedkar and Mandal are only next to God for present day politicians. They have gained more popularity than any other national leader leader, who had played a significant role in the national politics. Popularity of these two leaders has spread much more, than it was in their lifetime.

The changing regional balance of power, in the sixties, when different local parties emerged in the state-politics, Ambedkar rose as the political icon. And in 1990, Mandal gained popularity, after VPSingh’s Government accepted Mandal Commission’s recommendations after its remaining almost for ten years in cold storage.

Ambedkar’s sincere advise to untouchables was “to organize, educate and agitate” with an aim to finish caste prejudices, arrogance, and “holier than thou’ attitude of Brahmins. He advised his people to improve their condition by education, enlightenment and enterprise, not by animosity, anger and abuse. He wanted to annihilate caste system not by revenge, hatred and violence, but by rethinking, reason and reformation.

It is quite understandable that he did not hate Brahmins as he, himself, was a beneficiary of social reform movement in Maharashtra led by nationalist leaders and reformers mostly belonging to caste Hindus. He had great respects for Justice Ranade. Also, he was happily married to a Brahmin lady.

The period after 1990’s witnessed a wave of Ambedkarisation. Ambedkar himself considered idolization as an act leading to destruction. But his own followers have idolized Ambedkar. Statues of Ambedkar have been installed in all the cities and almost in all the nook and corner of the country. Naming and renaming of areas, districts, universities and institutions after Ambedkar have been done. New districts are created in his name. Ambedkar villages are developed at the cost of other villages etc.

Many persons called Ambedkar the “Father/maker of Indian Constitution’. Experts on Constitutional law know it well that both the constituent Assembly and its Drafting Committee headed by Dr. Ambedkar were the formal centers of work. The real place of work was the Congress Working Committee, where all important decisions were taken. Prominent role in taking major decisions was played by leaders like Nehru, Patel, Rajendra Prasad or Constitutional jurists like Alladi Krishna Swami Ayyar, K.M. Munshi and others.

It was frankly admitted by Dr. Ambedkar himself and Mahavir Tyagi, one of the members of Drafting Committee that their hands were tied. They were carrying out only the wishes of the majority. After an examination of the situation, Pr. K.V. Rao said, “No doubt, Ambedkar, a man of legal acumen, untiring industry, consummate skill and firmness, tempered with modernization, made substantial contribution to the framing of the Constitution…My reading of the Constitution makes me feel that it is inappropriate to call Dr. Ambedkar, the father of the Constitution. If any people are entitled to be called so, they are Nehru and Patel, but I would like to call them the “Presiding Deities”, the sources of all the ideas of the Constitution, the real makers of the Constitution. I would like to attribute father-hood to them as well as to the members of the Drafting Committee in common, but I would not like to single out Dr. Ambedkar for this honour.”

It seems, the followers of Ambedkar have not done justice to Ambedkar. The agitation started by Ambedkar as “Rescuer of Dalits” has been turned into a negative militancy against caste Hindus. Today agitated the Dalit leaders are, but their agitation is far away from being a positive or constructive one. The trend of idolization of Ambedkar or attempts of Ambedkarisation and Mandalization of the nation exposes the intentions of their followers. They use these names ruthlessly for their own selfish motives and political ends.