Dr Sanjay Kumar Bhasin
Epoch thinkers take birth once after a century or two and change social narratives/dynamics by way of non-agitational methodology influence the society’s decision making towards positivity. Today country is celebrating 129th birth anniversary of one of the great epoch thinkers world has produced in the form of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar popularly known as Babasaheb. In spite of being from compelled to be untouchable and disadvantaged section of the society, he by virtue of his epoch thinking compelled British government and post independent GoI to adopt Egalitarian model of society based on the humanist principles of Liberty! Equality!!Fraternity!!!. He struggled throughout his life for bringing equality amongst all within Hindu fold, on failure he converted to Buddhism.
An Outstanding Intellectual:
Dr. Ambedkar had B.A, M.A, M. Sc, D. Sc, P.hd, L.L.D and Bar-at-Law to his credit. His works “Ancient Indian Commerce” for M.A degree (1915) and “National Dividend of India-A Historical and Analytical study” for PhD (1916) from Columbia University are extraordinarily brilliant, whose references used to be quoted by the members of Indian Legislative Council and Central Assembly during Budget discussion under British regime. “Provincial Decentralization of Imperial Finances in British India” for M. Sc (Economics) and “The problem of the Rupee” for D. Sc from London School of Economics were the other master pieces by this great epoch thinker. He attained knowledge of 9 languages (Hindi, Pali, Sanskrit, English, French, German, Marathi, Persian, and Gujarati and mastered 64 subject as well as studied all the religions of the world in a comparative way for almost 21 years. Babasaheb’s personal library “Rajgirh” the largest individual library in the world contained more than 50,000 books. Columbia University drew a list of world’s top 100 scholars in 2004 with Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s name at first place designating him as ‘First Colombian Ahead of Their Time’. Pertinently, “Waiting for a visa” written by Babasaheb is a textbook at Columbia University. Governor Lord Linlithgow and Mahatma Gandhi believed that Babasaheb is more intelligent than 500 graduates and thousands of scholars. Dr. Rajinder Prasad, the President of India viewed, “Ambedkar was the architect of our constitution and his services in various capacities, particularly for the uplift of depressed classes could not be exaggerated.” New York Times wrote on his death, “Ambedkar was known and honoured throughout the world as a champion of Untouchables. What is, perhaps not known is that, he put a profound impression upon the Indian major legal structure”, whereas; The Times London wrote, “His name would figure in any history of the socio-cultural revolution in the closing years of British rule.” He was labeled as Greatest Indian on popular voting basis in 2012 by Indian voter survey. Voting was not done for Mahatma Gandhi.
Facets of Few Struggles:
His revolutionary struggle for getting water for untouchables through Mahad Movement (1923-27), and entry into Kala Ram Mandir Nasik (1930-35) has not parallels in the history, Raja Ram Mohan Rao’s struggle for abolition of Sati Pratha can be partially equated. He used to say in agony, “My heart breaks to see the pitiable sight of your helplessness as inevitability. Why did you not perish in the prenatal stage instead/ Why do you worsen and sadden the picture of the sorrows, poverty, slavery and burden of the world with your deplorable, despicable and detestable miserable life. You had better die and relieve this world if you cannot rejuvenate yourself. As a matter of fact it is your birthright to get food, shelter and clothing in this land in equal proportion with every individual high or low. If you believe in a respectable life, you must believe in self help that is the best help.”
At round table conference (RTC), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar spoke on the total independence of India, Constitution for free India and rights of Depressed classes and did not even spared the host British. His forceful arguments during RTSs compelled them to make him member of almost all the nine committees appointed after plenary session of RTC. His scheme titled “A Scheme of Political safeguards for the protection of the Depressed classes in the Future Constitution of A Self- governing India” and other views at RTC laid strong foundation of self-governing India and rights of Depressed classes in the future government of India.
Epoch Thinking Struggling In spite of Recognition:
Until the 1960s, the dominance of Nehru and Gandhi in the national imagination was colossal. At the same time, American scholar Eleanor Zelliot wrote a brilliant dissertation on Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Mahar movement in Maharashtra, she was unable to find a publisher. In spite of being one amongst best brains of the world, the intelligentsia, media and overall socio-political system of the country never went beyond labeling Babasaheb as architect of the Constitution, a great nationalist, the father of reservations, a staunch anti-communist, a liberal democrat, a great parliamentarian, a saviour of Dalits, a bodhisattva, etc. But Babasaheb Ambedkar & his phenomenon is much more than these simple rhetoric. Due to above reasons Babasaheb Ambedkar remained topic of study/discussion within the four walls of Dalits Bahujans only. May be, Babasaheb primarily symbolizes the cultural good of Dalit Bahujans, but why his role as emancipator of women in India not discussed by Indian women across the caste lines. If we still ghettoise him to Dalits alone, it shall be downright disrespect to him and incalculable harm to the cause of Dalits including retrogressive destruction of his caste annihilation-agenda.
The nation should be grateful to Babasaheb as Ambedkar who advised Dalits and allied to adopt only constitutional methods for a resolution of their problems. He advised, “My final words of advice to you is Educate, Agitate and Organise, have faith in yourself. With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is a nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality.” Dalit Bahujans agreed in principle and a bloody revolution is prevented till date.
Today Babasaheb Ambedkar without non Dalit Bahujan support certainly outshines every other leader in terms of public acceptance. No other leader can rival him in the number of statues, pictures, congregations, books, research, organizations, songs, or any other marker of popularity of/on him. But unfortunately, caste discrimination, caste atrocities and caste discourses, etc. has not been vanished completely. A true tribute to him shall be to firmly declare that as National Icon rather than Dalit Icon a scholar and intellectual of world repute, whose vision is to be given practical shape.
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