NEW DELHI, Apr 14: Speaking to a gathering of lawyers in Delhi the noted Senior Supreme Court Advocate and the bar leader Ashok Bhan, said :
Today, we gather to pay our deepest respects to B. R. Ambedkar—a visionary whose intellect, courage, and clarity shaped the very foundations of our Republic. For me, as a member of the Bar and a student of constitutional law, this is not merely a tribute to a great leader, but an affirmation of an enduring idea—an idea that India must always be governed by the rule of law, guided by Secular democracy,reason, pluralism,majesty of judiciary and anchored in justice.
Bhan said :Dr. Ambedkar’s greatest gift to India was not only the Constitution as a document, but constitutionalism as a living principle. He believed that the Constitution must not remain confined to parchment, but must find expression in the conduct of institutions and the conscience of citizens. Constitutionalism, as he envisioned it, demands restraint in the exercise of power, respect for institutional boundaries, and unwavering fidelity to the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is this spirit that keeps democracy alive beyond the mechanics of elections.
Bhan highlighted: As the principal architect of our Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar ensured that it became a shield for the weakest and a check on the mightiest. Fundamental Rights, the independence of the judiciary, and the doctrine of due process were not mere legal constructs for him—they were instruments to transform a deeply unequal society into a just and humane order. He understood that without constitutional morality, even the finest Constitution could be subverted. Hence, he repeatedly cautioned that institutions must be stronger than individuals, and principles must prevail over expediency.
In his relentless fight against social injustice, Dr. Ambedkar demonstrated that constitutionalism is inseparable from social transformation. A Constitution cannot endure if society remains fractured by inequality and discrimination. His struggle against caste oppression was, in essence, a struggle to align social realities with constitutional promises. He urged us to move from political democracy to social democracy—where equality is not merely proclaimed, but practiced in everyday life.
Bhan urged the legal fraternity: Today, as we reflect on his legacy, we must ask ourselves whether we are truly living up to the constitutional ideals he so painstakingly enshrined. In times of polarisation and institutional strain, the call of constitutionalism becomes even more urgent. It reminds us that dissent is not disloyalty, that rights are not concessions, and that the rule of law must remain supreme over all authority. For the legal fraternity in particular, this is a solemn duty—to act as vigilant custodians of constitutional values.
Bhan said :The most fitting tribute we can offer to Dr. Ambedkar is not in words alone, but in steadfast adherence to constitutional principles. Let us recommit ourselves to protecting the dignity of every individual, to preserving the sanctity of our institutions, and to ensuring that justice remains the cornerstone of our Republic. In doing so, we do not merely honour his memory—we keep alive the transformative promise of the Constitution the fore fathers gave us, and the constitutionalism Dr Ambedkar so passionately believed in.
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