Editorial
Editorial
Dr. Ambedkar and the Vision of Public Welfare
The nation of India is celebrating the 134th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar with great joy and enthusiasm. On this occasion, numerous events are being organized not only across India but also at various locations abroad associated with Dr. Ambedkar. As the Indian Republic celebrates its Platinum Jubilee, it is important to recognize the decisive role that the Constitution has played in shaping the country as a powerful entity for public welfare— a Constitution in whose making Dr. Ambedkar had a pivotal contribution.
Dr. Ambedkar’ s tireless efforts to eliminate social evils and uplift the Dalit, backward, and marginalized communities have begun to yield positive outcomes. These efforts are now visible in the changing social, economic, and educational landscape of the country.
Different thinkers, scholars, and sociologists have expressed varied perspectives on the issue of Dalits in India. However, a holistic view reveals that the Dalit problem cannot be resolved merely through political or administrative measures. True resolution lies in accelerating the process of social reform and transformation. This requires nurturing the values of equality, freedom, fraternity, love, compassion, and brotherhood— and connecting everyone through human values.
Dr. Ambedkar ' s first published book, Annihilation of Caste, presented powerful arguments against the caste system and in favor of removing social inequality. To date, no one has been able to effectively counter those arguments. Dr. Ambedkar himself expressed surprise at the role of the country’ s intellectuals, noting that prior to independence, many social reform movements were active, but with the advent of freedom, those movements either ended, were dissolved, or had their direction altered. As a result, the task of social reform remained incomplete and social disparities persisted. The nation ' s political freedom was wrongly interpreted by its rulers as a complete solution to all problems.
In a democratic setup, any government that believes in democracy announces welfare schemes for its citizens. However, such announcements often stem from political compulsions, as every vote carries equal value. Therefore, it is natural for political parties to take such decisions after coming to power. But should the Constitution and constitutional systems be ignored for the sake of such actions? Should state governments, driven by obstinacy, ignore their constitutional responsibilities and make decisions purely for vote bank politics?
These questions arise especially after the Karnataka government ' s decision to pass a law granting 4 % reservation to the Muslim community. The manner in which the Karnataka government provided reservation to Muslims— and the claims of even changing the Constitution for this purpose— reflect the political desperation and anxiety of Congress and its leaders. For years, opposition parties exploited Dalit votes in the name of reservation, and now they are trying to salvage their eroding political base through Muslim reservation. However, they seem to have forgotten that every action has a reaction. The general public is well aware of these unconstitutional tactics aimed at securing Muslim votes, and they will make their decisions clearly known at the ballot box.
Warm greetings on the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
– Dr Bizay Sonkar Shastri
April 2025 | Dalit Andolan Patrika 3