Birthday Special
Birthday Special
Democracy is a Vehicle for Social Change: Dr. Ambedkar
The greatest limitation in understanding Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar is that either he has been ignored, or his life has been deified. Most people tend to view a single aspect of his life as his entire essence, and within that fragment, they seek his complete philosophy. On the contrary, Baba Saheb’ s influence on public life is so vast and enormous that it is possible to be astonished by the magnitude of just one part of it. Many are amazed at how a child born into an untouchable family became one of the greatest scholars of his time. Some say Baba Saheb was the architect of the Indian Constitution, which he undoubtedly was. To others, Baba Saheb was the greatest economist of his era, whose studies led to the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India and detailed studies of Indian currency and revenue. Many view him as the liberator of Dalits, while others regard him as the creator of the Hindu Code Bill, which was the first step towards granting women a share in ancestral property and laying the foundation for gender equality. Baba Saheb is also known for implementing labor laws and laying the groundwork for river valley projects. In totality, Baba Saheb ' s contributions are extensive.
However, when we put all these together, the picture that emerges of Baba Saheb is undoubtedly that of a nation-builder. What does Baba Saheb ' s India as a nation look like? Is a nation merely a map with people inside it? Is it a flag that one carries on their shoulders, declaring nationalism? Has geography— mountains, rivers, and natural boundaries— defined a piece of land as a nation? Or are we a nation because we share common interests and goals? Baba Saheb’ s concept of the nation is different. He does not define a nation based on religion, language, race, geography, or shared interests, or even a combination of all these. For Baba Saheb, the nation is a spiritual concept; it is a consciousness. We are a nation because we all believe we are one. This concept is beyond narrow interests and selfish views— it is a sacred idea. History has brought us together, our past is shared, we have chosen to live a collective life in the present, and our dreams for the future are shared as well. That is why we are a nation. This idea of the nation, Baba Saheb borrowed from the European scholar Ernest Renan, whose 1818 statement " What is a Nation?" remains a significant document today.
When Baba Saheb stood up on November 25, 1949, to answer all the questions posed during the Constituent Assembly, he highlighted that India had gained independence, but becoming a nation was still a work in progress. Baba
6 Dalit Andolan Patrika | April 2025