Isabella Carter
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest written constitution, with 448 articles, 12 schedules, and 104 amendments. It took almost three years to draft, and the process began on December 9, 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was formed. The final version was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950, marking India's transition from a British dominion to a republic. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as B.R. Ambedkar, is considered the Father of the Indian Constitution. He was a jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India. Ambedkar played a pivotal role in framing the Constitution and was appointed Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee in 1947. He was independent India's first Minister of Law and Justice and was instrumental in shaping the foundational legal framework of India.
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What You'll Learn
- Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader
- Ambedkar played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution and ensuring it reflected the values of a newly independent India
- He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and a member of other important committees
- Ambedkar's vision for a secular India and the guarantee of fundamental rights remain key legacies of his work
- Ambedkar's interventions and advocacy centred on the protection and furtherance of Dalit rights
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader
Ambedkar dedicated his life to fighting caste inequality, advocating for the rights of Dalits, and striving for social justice. He was a key member of the Constituent Assembly and chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India. Ambedkar was a wise constitutional expert, having studied the constitutions of about 60 countries. He supported a purposive approach during the drafting of the constitution, believing that the Supreme Court should be the final arbiter of its meaning, with interpretations binding the executive and legislative branches of the government.
In addition to his work on the Constitution, Ambedkar made significant contributions to economic policy and land reform. He conceptualised and formulated the RBI, argued for industrialisation and agricultural growth, and emphasised the importance of waterways. Ambedkar also played an important role in the state economic development and land reform. He contributed to land revenue tax and excise duty policies to stabilise the economy and advocated for birth control to develop the Indian economy. Ambedkar's theory of State Socialism included state ownership of agricultural land, the maintenance of resources for production by the state, and the just distribution of resources to the population.
As a social reformer, Ambedkar championed the rights of Dalits and was instrumental in the constitutional abolition of the discriminatory practice of "untouchability". He founded the Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha to spread education among marginalised communities and improve their economic conditions. He also started periodicals like "Mook Nayak" and "Equality Janta" to voice the concerns of the Dalits. Ambedkar agitated for increased visibility of Dalits in public life and obtained special representation for them in the legislative councils of the government. In 1932, he signed the Poona Pact, which provided for reserved seats for Dalits within the Hindu electorate.
Ambedkar served as independent India's first Minister of Law and Justice in Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet from 1947 to 1951. During his tenure, he introduced the Hindu Code Bill, which sought to codify and reform Hindu personal law and give women equal rights in personal matters. However, the Bill could not be passed by Parliament, which led to his resignation from the Nehru Cabinet. Later in his political career, Ambedkar faced several electoral defeats and, in 1956, he established the Republican Party of India. On October 14, 1956, Ambedkar formally converted to Buddhism in a massive public ceremony, rejecting the Hindu caste system and inspiring millions of Dalits to follow suit.
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Ambedkar played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution and ensuring it reflected the values of a newly independent India
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar, played a crucial role in shaping the Indian Constitution and ensuring it reflected the values of a newly independent India. He was a jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India.
Ambedkar's role in the independence struggle was complex. While the dominant political discourse focused on persuading the British to leave India, Ambedkar's interventions and advocacy centred on the protection and advancement of Dalit rights. Despite often clashing with the Indian National Congress, he worked to put in place political safeguards for untouchables, such as his presentation to the Southborough Committee preparing the Government of India Act 1919. By the early 1930s, he had become the preeminent leader of the Dalit community, arguing for separate electorates for the 'backward classes' to transform them into a solid political interest group.
Ambedkar's stature and diplomatic skills helped him secure widespread support for his role in drafting the Constitution. He was appointed to the Bombay Presidency Committee in 1925, where he wrote a separate set of recommendations for the future Constitution of India, despite the committee sparking protests across India. In 1927, he launched active movements against untouchability, including public marches for access to public drinking water resources and the right to enter Hindu temples. He also publicly condemned the Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) for justifying caste discrimination and ceremonially burned copies of the text.
Ambedkar's interventions and speeches on various aspects of the Constitution were well-reasoned and scrupulously researched, winning him the respect of other Assembly members. He was appointed as the first Law Minister of independent India in 1947, during which he attempted to pass the Hindu Code Bill to reform Hindu personal laws. However, intense criticism forced him to withdraw the Bill and resign in frustration in 1951.
As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Ambedkar played a pivotal role in framing the Constitution. He ensured the document reflected principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens. Ambedkar advocated for Fundamental Rights, enshrined in Part III of the Constitution, including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability, and the outlawing of all forms of discrimination. He also successfully argued for extensive economic and social rights for women, introducing a system of reservations of jobs in the civil services, schools, and colleges for members of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
Ambedkar's vision for a secular India and the guarantee of fundamental rights remain key legacies of his work. In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly in 1949, he emphasised the duty of the majority to not discriminate against minorities. Despite later expressing disapproval of the Constitution in 1953, Ambedkar's contributions were instrumental in shaping the foundational legal framework of India and ensuring it reflected the values of a newly independent nation.
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He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and a member of other important committees
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar, is recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". He played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution and ensuring that it reflected the values and aspirations of the newly independent nation. As a trained lawyer, scholar, economist, social reformer, and political leader, he brought a diverse set of skills and expertise to the drafting process.
Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, appointed by the Assembly to write India's new Constitution. He was an expert in constitutions, having studied the constitutions of over sixty countries. His diplomatic skills and ability to mediate between different factions were crucial in ensuring the successful drafting of the Indian Constitution. As the Chairman, he intervened in nearly every debate, defending the Draft Constitution prepared by the Committee.
In addition to his role as Chairman, Ambedkar was also a member of other important committees. He was appointed to the Bombay Presidency Committee in 1925, which worked with the all-European Simon Commission. Although this commission sparked protests across India, Ambedkar wrote a separate set of recommendations for the future Constitution of India. He also served on the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, Tribal and Excluded Areas, and the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights.
Ambedkar's contributions to the Indian Constitution were significant. He emphasised social justice, equality, and the protection of individual rights, including the protection of Dalit rights. He advocated for Fundamental Rights, which are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution. He also worked towards putting in place political safeguards for untouchables, such as his presentation to the Southborough Committee that prepared the Government of India Act 1919. Ambedkar's vision for a secular India and the guarantee of fundamental rights remain key legacies of his work.
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Ambedkar's vision for a secular India and the guarantee of fundamental rights remain key legacies of his work
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar, is regarded as the "father of the Indian Constitution". He was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader who played a crucial role in shaping India's constitution after independence, serving as the chairman of the drafting committee.
Ambedkar's commitment to secularism was evident in his efforts to address caste discrimination and "untouchability". He organised public movements and marches to open up access to public drinking water resources and led a satyagraha to fight for the right of the untouchable community to draw water from the main water tank in Mahad. In 1927, he publicly denounced the Manusmriti, a classic Hindu text, for justifying caste discrimination and ceremonially burned copies of it. Through the Poona Pact in 1932, Ambedkar secured reserved seats for the depressed classes in the Provisional legislatures, increasing their representation.
In terms of guaranteeing fundamental rights, Ambedkar was influenced by the Gitlow case in the United States, which addressed the limitations of freedom of speech. He argued that the Indian constitution should include fundamental rights with reasonable restrictions, such as freedom of expression and the right to life with dignity. These rights were to be extended not only to Indian citizens but also to foreigners residing in India, reflecting the secular nature of the state.
Despite his significant contributions, Ambedkar expressed disapproval of the constitution in a 1953 parliament session, stating that it did not meet the needs of the people. Nevertheless, his vision for a secular India and the protection of fundamental rights remain enduring aspects of his legacy.
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Ambedkar's interventions and advocacy centred on the protection and furtherance of Dalit rights
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar, is recognised as the "Father of the Constitution of India". He was born on 14 April 1891 in the Mhow Army Cantonment in Madhya Pradesh, to a Dalit family. Due to his family's low-caste status, Ambedkar's early life was marked by discrimination, segregation, and untouchability.
In 1924, Ambedkar started his legal practice in Bombay and initiated his movement for the cause of the Dalits. He advocated for the eradication of caste-based discrimination, aiming for equality of treatment, status, and opportunity for the Dalits. He fought for their right to enjoy all civil, political, social, and economic rights, with dignity and respect. Ambedkar publicly condemned the Hindu text 'Manusmriti' (Laws of Manu) for justifying caste discrimination and ceremonially burned copies of it in 1927. He also led a 'satyagraha' in Mahad, demanding the right of the untouchable community to draw water from the town's main water tank.
Ambedkar played a crucial role in bringing the Untouchables into the mainstream of Indian society. His ideas and programs put forth concrete proposals for the removal of untouchability and the empowerment of the oppressed. He demanded justice for the untouchables and other marginalised sections of society through provisions in the Indian Constitution. This included constitutional guarantees of civil liberties, freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability, and the outlawing of all forms of discrimination.
Additionally, Ambedkar made significant economic contributions, conceptualising and formulating the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a trained economist. He stressed the importance of waterways, which the Indian government later upgraded to national waterways in 2015, aligning with his vision. Ambedkar championed systemic change, believing that socio-political awareness and the economic strengthening of the Dalit community were essential for true emancipation.
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Frequently asked questions
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B.R. Ambedkar, is known as the father of the Indian Constitution. He played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution and ensuring that it reflected the values and aspirations of the newly independent nation.
B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and was appointed by the Assembly to write India's new Constitution. He was a trained lawyer and scholar, bringing immense legal expertise to the table. Ambedkar's diplomatic skills and ability to mediate between different factions were crucial in ensuring the successful drafting of the Indian Constitution.
Ambedkar's work emphasised social justice, equality, and the protection of individual rights. He advocated for bridging the gaps between people and stood for equality for all. He was a strong advocate for Fundamental Rights, which are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution. Ambedkar also worked towards putting in place political safeguards for untouchables, who were later called Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Indian Constitution.
Interestingly, despite his crucial role in drafting the Constitution, Ambedkar expressed his disapproval of the final document in 1953 during a parliament session. He stated that he was "quite prepared to say that I shall be the first person to burn it out. I do not want it. It does not suit anybody."
