Opposition To India's Constitution: Who Fought Against It?

The Indian Constitution, drafted by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, has faced opposition from various groups and individuals throughout its history. The Constitution-drafting process was marked by debates and disagreements, with Dr. Ambedkar navigating differing opinions and interests from various communities, regions, and political parties. The Constituent Assembly, which played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution, engaged in intense discussions and amendments. Notably, the Assembly debated the inclusion of the terms socialist and secular in the Preamble, with some members advocating for these terms to reflect India's evolving political and social landscape, while others, including Dr. Ambedkar, opposed their addition. The Constitution has also faced challenges from within, with allegations of it being subverted by political figures such as Mrs. Gandhi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is accused of favoring the Modi government. Despite these controversies, the Indian Constitution remains a living document, open to amendments and reflecting the country's commitment to democratic values.

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Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Father of the Indian Constitution, faced opposition from the Indian government

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, and belonged to the Dalit community, which was considered the bottom of the caste hierarchy in India. As a young boy, he faced discrimination and prejudice due to his caste, which fueled his desire to fight against the system of caste-based discrimination. Despite the challenges, he excelled in his studies and went on to become a jurist, economist, and political leader.

Ambedkar played a pivotal role in drafting the Indian Constitution and is known as the "Father of the Indian Constitution." He served as the first Law Minister of Independent India from 1947 to 1951 and was appointed Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly in August 1947. However, his efforts to create a Constitution that embodied equality and social justice were not fully supported by the Indian government at the time.

As a social reformer, Ambedkar dedicated his life to uplifting marginalized communities and championing the rights of the Dalits (formerly known as "untouchables"). He advocated for a federal system of government, pushed for the inclusion of fundamental rights in the Constitution, and worked tirelessly to abolish untouchability and caste-based discrimination. Despite facing opposition, he successfully included provisions in the Constitution to protect the rights of marginalized groups.

In addition to his role in drafting the Constitution, Ambedkar also made significant contributions to economics and social reform. He was voted "the Greatest Indian" since independence in a 2012 poll, and Narendra Jadhav, an Indian economist, has called him "the highest-educated Indian economist of all time." Ambedkar's legacy is honored through numerous public institutions bearing his name, including the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur and the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology in Jalandhar.

Despite the opposition he faced, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's contributions to the Indian Constitution and his commitment to social reform and justice have left an indelible mark on India's history. His efforts to create a more equitable and just society continue to inspire and shape the nation.

The Indian National Congress, led by Nehru, subverted the Constitution in the 1960s

The Indian National Congress (INC), led by Jawaharlal Nehru, dominated Indian politics for over 50 years after the country gained independence in 1947. Nehru was the first prime minister from the Congress party, serving from 1947 to 1964. During his tenure, Nehru attempted to develop India through agrarian reform and rapid industrialisation. While he successfully introduced land reform that abolished giant landholdings, his efforts to redistribute land through limits on landownership failed due to opposition from powerful right-wing landowners within the Congress party.

Nehru's government promoted Hindi as the lingua franca of India, which was opposed by non-Hindi-speaking states like Tamil Nadu, which favoured the continued use of English. Despite this, Nehru played a crucial role in India's adoption of an independent foreign policy through its participation in the Non-Alignment Movement. However, his handling of relations with China during the late 1950s and early 1960s was seen as a failure.

Nehru's tenure also witnessed the rise of nationalist activity and government repression, including the Jallianwala Bagh killings in 1919. In 1920, he led the Non-Cooperation Movement and played a significant role in the Kisan Movement in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). He was imprisoned multiple times by the British, spending a total of over nine years in jail for his political activities.

In terms of subverting the Constitution, one instance attributed to Nehru's government was the imposition of the President's Rule. While this occurred primarily under Mrs Gandhi in the 1960s and during the Emergency of 1975-1977, Nehru also utilised it against the first elected communist government in the world. Despite this, Nehru allowed for robust debate in parliament, and his government did not fully subvert the Constitution in the same way as subsequent administrations.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has been accused of hindering discussions and debates

India's Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has been accused of hindering discussions and debates. Dhankhar, a lawyer and politician, became the vice president of India in 2022. He has been affiliated with multiple political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress (INC), and the Janata Dal (JD).

Dhankhar has been accused of hindering discussions and debates due to his perceived role as a "hitman" for Modi's government and his failure to understand the importance of neutrality in his position. There are concerns that he has stage-managed discussions, resulting in the opposition being blamed for subversion when they disrupt proceedings to demand discussion.

However, Dhankhar has also made statements highlighting the importance of debates in a democracy and the need for presiding officers to maintain decorum in legislative bodies. He has called for an end to the era of disruption, emphasizing the need for meaningful discussions, cooperation, and constructive debate. Dhankhar has expressed concern over planned disruptions in legislative proceedings, labeling them as counterproductive and incompatible with the democratic system.

In his role as vice president, Dhankhar has made official foreign visits, represented India at international summits, and addressed issues such as women's empowerment, gender equality, and the importance of the active contribution of women to India's progress. He has also praised the recent reservation for women in legislatures and supported a free and peaceful rule-based Indo-Pacific region.

Despite these statements and actions, Dhankhar has faced criticism for his public confrontations with the state government and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee when he was the Governor of West Bengal. He was dubbed the "real leader of the opposition" by the Trinamool Congress due to his vocal criticism of the third Banerjee ministry and his frequent use of Twitter and media to express his political views.

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The Indian independence movement advocated for a secular, democratic, and civil-libertarian political structure

The Indian Independence Movement was a series of events in South Asia that aimed to end British colonial rule. The movement was in constant ideological evolution, with an anti-colonial stance and a vision for independent economic development. This included the desire for a secular, democratic, and civil-libertarian political structure.

The movement's evolution saw the emergence of the Indian National Congress, which, by 1900, had become an all-India political organisation. However, it lacked the support of most Indian Muslims due to concerns about minority status and the potential denial of rights if Congress alone represented India. As a result, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan launched a movement for Muslim regeneration, culminating in the founding of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875. Despite these efforts, the diversity among India's Muslims made it challenging to achieve uniform cultural and intellectual regeneration.

The Hindu faction of the Independence Movement was led by Nationalist leader Lokmanya Tilak, branded the "father of Indian Unrest" by the British. The stages of the independence struggle in the 1920s were defined by Mahatma Gandhi's leadership and the adoption of his non-violent civil disobedience policy by Congress. Some of Gandhi's prominent followers included Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Maulana Azad.

In 1928, the India League was established in London by V. K. Krishna Menon to demand total independence from British rule. The following year, the Kolkata session of the Indian National Congress reiterated this call, threatening a countrywide civil disobedience movement if their demands were not met. By the 1930s, the movement had taken on a strong socialist orientation, and in 1947, the Indian Independence Act officially ended Crown suzerainty and partitioned British India into the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.

The Constituent Assembly refused to include the terms socialist and secular in the Preamble

The Constituent Assembly of India refused to include the terms "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble of the Constitution of India during its drafting in 1949. The Assembly was chaired by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, often regarded as the "Father of the Indian Constitution", who played a pivotal role in drafting the Preamble and outlining the fundamental principles and values of the Constitution.

In November 1948, Constituent Assembly member Professor K T Shah proposed an amendment to Article 1(1) of the Constitution, suggesting that the phrase "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States" be replaced with "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Secular, Federalist, Socialist Union of States". This amendment was negatived, with Assembly member H V Kamath stating that the words "secular" and "socialist" should only be included in the Preamble if at all.

In October 1949, another Constituent Assembly member, Hasrat Mohani, moved an amendment for the Preamble to begin with "We, The People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Union of Indian Socialistic Republics to be called U. I. S. R. on the lines of U. S. S. R.". This amendment was also negatived, and the Preamble in its present form was adopted later that day.

The terms "socialist" and "secular" were eventually incorporated into the Preamble through the Forty-second Amendment Act of 1976, enacted by Parliament during a period of national emergency. This amendment transformed the Preamble's description of India as a "Sovereign Democratic Republic" to a "Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic". The Supreme Court of India has upheld the inclusion of these terms, stating that the Constitution is a living document that can be amended in accordance with Article 368, which grants Parliament the power to amend the Constitution.

The attempts to include the terms "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble during its drafting reflect the ongoing debates and diverse opinions within the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly had to navigate complex issues, including managing the interests of various communities, regions, and political parties, and striving for consensus among its members. The exclusion of these terms in the original Preamble may have been a result of the delicate balance of interests and the desire to uphold certain guiding principles in the Constitution.

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