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Indian Constitution is a mission statement in the politically independent India to uphold the dignity, empowerment and welfare of the citizens. Babasaheb Dr.B.R.Ambedkar was nominated as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. The draft of the Constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949. That day was signified, ‘Constitution Day’. On 26th November 2015, Constitution Day was observed at Parliament along with the celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, by glorifying him as the Architect of the Constitution.
In the name of praising the contributions made by Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, the present rulers ignited a debate to undermine the noble ideals mooted by Dr.B.R.Ambedkar while framing the Constitution. Widespread opposition emanated spontaneously against the utterances of the treasury side showing indifference for the spirit and letter of the Constitution.
On noticing the unpleasant proceedings, the Prime Minister took a ‘U’ turn and pronounced ‘Constitution is Holy book’, unmindful of the contrary statements uttered earlier by the treasury side. Had the statement of the Prime Minister been meaningful, why didn’t he raise a single word earlier against the demand for ‘the reconsideration of the reservation’, enshrined in the Constitution, by the chief of their ideological outfit R.S.S.? Can a holy book be subjected to reconsideration? Only the present political rulers have to answer it!
The pride of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar was not on his role as the architect of the constitution but for the noble and progressive ideals, proposed by him while framing the Constitution which was partially fulfilled but still remains as unfinished agenda. On 26th November 1949, while proposing the draft of the Constitution at the Constitution Assembly, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar said, “However good a Constitution may be, it is sure to turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot. However bad a Constitution may be, it turns out to be good if those called upon to work it, happen to be a good lot….. Who can say how the people of India and their parties will behave”.
When things were not developing as desired by the framers of the Constitution, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar said, “The Hindus wanted the Vedas, and they sent for Vyasa who was not a cast Hindu. The Hindus wanted an epic and they sent Valmiki who was also an untouchable. The Hindus wanted a Constitution and they have sent for me”. With painful feeling but with radical mind, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar said further at later, “I shall be the first person to burn the Constitution. I do not want it; It did not suit anybody. People always keep on saying to me: ‘Oh! You are the maker of the Constitution’. My answer is: I was a hack. What I was asked to do, I did much against my wish”.
When the expressions of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar were on these lines, it is not that much proper to project him as architect of the Constitution but mention simply as the head of the team, assigned with the task of framing it. Much went against his wishes while framing the Constitution. But to the possible extent he had co-ordinated to complete the assigned task.
More of positive and progressive features which are yet to see the light have been incorporated in the Constitution under ‘Directive Principles of State Policy’. Had the debate, ignited by the treasury side attempted on such positive line, their initiatives could have been acclaimed. But the ignition was oriented towards retrograde measures by questioning the insertion of the word ‘secular’ in the preamble of the Constitution through its 42nd Amendment’.
They spoke against the insertion of the word ‘secular’ by quoting the sayings of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar while he was debating in the Constituent Assembly without understanding, of course with commitment not to understand the inner meaning of the debate. The inner core and the intention of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar were not against the secular fabric of the independent India. The current debate, ignited by the political rulers is to distract the noble ideals enshrined in the Constitution in the name of praising the revolutionary statesman, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar. Indian Constitution is not a holy book. It symbolises the unfinished agenda of the many positive and progressive entitlements to and empowerment of the citizens. It has to be reconsidered for further amendments on the positive lines and not on the retrograde line as stressed by the communal hegemony.
