Book Review : Ambedkar: The Economist
Sunday, August 14, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

Book Review : Ambedkar: The Economist

Archive Manager by WEB DESK
Nov 9, 2015, 12:00 am IST
in General
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

Ambedkar: An Economist Extraordinaire; Narendra Jadhav; Konark Publishers; Pp 278; Rs 595

Ambedkar had a clear vision about the economic policy of independent Bharat. The book explains his rich understanding of economics.

“The Indian society has done a great injustice to itself by ignoring the economic thoughts of Ambedkar. After all, his economic thoughts were not parochial. What Ambedkar always has in mind was in the best interest of the nation as a whole. To brand him only as the leader of the downtrodden in India is an insult to this great patriot. What is equally disheartening is depriving the Indian society of the benefit of his economic thoughts, an act that is self-defeating for India as a nation. It is, therefore, imperative to bring out the contributions of Ambedkar, both in the field of economics in general and in addressing India’s economic problems.” observes the author Narendra Jadhav at the outset of the book.
The above quoted observation aptly sums up the objective and spirit behind the creation of this book. The post-independence academic narrative in Bharat was articulated with a heavy mind, full of prejudicial biases and value-loaded baggage. Ambedkar was presented and understood exclusively as a scholar-leader of the subaltern segment of the society. As a leader of the depressed classes, chiefly comprising of the people belonging to, what we now called Scheduled Castes. The first injustice to the great soul is done when we regard him as a leader of the depressed classes. This skewed perspective of Ambedkar reflects the parochial mindset of the intellectual class who somehow did not want to project someone else as a national leader apart from Jawaharlal Nehru.  
Sadly, the Marxist intellectuals never bothered to venture beyond Ambedkar’s credentials, more than just the chairperson of the drafting committee of the Constitution of Bharat. Babasaheb’s knowledge of law is just a small component of this ‘intellectual colossus’, as the author has rightly pointed out in his book. The chronological trajectory of the book exemplifies his nuanced understanding of economics as an academic discipline. The Problem of Indian Rupee, his dissertation still remains an authoritative treatise for students and researchers in the field of currency economics.
‘Fiscal Federalism’ as a concept in the constitutional scheme of things was initially envisioned by Babasaheb. The division of revenue between the centre and the provinces was categorically dealt with in his comprehensive work on financial autonomy of the provinces. The devolution of finances from the web of centralised taxation framework was decoded by none other than Babasaheb. Professor Dr Edwin Robert Anderson Seligman, editor in chief of Encyclopedia of Social Sciences and one of the founder members of American Economic Association, commented that, “..the value of Mr Ambedkar’s contribution to this discussion lies in the objective recitation of the facts and the impartial analysis of the interesting development that has taken place in his native country. The lessons are applicable to the other countries as well; nowhere, to my knowledge, has such a detailed study of underlying principles been made”.
The mainstream academic narrative based on the life, times and scholarly achievements of Babasaheb is heavily prejudiced towards his forte in the discipline of Law, Philosophy and Religion. The Ambedkar consciousness in our academic and literary circles was myopic and somehow was not doing justice to his multi-dimensional personality.
The book has explained Babasaheb’s rich understanding of economics in a manner accessible to the lay person. The complexities of economic terminologies rarely act as an impediment as it has been explained well in the context. For the uninitiated, this book will certainly prove to be beneficial in understanding an unexplored dimension of the leader who has been until now seen through a single prism. Ambedkar had a clear vision about the economic policy of independent Bharat and it is notable that the problems of the Bharateeya rupee and fiscal federalism which he wrote about at the time of independence, remains unaddressed till date. Also, a word of caution is pertinent to mention here that, the book should not be seen from a ‘specialist’ perspective but a ‘generalist’ perspective to understand the leader who single-handedly lifted millions out of deprivation to dignity.      
Guru Prakash (The reviewer is pursuing PhD in Law on Article 370 of the Constitution of India)

Download Organiser App
ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Wah Bharat : The US Lawyer of the Year

Next News

Cover Story : Kanchana Maala, Tamil Nadu

Related News

Search For Swaraj: Peasant Revolts

Search For Swaraj: Peasant Revolts

TN police deny permissions for a tiranga rally in Tamil Nadu

TN police deny permissions for a tiranga rally in Tamil Nadu

Search For Swaraj: Sangh & Freedom Struggle

Search For Swaraj: Sangh & Freedom Struggle

TN: Family of 4 arrives at Mandapam district calling themselves Sri Lankan ‘refugee’; probe underway

TN: Family of 4 arrives at Mandapam district calling themselves Sri Lankan ‘refugee’; probe underway

PM Modi lauds power of tricolour, says it turned protective shield not only for Indians but also for other nationals

PM Modi lauds power of tricolour, says it turned protective shield not only for Indians but also for other nationals

TN: Dalit woman, local body president seeks protection to hoist national flag on 15th

TN: Dalit woman, local body president seeks protection to hoist national flag on 15th

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Search For Swaraj: Peasant Revolts

Search For Swaraj: Peasant Revolts

TN police deny permissions for a tiranga rally in Tamil Nadu

TN police deny permissions for a tiranga rally in Tamil Nadu

Search For Swaraj: Sangh & Freedom Struggle

Search For Swaraj: Sangh & Freedom Struggle

TN: Family of 4 arrives at Mandapam district calling themselves Sri Lankan ‘refugee’; probe underway

TN: Family of 4 arrives at Mandapam district calling themselves Sri Lankan ‘refugee’; probe underway

PM Modi lauds power of tricolour, says it turned protective shield not only for Indians but also for other nationals

PM Modi lauds power of tricolour, says it turned protective shield not only for Indians but also for other nationals

TN: Dalit woman, local body president seeks protection to hoist national flag on 15th

TN: Dalit woman, local body president seeks protection to hoist national flag on 15th

Changing Face of Indian cinema – 75 years and Future

Changing Face of Indian cinema – 75 years and Future

Maharaja Ranjit Singh ancestral haveli in Pak collapses due to years of negligence by the government

Maharaja Ranjit Singh ancestral haveli in Pak collapses due to years of negligence by the government

Temples of Bharat Mata

Temples of Bharat Mata

Search For Swaraj: Uprisings in North East

Search For Swaraj: Uprisings in North East

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies