Need to Understand Babasaheb Holistically

New Delhi: “Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar always consumed poison, but thought only positive for the nation. Even then we did not look at his life and contributions holistically. He was forgotten after his demise in 1956, but when revived again in 1970 by communists that was selective. During the Dalit movement, started in his name, people used him as per their convenience. As a result, the country could know his contribution in totality. That should be corrected now,” said Organiser editor Shri Prafulla Ketkar, while speaking at a function organised in New Delhi on April 13. The topic of discussion was ‘Nationalism in the Eyes of Dr Ambedkar’. The discussion was organised by Delhi unit of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS). National president of BMS Shri CK Saji Narayanan and north zone organising secretary Shri Pawan Kumar also spoke.

“We mainly remember Baba Saheb for two reasons—framing of the Constitution and his fight for the upliftment of the weaker sections of our society. But, his life was much more than that. He was the highest educated Barrister in the country having a doctorate in Economics. He was an esteemed editor and published many periodicals from Mooknayak to Prabuddha Bharat. He supported reservation for weaker sections of the society, but always stressed on giving preference to those only who are qualified. Apart from law, he had deep knowledge of foreign affairs, strategic, defence, labour, water resource planning and science. He learnt Sanskrit to imbibe the ancient wisdom. He fought three elections but the leftists and Congress always opposed him. He was even termed ‘British Agent’ by the Congress and leftists during his lifetime,” added Shri Ketkar stressing the need that everyone should read ‘Who were Shudras’ by Dr Ambedkar in which he explains that all Indians belong to the same race and Aryan-Drividian division does not hold true on anthropological ground. Shri Ketkar also stressed that we should try to know and understand Baba Saheb with his own eyes only. He also described Baba Saheb as the first modern proponent of ‘homecoming’ in the Hindu way of life. He appealed to the people to establish Baba Saheb as ‘nationalist to the core’.

Shri CK Saji Narayanan said Baba Saheb was not against Shri Ram and Hindutva. He faced unbearable discrimination in his life but always worked for strengthening social harmony. He had fully rejected violence, dictatorship, class struggle and materialism. Communists were against him to the extent that they described him as the enemy of the labourers. SA Dange had once appealed to the people to waste vote but don’t vote for Ambedkar. “Baba Saheb was not merely the maker of the Constitution of India, but he was also the maker of the majority of the labour laws. Right to strike, Minimum Wages Act, Factories Act, ESI and PF Act, Indian Labour Conference, eight working hours, Leave wages, overtime, canteen facilities, maternity leave, pay revision for government employees, skill development, various laws for welfare of women, etc. came because of Baba Saheb,” Shri Saji Narayanan added.

Shri Pawan Kumar expressed concern that the life and contribution of Baba Saheb have not been studied in totality. He was against reorganisation of the states on the basis of language. Shri Pawan Kumar also recalled the long association of BMS founder Shri Dattopant Thengadi with Baba Saheb and also his three-hour-long discussion on the night when he embraced Buddhism. He pointed out that Shri Thengadi was an election agent of Baba Saheb when he contested by-election from Bhandara. Thengadiji was also general secretary of the SC Federation for 12 years and Baba Saheb was chairman of the Federation. President of BMS Delhi unit Shri Devraj Bhadana presided over the discussion.