A recently surfaced letter from January 26, 1946, written by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Amrit Kaur, has ignited controversy due to its remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a towering figure in Indian history and the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. The contents of the letter have drawn sharp criticism, particularly for Nehru’s characterisation of Dr. Ambedkar as someone who allegedly “allied himself with the British” and “insulted the Congress.”
In the letter, Nehru recounts an interaction in Shillong with a person who suggested reconciliation between the Congress and Dr. Ambedkar. Nehru responded firmly, stating, “We are going to do nothing of the kind. Ambedkar had repeatedly insulted the Congress and Congress leaders, and unless he apologised, we would have nothing to do with him.”
He further asserted that Ambedkar had aligned himself with the British government against the Congress and denied reports that he had suggested stripping Scheduled Castes of the political privileges granted under the Poona Pact. “My whole stress was on the fact that Ambedkar had allied himself with the British Government and against the Congress, and we could not deal with him,” Nehru wrote.
“…asked me why the Congress should not go to Ambedkar and make it up with him. I told him that we are going to do nothing of the kind. Ambedkar had repeatedly insulted the Congress and Congress leaders and unless he apologised we would have nothing to do with him… My whole stress was on the fact that Ambedkar had allied himself with the British Government and against the Congress and we could not deal with him,” reads the letter.
The letter has caused outrage, with many terming it an insult to Dr Ambedkar and the Dalit community. Critics argue that Nehru’s remarks highlight the Congress’s alleged animosity towards Ambedkar during the freedom struggle.
“Calling the architect of the Constitution a collaborator with the British is shocking and unacceptable. This letter exposes the disdain Congress harboured for Dr. Ambedkar and by extension, the Scheduled Castes,” said a Dalit rights activist.
Others pointed to the historical context, emphasising that Dr. Ambedkar’s critique of the Congress was rooted in his advocacy for the political rights of Dalits, which he believed the Congress leadership often overlooked.
Historical Tensions Between Congress and Ambedkar
The friction between Dr. Ambedkar and the Congress is well-documented. While Ambedkar was a fierce advocate for Dalit rights, he often criticized Congress for its failure to address caste discrimination adequately. His opposition to the Congress’s stance on certain issues led to his collaboration with the British on matters like the Communal Award, which granted separate electorates to Dalits.
The disagreement culminated in the historic Poona Pact of 1932, where Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi reached a compromise, replacing separate electorates with reserved seats in legislatures. Despite this, the relationship between Ambedkar and Congress leaders, including Nehru, remained strained.
Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions to India’s democracy, particularly as the chief architect of the Constitution, are universally revered today. However, revelations like Nehru’s letter bring into focus the ideological and personal rifts that marked India’s pre-independence politics.
The debate over Nehru’s letter has reopened discussions about the Congress’s historical treatment of Ambedkar and the broader issues of caste and representation in India’s freedom struggle.
Prominent political commentators and social leaders have urged the nation to reflect on the historical struggles of Dalits and the need to uphold Ambedkar’s legacy of equality and justice.
