Reading ahead as the book talked about the Constituent Assembly and the process
which our fore-fathers followed in framing the Constitution, there were a few
speeches quoted on reservations and on national language. I found the speeches
very moving and they very well drove home the point as to why reservation was
needed by the oppressive sections of the society and the unjustness of the
demand that House proceedings be conducted in Hindi alone and not also in
English.
The remarkable thing I found was that the
speeches and the other arguments given at that time, hold merit even today. Now
is this an indicator of our failure to progress as a nation - is a debatable
thing.
However, the most striking part is the
BabaSaheb B.R Ambedkar’s points of caution which he mentioned in the end after
acknowledging everybody’s support and effort in framing the Constitution. I
could not resist but draw out examples indicating that we have failed to get
his message.
· The
first warning -“Popular protests” and their place in a democracy.
He clearly said that Gandhian
methods (civil disobedience, Satyagraha and non-co operation) – methods of
popular protests were relevant under an autocratic regime but when there are
Constitutional methods in place they better be abandoned.
· Second warning -“unthinking
submission to authority”.
BabaSaheb said that although
hero-worship or Bhakti plays its part in life, following it in the sphere of
politics was degrading one self. I think he meant, that no matter how
charismatic a leader we get, we shouldn’t be submitting ourselves, our support
to him without rationally analyzing his agenda, his motives.
· Last one - "Content” with political
democracy.
He warned us that we do not
become complacent with attaining a democratic status but rather work to get rid
of the inequality and hierarchical order prevalent in the society.
Unfortunately, looking around us – the
society and political spectrum, we seem to have not paid heed to his words!
