Was Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar Messiah of Dalits only?

Bharaat Ratna Dr Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Remembering Mahamanav Bodhisattva On His 130th Birth Anniversary falling on 14th April, 2021) Topic: Was Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar Messiah of Dalits only? By: Er.H.R. Phonsa ( hrphonsa @gmail.com) Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, was an Indian jurist, political leader, Dalit leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, women emancipator, human rights profounder, valiant upholder of human rights. an eminent and erudite scholar, editor, revolutionist and a revivalist for Buddhism in India , now has many memorials in the foreign lands. Many of his life connected event days are celebrated in his memory as Vidharithy Diwas , World Equality day, World Knowledge Day . Many surveys have been carried world over after Baba Sahib’s death which selected him as first among many world personalities. Number One student out of 100 in Colubia University in its 2004 survey, Greatest Indian after Gandhi. He was awarded Bharat Ratna ( Posthumously) in 1988, the highest Civilian Reward by grateful Nation for his numerous services. He is only Dalit among 48 Bharat Ratna awardees. It is said that some are born great others are made great and still others become great by surmounting hurdles in their paths by themselves. Another philosopher said that some people read history, some teach history, some people make history and a few become history. Dr. Ambedkar fell in the category of people who become history. By reading life events of Baba Saheb one finds there was not even a singly hurdle free step in his life. There was not even a single act of his life which he earned through favour or courtesy of others. All is life he had to row against the currents. He was born in rags and died with rupees forty thousand debt, bore loincloth in school, sat alone on the corner of classroom floor, remained thirsty for hours even days . Once a school inspector put question to his class students “Name a distant object” Students gave answers as moon, sun, stars. But Bhim pointed toward a water pitcher kept out side, saying for him it is far away object. Although he was gentle, shining but hated being untouchable by his Indian barber, classmates, teachers, students, follow politicians including his office Brahmin peon. He slept on floor, lived night through on single loaf of bread, still was first to reach the entry gate of London Museum and last to leave it. He was termed as poor man’s lawyer; still he won cases declared as impossible by other caste Hindu lawyers. He was called traitor by his opponents for his caring to those to who even God never cared. He over worked at the cost of his life and comforts of his family as he ofter said his time is short but work is more. He lost his poise and caring wife in her young age, and four children (Three sons Romesh, Gangadhar, Rajratana and daughter named Indu) for want of care, money to buy medicines. On the death of his loving son his wife had to tear out a part of her sari to cover the dead child before giving burial. Despite all such hurdles, pains, sorrows, he never deviated from the set goal of working to change life conditions to his people, whom he loved even dearly to his life. They too stood by him in thick and thin, in large number. He often said he was born to safe guard interests of all oppressed, deprived majority to whom caste mentors had declared Shudra ( both touchable and untouchable), and he had bowed to offer any sacrifice for restoring them their lost human rights. He remained awake even during nights to guard their interests, when other caste and party political leaders were in sleep. Bodhisattva, a lifetime committed helper of weak, Dr. Ambedkar as know in childhood Bhima or Bhiva, , Son of Subedar Major Ramji Malogi Sakhpal and Bhimabai, was born on 14th April,1891. He worked till after 12 O’clock in the night of 5th December, 1956 and after a few hours sleep, he slept forever. He was found dead on early morning of 6th December, 1956 by his wife Savita Ambedkar.The immense affections he enjoyed of his followers, was demonstrated by a funeral procession of laces, with wet eyes, crying ,chanting long live Baba Saheb slogans breaking all previous Bombay history records. Was Baba Saheb only Messiah of Dalits ? Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar is often referred as Messiah of Dalits while remembering his services, which it is not even half truth. Let us examine it in some details with facts and figures. Although his opponents addressed him at times a traitor, stooge of British, but actually he never acted against the interests of his country. In his1946 London press conference Baba Saheb stressed the British leaders to enforce 1935 Act and hand over united India to Indian Parties may be after 10 years, proving wrong to those who claimed that Baba Saheb was supporter of division of India on caste lines.(Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar By Dhanjay Keer pages 139, 384). When British Prime Minister, Churchill directed the Indian Governor General to arrest all Indian leaders and send them to Andemans and Seyshells jails, on their“ Quit India resolution” decision of 14 July to launch “ Quit India Movement”. At the end of July 1942, Executive Council meeting was called by the Viceroy, to discuss the proposal and whether to put all congress leaders in jails or not. There were Hindu, Muslim, Parsee, Christian Council members, all signed the proposal of the Viceroy to put leaders in jails, which only Baba Saheb objected. He said Gandhi, Nehru, Rajinder Babu etc. were national heroes. Baba Saheb pleaded the congress leaders were fighting for independence of their country, which was not a crime. Only he could muster courage to object, not sign British Proposal , when other fell in line with British expecting award of royal titles like Sir’s, Rai Sahib’s, Rai Bahadur’s, Dewan Sahib’s etc. British offered Knighthood title Baba Saheb and promise to support to Baba Saheb’s proposals for empowering his SCs/ST people, if he opposed the proposal of Independence against the British. Also the Hyderabad Nizam offered Baba Saheb a cash of cores if he got converted to Islam with his people. The Maharaja of Patiala offered him post of Prime Minister had he proposed his people to accept conversion to Sikhism amass . He refused all such temptations, proving his opponents wrong who termed him as enemy of Hindus. His opponents could not win him by arguments, so adopted unconstitutional, deceitful methods, like caste hate propaganda , hunger strikes, and spreading other false rumours. Here also he remained committed to the cause of India and its people. Had Baba Saheb not agreed to sign Poona Pact in 1932, which he never wanted as per his free will, India might have faced worst human tragedy including huge loss to properties . Had Gandhi Ji died during his fast, lakhs might have been assassinated by religious reactionary’s clashes besides all time love lost between Indian communities. This was saved by visionary Baba Saheb knowing well he was losing a right of his people for which he worked all those years. Despite this Hindu leaders including Pt. Madan Mohan Malvia, who signed Poona Pact 1932 , sprinkled Gangajal on them to get purified of the pollution they said to have got by touching Scheduled Caste leaders like Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar (My memories and Experiences of Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar by Shankranand Shastri Page 34 , 116&151). In November 1930 he fearlessly asked British in their London bastion, during first RTC that they must free India immediately as they have failed to watch Indian interests while ruling. His people more than population of England, German were reduced to a level even worst than serf or slaves. He said in Bombay Legislative Council as its member in 1927 “Whenever there is a conflict between my personnel interests and the interests of country as a whole, I have always placed the claims of the country above my personnel claims --- when there is a conflict in interests between country and the Untouchables, the untouchable’s interests will take precedence over the interests of the country”. In another statement Baba Saheb declared that he was Indian all through, unlike those who are the Hindu, the Muslim, the Sikh, the Christian first then Indian. Against all odds he did what he thought fit for his peoples and country. He struck to his words and fulfilled promises with his people. If analysed with analytic, unbiased Visionary mind Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar’s thought, struggle, work was for all humanity in humanity in general and his motherland in particular. No double his struggle was also for the up lifting his downtrodden like a Divine Angle. He argued that major chunk of India population consisting of Shudras, deprived, oppressed, depressed people needed his help for restoration of their denied human rights for centuries. By deep analysis of his work and mind, he was common to all, possessed no ill will even towards his sworn opponents. At angry moments, he exhibited bitter tongue but always carried a mother’s heart inside. His such actions were like a potter and guide as per Kabir said “ Antar Hatt Sahar Ki Bihir Marre Chot”. A potter and teacher while moulding an earthen pot and a disciple, keep a soft pad on side while striking on the outer surface. Let us analysis his more common interest contributions: Baba Saheb a “Symbol” of knowledge was world class student, with many of his research finding put challenges to surpass. His academic records of knowledge as DSC in Economics ( Perhaps only Indian till date) PhD’s has helped spread knowledge to world students. His score of 32 Degrees ( Hon. Included) , knowledge of over 64 subjects and ten languages still remains a challenge for world students to cross. His dedicated work for deprived millions of his people which gives him recognition in the line of world intellectuals, like Nelson Mandela, Stalin, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Karl Max, Mahatma Gandhi and many more. His private library with about 50,000 books, worth many laces was donated to educational institutions, where scholars of all caste, religions read and get benefitted. The Peoples’ Education Society he founded in 1945 now runs 12 University affiliated colleges, 6 of which are affiliated to the University of Mumbai, 5 to the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and one to University of Pune imparting University Education to as many as 30,000 students of whom over 15,000 belong to the under privileged classes and rest to general categories. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was the Savior of Labors in India . Labour come from all sections of society not Dalits only. His work to get enacted Acts and rules of common benefits to people from all sections of societyl. As Labour Executive Member of the Viceroy ( 1942 and 1946) , he was sworn on July 7, 1942. Dr. Ambedkar did a pioneering work . Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar believes that caste is not merely the division of Labour but division of labourers based upon the graded inequality As Chairman of 4th to 7th sessions of Indian Labour Conferences held in 1942-45 he laboured a lot to get labour benefit rules passed, some details of those rulesis given here under. • Reduction in Factory Working Hours (8 hours duty) : cuurrently the working hours in India per day were about 8 hours. • Health Insurance Scheme. • Labour Welfare Funds • Provident Fund Act. • Factory Amendment Act. • Minimum wage • Dearness Allowance (DA) to Workers. • Leave Benefit to Piece Workers. • Revision of Scale of Pay for Employees. • Coal and Mica Mines Provident Fund: • Employees State Insurance (ESI • The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 was enacted to provide for the investigation and settlement of industrial disputes, to prevent illegal strikes and lockouts, to provide relief to workmen during lay-off or after retrenchment or wrongful dismissal. • The Indian Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill: • Mines Maternity Benefit Act, • Equal wages for equal work irrespective of Sex and caste of the labourer was brought in India. • Women Labour welfare fund, • Women and Child, Labour Protection Act, • Leave Benefit to Piece Workers. • Maternity Benefits for women Labour, • Restoration of Ban on Employment of Women on Underground Work in Coal Mines, • Indian Factory Act. • National Employment Agency (Establishing Employment Exchanges), Sates and Union Public Commissions. • Women and Child, Labour Protection Act. • As world supper economist Baba Saheb ‘s research experiences of PhD, DSc helped in establishment of RBI and many other financial institutions including Finance Commission, planning commission Besides these Baba Saheb framed policy to establish • The Damodar valley project, Hirakund project, The Sone River valley project, Bhakhara Dam on mighty Satluj river • India’s Water Policy and Electric Power Planning • Post War Economic Planning • Indian Statistical Law • He was chosen as Chairman of Constitution Drafting committee to write Constitution for free India, when some foreigners asked to write Indian Constitution by Indian Primer denied. His constitution is unique law Statue Book in the world. Its pledges to secure justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and promote fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. Before this document came into force even individual liberty, justice, equality, indivial dignity rights were graded. Universal adult franchise including women is a unique beauty of this statue. Despite his failing health he laboured for 2 years,11 months and 18 days to give this Constitution to benefit all Indian. • The India women cannot forget him for his efforts of getting piloted the Hindu Code Bill, was not passed due to stiff opposition of Hindu Reactionary forces in and outside the Parliament, he resigned in protest from Union Law Ministry, creating a world history of sorts. The political parties in power could not arrest the movement he initiated through the Hindu Code Bill and so had to pass it may be in parts over the years. Due to Baba Saheb’s efforts Indian woman now enjoys her centauries denied rights. He contested for all Indian women not only Dalit women. Besides this he worked for specific benefits for the Depressed Classes (presently known as SCs, STs, OBCs) besides other minorities. He organised them to face religious social, political challenges in future India. His agitation to get right of drinking water from the public sources he suffered beating, abuses besides pleading his case for ten years. His guidance to continuous 5 years agitation for entry to Kala Ram Temple Poona ( Now Pune),Reservation in political and in State Employments is a unique right he got by convincing its need, in Constitutional Assembly of elected 299 members many of whom were Princes of else while states, High calibre British time Bureaucrats, Jurists, political leaders, and religious leaders. By high lighting contributions of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, I do not mean undermine contribution of other leaders of his time each one of whom was great in his /her field, spheres. Despite all his services to his Samaj, country, world, he never asked any favour for his self or his family. The story narration of his contribution cannot be summed up in few pages, and even this small brief can say with confidence, that Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar was not a Messiah, Savoir, Guide, Emancipator, friend, well wisher of Dalits, Depressed masses of India but for all Indian irrespective of caste, creed, sex, place of birth, economic or education status of persons. Words: 2600 Material Source:- 1.Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar by: D.Keer 2. My memories and Experiences of Baba Saheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar by Shankranand Shastri. 3. Dr.Baba Saheb Ambedkar by Basant Moon ISBN 978-81-237-0941-3 ( Hindi) 4. DR.B.R.Ambedkar "The Messiah of the Down Trodden" by Janak Singh published by KALPAZ Delhi-52(2010) 5. Dr Ambedkar Jiwan Ate Mission (Punjabi) by L.R. Bali Jalander, 6. Last Few years of Dr. Ambedkar by Nanak Chand Rattu Amrit Publishing House New Delhi 1997 7.Dalit Movement in India and its Leaders(1 857-1956) by R.K. Kshirsagar M.D Publications New Delhi 1994