Mumbai : Today, December 6, is the death anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. In this backdrop, it would be pertinent to note that a race is on among various political parties to claim the legacy of Ambedkar as their own. The parties that had earlier ignored his contribution in nation-building are seen engaging the Dalit icon’s name on several occasions. Right from the BJP to the Congress and CPM, the strategy has been to pay symbolic respect to Dr Ambedkar.
While stating that the rise of Dalit assertion and Dalit politics over last three decades across the country as the basic reason behind the change in the scene, noted Dalit activist Anoop Kumar said, “It is because of the growing consciousness in Dalits and other lower castes which are trying to wage an anti-caste struggle making Dr Ambedkar and his teachings their great symbols and tool for mobilisation. BJP, Congress and even CPM cannot ignore Dr Ambedkar.
BJP is a little more active on claiming his legacy because its politics is not confined to become the ruling party but also to bring non-upper caste masses close to its Hindutva agenda”.
There is a growing feeling that BJP’s appropriation of Ambedkar is because it could give the party passage to Dalit votes in various states including Uttar Pradesh. In the recent past, RSS launched its mouthpieces, The Organiser and Panchjanya, with Ambedkar’s writings as well as those written on him.
While shedding light on the challenges right-wing political parties may face while appropriating Dr Ambedkar, former MP and Dr Ambedkar’s grandson Adv. Prakash Ambedkar said, “Dr Ambedkar had said ‘the greatest loss in India is worshiping a leader as a God’. But unfortunately the present political parties are trying to convert Ambedkar into a God. That is where Ambedkar will be defeated. BJP is not honouring him, the party believes in Vedic religion which he was against.
The party will find it difficult to preserve their ideology in this process. Their efforts are basically to accept Ambedkar physically. They are trying to develop five places of ‘thirths’ (pilgrimage) of Ambedkar”.
“A great leader who brought significant changes in lives of common masses, irrespective of caste, class, religion, gender and ethnicity, which gave him followers having huge potential political value.
Therefore every political party, even the right wing which opposed him bitterly, are trying to appropriate him,” said political activist Nitin Lata Waman.
“Dr Ambedkar and the Dalit movement is the only real challenge for Hindutva ideology on the ground. So to counter this challenge, there are two ways — one to challenge Ambedkar and his followers and other is to try and appropriate the icon. The first is quite a difficult challenge because they will not be able to demolish Dr Ambedkar and his teachings from the hearts of dalits and other lower castes. So they are going for the second option of trying to appropriate him,” added Anoop.
Tight security at Shivaji Park, Dadar on the eve of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Mahaparinirvan Diwas (6 December), in Mumbai Photo by Bhushan Koyande |
To conclude, Prakash Ambedkar said: “The Congress and the non-BJP opposition believed in individual and religious freedom. They believed in parliamentary democracy and the court of law. BJP does not believe in individual and religious freedom, it believes in parliamentary dictatorship. It is becoming apparent to the common man.”
