It was years ago that Ambedkar had pub-Cabinet after Independence. It was a scholar-
FROM 50 YEARS AGO
licly declared his firm resolve to forsake ship by the late Gaikwad Sayaji Rao which Hinduism. For a time after making this an-enabled Ambedkar to study abroad, in London nouncement, he toyed with the idea of getting and Columbia. But his return to Baroda was himself and his followers converted into the not the proverbial home-coming of one who Sikh religion...Then followed dallying with had won laurels abroad, and on the very first the Congress when Ambedkar joined the night of his stay, he was hounded out from hisVol VIII, No 49, December 8, 1956 Cabinet as the Law Minister and drafted the hotel by an angry mob which objected to a
Constitution. This was work after his heart. Mahar polluting the sanctity of Hindu soci-Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Then followed something of no less impor-ety... Ambedkar believed in education as the (Obituary) tance – the Hindu Code Bill. But he could ultimate solvent of social injustice and con
not see through the legislation to reform Hindu flict. He was a rationalist, scornful of poverty
Before he died, Ambedkar fulfilled his society for the Bill which he sponsored had and the outward exhibition of saintliness. vow of leaving, with his followers, the to be dropped...This resulted in his break with Then why did he turn to formal religion at Hindu fold. No one will ever know what the present Government, and much unpleas-all? Or oppose conversion of Harijans to impelled him to take the refuge of the ant mutual recrimination. Frustrated, Christianity which would have removed the Buddha. Was it because Buddha’s philosophy Ambedkar fell back on his old resolve, which stigma of untouchability, and brought them fascinated him as it fascinates many a modern he carried out in the end... both economic and political advantages under intellectual? Was it his doctrine of compas-No public figure in recent times had so manythe British administration. Here perhaps his sion that attracted him or was it because he facets to his character as Ambedkar had. A spirit shone and his sturdy self-respect stood found in Buddhism a symbolic and living brilliant student of economics, Ambedkar firm as a rock. The fight that Ambedkar took refutation, more symbolic than living, of collected more academic honours abroad in his up is long and unending for he had no illusion the injustice in Hindu religion and society own subject than perhaps any of the academic that economic betterment or political reform against which he had fought all his life luminaries of his times. Forsaking economics could be a final solution to the problem of with such intrepid courage, persistence and for law, he acquired an enviable reputation social discrimination which lies at the root of steadiness?... as a jurist which led him later to the first Indian untouchability...
Economic and Political Weekly December 9, 2006
