This book explores his vast influence on shaping India’s Constitution. Discover his role in drafting the document, his vision for equality, and the controversies that shaped a nation

The towering Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of the constitution of India, was perhaps the most qualified statesman of India in the early 20^th century. He was independent India’s first Minister of Law and Justice. While he entered public life fighting for the rights of the Dalits (then called the untouchables), he played multiple roles over the decades as jurist, economist, orator, educator, statesman, social reformer, writer, editor.

In the book, The Foresighted Ambedkar, author Anurag Bhaskar turns the light on Dr Ambedkar’s influence on the Indian constitutional discourse from 1919, when he entered public life, until the actual writing of the Constitution (1946-1950) and even beyond. Covering the different constitutional moments as and when they happened, it highlights Dr Ambedkar’s role in those moments. Going by the progression of events, Bhaskar writes about how India’s constitution was drafted over four decades.

Most scholarly books appeal to a niche reader, probably engaged in academics or professionally networked. This book is the need of the hour for every citizen to understand the principles of equality, liberty and fraternity in a polarised society. In a lucid manner, it covers the socio-political and economic environment over the century, the thoughts that went into shaping of a newly-independent nation and the reforms needed to be a progressive country.

This book helped me understand many important things: role of socialist organisations, distribution of power and wealth, creating equal opportunities, humanity over religious communities, bringing reforms to meet the need-of-the-hour, ethics and morality above all.

Born in a religiously rigid Indian social set-up as an untouchable, Dr Ambedkar was at a disadvantage during his childhood. However, life’s paths are unique to men born to greatness. This disadvantage churned his life and it became his life’s purpose.

Unlike his Dalit community, he got a chance to educate himself in the best institutes in the world. He completed his doctorate from Columbia University in the USA, and also went on to get a doctorate at the London School of Economics. In fact, he was the first Indian to get this degree there in 1920. He also earned himself a law degree.

In a social order ridden with casteism and privileges given to a few, Dr Ambedkar stood up for the underdog, the meek and the weak. He sought an equal world for the untouchables, going to the extent of burning Manusmriti (a religious Hindu text that divides the society into castes and assigns tasks for each caste) publicly.

He advocated equal rights for women, championed the role of education and work opportunities for the tribals and the untouchables. In fact, long before Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha, he led the Mahad Satyagraha against the upper caste Hindus in Maharashtra, going to the water tank to fill the water, hitherto refused to the untouchables.

The book highlights his ideology, his study of constitutions of the progressive countries and the abolition of slavery or bondage. He was greatly influenced by the American Civil War, where the African-Americans fought for their rights. He advocated reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities so that they could be assimilated in the normal public life.

Dr Ambedkar abhorred the idea of a majoritarian state and power in the hands of a few. He highlighted the importance of opposition in a democracy. He created a skillful system of checks and balances so that the power would be fairly distributed. Above all, he cited the importance of democratic morality, spirit of constitutional ethics and the desire to make the country a progressive land. He advocated meritocracy and justice. He played a key role in negotiating with the British during the independence movement, uniting the princely states and creating the fundamental rights for the citizens of a newly formed union of India.

Not shying away from the controversial parts, Bhaskar has also touched upon Dr Ambedkar’s dissent with Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders, and elucidated the controversial ‘I will burn the Constitution myself’ quote. Bhaskar’s research is impeccable and he has quoted extensively from various papers and historical evidences. The book is written in an easy language, taking the reader through important events. It is a slow read, but an educational read about an extraordinary visionary, whom we all know as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’.

Book Details
Publisher: Penguin India Viking
Pages: 400
Price: INR 799 (Kindle edition available)

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