Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and his Experience of Untouchability in Post-Independence India
- S. R. Darapuri
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891–1956), the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and India’s first Law Minister, rose from the most oppressed social strata of Indian society — the so-called “untouchables.” Despite his towering intellect, education, and political status, he continued to experience subtle and overt forms of caste discrimination even after assuming ministerial office. This paper documents key instances of such discrimination, drawing from Ambedkar’s writings, speeches, and biographical accounts.
1. Introduction
Dr. Ambedkar’s ascent to power symbolized a radical break from India’s caste
hierarchy. Yet, the persistence of social prejudice against him illustrates the
deep-rooted nature of caste in India’s political and bureaucratic structures.
The following sections analyze verified incidents of caste-based discrimination
that Ambedkar faced during his tenure as Minister of Law and Labour
(1947–1951).
2.
Social Ostracism by Colleagues
Even after joining Prime Minister Nehru’s Cabinet, Ambedkar was socially
marginalized by his upper-caste colleagues.
Dhananjay Keer (1954) notes:
- “Even as a Minister, Dr.
Ambedkar was treated with an air of condescension by some of his colleagues who
could not forget his caste origin.” He
was rarely invited to informal gatherings and often felt socially isolated
within the Cabinet.
Eleanor Zelliot (1992) similarly observes:
- “Ambedkar, despite his
official position, found himself a stranger in the very government he helped to
build. The social walls of caste did not crumble with constitutional change.”
3. Bureaucratic Non-Cooperation
Ambedkar faced persistent resistance from upper-caste bureaucrats within his
ministries.
W. N. Kuber (1973) records that:
- “His proposals often met
with passive resistance from senior officers of traditional Hindu background.
Their bias against an ‘untouchable’ minister was thinly veiled.”
In a letter to V. K. Krishna Menon (1949), Ambedkar reportedly wrote:
- “The machinery of the
Ministry is slow, not by nature but by design. I sometimes wonder whether they
obey me because of my office or disobey me because of my birth.”
4. The Hindu Code Bill Controversy
Ambedkar’s introduction of the Hindu Code Bill — aimed at granting women equal
property and marital rights — provoked fierce backlash.
According to Partha Chatterjee (1993):
“The opposition to the Hindu Code Bill took an explicitly casteist tone;
Ambedkar was denounced as an ‘untouchable reformer’ who had no right to
reinterpret the shastras.”
Ambedkar’s resignation in 1951 was a response to both political betrayal and
the social prejudice embedded in the opposition.
5. Incidents During Official Visits
Even during official tours, caste discrimination surfaced.
Dhananjay Keer (1954) recounts that during one visit to central India, local
officials served Ambedkar in separate utensils, following the custom applied to
untouchables. Ambedkar refused the food and sharply rebuked them, saying:
- “I did not come here to
be reminded of the village well.”
6. Post-Resignation Isolation
After Ambedkar’s resignation from Nehru’s Cabinet in 1951, no Congress leader
publicly acknowledged his contributions.
Eleanor Zelliot (1977) writes:
- “After his resignation,
there was a conspicuous silence from his Cabinet colleagues. His social
isolation mirrored the continuing caste barriers in political life.”
In a private letter to Nehru (1952), Ambedkar lamented:
- “I have been used and
discarded. The cause of the Depressed Classes remains as neglected as
ever.”
(Cited in Vasant Moon, *Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches*, Vol.
12.)
7. Ambedkar’s Own Reflections
In the Constituent Assembly (November 1949), Ambedkar captured this
contradiction:
- “We are entering into a
life of contradictions. In politics we have equality, and in social and
economic life we have inequality. How long shall we continue to live this life
of contradictions?”
This was not mere rhetoric — it reflected his own experience as a minister
still marked by caste bias.
8. Conclusion
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s life as a minister demonstrates that untouchability and
caste discrimination transcended individual success. His experiences reveal
that constitutional equality alone could not dismantle social prejudice deeply
rooted in Hindu society and the state apparatus. Ambedkar’s struggle — even at
the highest level of governance — remains a powerful reminder that social
democracy must accompany political democracy for genuine equality to prevail in
India.
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