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IS IT FAIR TO GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO DR. BR AMBEDKAR AS THE “FATHER OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION”?
- KS Kiran Kumar

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My idea of writing this note is not to undermine the ideologies and principles of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. If any one finds this note to be offensive, it is purely unintentional and those who feel offended are free to oppose. We have been taught in our schools that Dr. BR Ambedkar is the Father of Indian Constitution and that he had written the Indian Constitution, etc. etc. Is it true? – See yourself with some of the facts on Indian Constitution Assembly that drafted the Indian Constitution : * For the first time, the Constituent Assembly met on 9-December-1946 in the Constitution Hall (now the central hall of Parliament). * There were 207 representatives (including 9 women) were present. Among others, the prominent leaders who were present include; Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Smt. Sarojini Naidu, Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant, Sarat Chandra Bose, C Rajagopalachari, Asaf Ali, Dr. BR Ambedkar etc. * However, the membership of the Assembly reached to 299 by June, 1947. * Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was made as the temporary Chairman of the Constituent Assembly and was introduced by Acharya Kripalani. Though I am not 100% sure as to who headed the Constituent Assembly (I think it was Dr. Rajendra Prasad), certainly it was not Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Various committees and sub-committees were formed under the Constituent Assembly. * Out of all the committees, there were about 17 important committees formed * Other important committees, viz. Committee on the Rules of Procedure, Steering Committee, Finance and Staff Committee (headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad); Minorities Sub-committee (headed by HC Mookherjee), Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee (headed by JB Kripalani), Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas (headed by Vallabhbhai Patel). Union Powers Committee, Union Constitution Committee, States Committee (headed by Jawaharlal Nehru) and Dr. Ambedkar happened to be the Chairman of only the Drafting Committee. * The Constitution Assembly took almost three years (to be precise, two years, eleven months and seventeen days) to complete it’s historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. * During this period, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. * Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution. * Only on 29-August-1947, during the Fifth Session, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. BR Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution of India. Going by the above facts, Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution seems to be limited to preparing the Draft Constitution as the recommendations came from various other committees. Those who acclaim Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions towards the upliftment of minorities, should recognize the fact that the relevant committees viz. Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas was headed by none other than Vallabhbhai Patel and Minorities Sub-committee was headed by HC Mookherjee. In fact, Patel and Mookherjee should be given their share of recognition in their efforts for upliftment of minorities cause and certainly not Dr. BR Ambedkar, as he happened to be heading only the Drafting Committee, which was formed mid-way through. I mean, active participation from Dr. Ambedkar started only from the fifth session (total eleven sessions) of the Assembly. Even if we take the logic that since he headed the Drafting Committee, he should be given full credit, but then what about the person who was heading the entire Constituent Assembly. Does n’t he deserve all this credit, for taking all the committees together in finalizing the Constitution of India. Your thoughts on this are most welcome.

Soffit aire liquidation. Cryptophyte alexandrite pithiness foaming shed deaconess embryological unawares.

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