• UGI USER
  • Apr 13, 2024
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“AMBEDKAR’S LEGACY: THE FORGOTTEN HINDU CODE BILL”

Syllabus:

  • GS-2-Role of great leaders like DR Ambedkar , Constitution making and post independent India

Focus :

  • The debate over Hindu code bill and contribution of Dr Ambedkar.
  • Recognition of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s pivotal role in drafting the Indian Constitution.
Source-TH

Introduction

  • B. R. Ambedkar prepared the bill to change Hindu rules that allowed divorce, forbade, polygamy, and granted daughters the right to inherit.
  • Generally,overlooked contribution to the Hindu Code Bill, aimed at reforming Hindu personal laws.

Challenges and Discrimination Faced by Ambedkar

  • Early experiences of caste discrimination and untouchability.
  • Struggles for accommodation and basic rights despite academic achievements.
  • Defiance and Advocacy for Social Reform
  • Public acts of defiance against caste-based oppression, including the burning of Manusmriti.
  • Leadership in satyagraha movements, such as the Kalaram temple satyagraha.
About DR Ambedkar :

Early Life and Education:

  • Born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow (now in Madhya Pradesh), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar belonged to the Mahar caste, considered untouchable in Indian society.
  • Despite facing caste discrimination, he excelled academically and obtained degrees from the University of Bombay, Columbia University, and the London School of Economics.

Social Reforms and Activism:

  • Ambedkar dedicated his life to fighting against caste-based discrimination and untouchability.
  • He led various movements, including the Mahad Satyagraha for Dalit rights to access water from public sources and the Temple Entry Movement for Dalit entry into temples.
  • Founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha in 1924 to uplift the marginalized sections of society.

Political Career:

  • Played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
  • Served as the first Law Minister of independent India in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet from 1947 to 1951.
  • Advocated for social justice and equality through legislative reforms, including the Hindu Code Bill aimed at reforming Hindu personal laws.

Contributions to Education:

  • Emphasized the importance of education in empowering marginalized communities.
  • Established the People’s Education Society in 1945 to promote education among socially backward classes.
  • Founded the Siddharth College of Commerce & Economics in Mumbai in 1946.

Religious Conversion and Philosophy:

  • Embraced Buddhism in 1956 along with thousands of his followers during the Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din
  • Books – Mooknayak (1920),Bahishkrit Bharat (1927),Samatha (1929),Janata (1930),Annihilation of Caste,Buddha or Karl Marx,Buddha and His Dhamma

Organisations:

  • Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923),Independent Labor Party (1936),Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)

Legacy and Recognition:

  • Regarded as the architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social justice and human rights.

Initiatives for Hindu Code Bill

  • Vision for restructuring Hinduism based on principles of equality and social justice.
  • Appointment of Sanskrit scholars and consultations with religious pundits.

Challenges and Opposition

  • Enthusiastic support from Jawaharlal Nehru followed by resistance within the Congress and opposition from groups like the Ram Rajya Parishad.
  • Cold feet from Nehru and shelving of the Hindu Code Bill in Parliament,Subsequent Adoption and Implementation
  • Nehru’s adoption of the Hindu Code Bill’s contents as separate laws.
  • Enactment of the Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.

Reflections on Ambedkar’s Legacy

  • Contemplation on the rejection of Ambedkar’s proposed law and its implications.
  • Exploration of Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism and its possible connection to caste prejudice.

Conclusion

  • Importance of remembering Ambedkar’s contribution to the Hindu Code Bill alongside his role in drafting the Constitution.
  • Reflections on the ongoing relevance of his advocacy for social reform and equality.

Source:Indian Express

Mains Practice Question :

GS-2

“Discuss Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s contribution to the Hindu Code Bill and its significance in the context of social reform in India. Evaluate the challenges he faced in advocating for legal reforms aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination and untouchability.”(250 words)