The Indian Constitution diluted Ambedkar’s radical safeguards against caste
Evidence
The Indian Constitution was drafted by a committee, and reflected the views of its privileged-caste members more than Ambedkar’s. Still, several of the safeguards for Untouchables that he had outlined in States and Minorities did find their way in. Some of Ambedkar’s more radical suggestions, such as nationalising agriculture and key industries, were summarily dropped. The drafting process left Ambedkar more than a little unhappy. In March 1955, he said in the Rajya Sabha (India’s Upper House of Parliament): “The Constitution was a wonderful temple we built for the gods, but before they could be installed, the devils have taken possession.” — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 437
Categorization
Category: Factual Claims
- SEED: The ‘temple built for the gods, devils taken possession’ quote is a strong anchor for any piece on how constitutional safeguards get hollowed out in practice.
Related
- The final Indian Constitution diluted Ambedkar’s more radical safeguards and reforms (similarity 0.96)
- Ambedkar drafted the Indian Constitution and renounced Hinduism in 1935 (similarity 0.83)
- Dalits claim land and civil rights through Ambedkar statues holding the Constitution (similarity 0.81)
- Ambedkar saw the Constitution as a work in progress each generation should remake (similarity 0.80)
- Ambedkar pursued both revolution and constitutionalism, leaving an unresolved tension (similarity 0.80)
- Ambedkar sought to replace caste social morality with cultivated constitutional morality (similarity 0.80)
- Ambedkar is remembered mainly as constitution-drafter, not as anti-caste radical (similarity 0.79)
- Formal constitutionalism can obstruct rather than advance revolutionary change (similarity 0.79)