Question

Dr. B.R Ambedkar said, “On the 26th of January 1950 we are going to enter a life of contradictions. In politics, we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics, we will be recognizing the principle of one man, one vote, and one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man, one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril.”
1. With reference to the above paragraph, analyze the situations that forced Dr. B R Ambedkar to make such a statement. Validate your arguments with relevant examples.(200 words)

Answer 1

(i) In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stated his anxiety over the unequal status of the dalits. He said that in politics the dalits would definitely enjoy equality but in social and economic life they would have inequality.

(ii) In politics they would be recognising the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. But in their social and economic life, they would continue to deny the principle of one man one value.

(iii) In this way, they would continue to live a life of contradictions. Naturally they needed equality in social as well as economic life.