Dr. Ambedkar played a seminal role in the framing of the Indian Constitution, and is therefore called the architect of the Indian Constitution. The text prepared by Ambedkar provided for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability and outlawing of all forms of discrimination. Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and social rights for women, and also won the Constituent Assembly’s support for introducing a system of reservations of jobs for members of the SC and the ST.
In his capacity as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he hammered out a comprehensive and workable Constitution into which he incorporated his valuable views. He gave free India its legal framework, and the people, the basis of their freedom. His contribution is thus significant, substantial, and spectacular.
The book not only evaluates Dr. Ambedkar’s role in the making of India’s Constitution, but also lays bare the agonies of his mind while doing so. Drawing from his scholarly speeches, the book tells us about the important issues which afflicted his mind. He was of the opinion that being divided by thousands of castes, India cannot be united in the social and psychological sense. According to him, economic disparities led to graded inequalities in Indian society. Such a life of contradictions could not continue without putting political democracy at peril. Though he felt grateful to the Constituent Assembly and the Drafting Committee for the trust and confidence reposed in him, he was agonized by inequalities inherent in the society, and called himself a hacker, not the maker of the Constitution. He went to the extent of saying that he shall be the first person to burn it as it did not suit anybody.
The book is an attempt to give credit to Dr. Ambedkar, not only as the maker of India’s Constitution, but also as one of India’s leading citizens, a great social reformer and valiant upholder of human rights.
It will be useful for the students and teachers of political science, researchers in this field, as well as common readers interested in knowing about the making of India’s Constitution.
Sheshrao Chavan, is a prolific writer. He has deep insight into diversified branches of knowledge and has written many books, including Mahatma Gandhi: Man of the Millennium; Mahatma Gandhi: The Eternal Pilgrim of Peace and Love; Mahatma Gandhi: The Sole Hope and Alternative; India after Mahatma Gandhi; Gandhi and Ambedkar--Saviours of Untouchables; The Constitution of India: Role of Dr. K.M. Munshi; This was a Man; Gandhi Jinnah Talks; Mohmmad Ali Jinnah--The Great Enigma; The Betrayal of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar; Rule of the Heart--The Justice of Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari; The Last Days of Mahatma Gandhi; Congress, Gandhi and Ambedkar; and Whither India Today.
Sheshrao Chavan had been an astute university administrator Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Aurangabad Kendra, and Vice-President (worldwide) of the Association of World Citizens, which has NGO Status with the United Nations, and Consultative Status with United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Shri Chavan has participated in conferences and seminars, both at national and international level. He delivered keynote address at the International Conference on Reforms and Revitalization of the United Nations, held at San Francisco. He also addressed the third International Conference of the Chief Justices of the World, held at Lucknow in India, which was attended by the Chief Justices of 40 countries.
