Relevance Of Ambedkar's Contributions In The Upliftment Of Modern Days Dalits And Women

Abstract

Dalits, a modern term for untouchables in India, are underprivileged people in all social, economic, cultural and political fronts of our society which led to their misery, discrimination, exploitation and oppression by the caste dominated social stratification of India. The Constitution of India classifies Dalits as Scheduled Castes (SCs). They are the people who cultivate the land, mend the shoes, wash the clothes, clean the toilets, scavenge the dead animals or unknown human bodies and do all types of menial works, but share the stigmas of untouchability and are frequently denied the chance to eat, smoke and even seat with the members of upper castes. They often use separate wells and tube wells from those maintained for others. These pitiable conditions of Dalits were seen and addressed by some eminent social and political philosophers like Jyotiba Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar and others. Dr. Ambedkar, borne in a poor Dalit family became the first Law Minister of India after independence and the chief architect of Indian Constitution. The text prepared by Dr. Ambedkar provided constitutional guarantees and protection for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens. Ambedkar incorporated several Articles in the Indian Constitution for the upliftment of the Dalits and women which included the provision of equal status to Dalits with other segments of society, abolishment of untouchability and discrimination against them, provisions of fundamental rights to all, equal protection of laws, voting rights and reservation in education, jobs, promotion and political fields to them. Besides these several programmes in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, stipend etc. are being provided to Dalits by the States. This is all due to the provisions of Constitution drafted by Dr. Ambedkar. Therefore he may be regarded as the God Father of Dalits in true sense.