Key Themes from Justice B R Gavai's Lecture on B R Ambedkar

Ambedkar's Vision for a United India

• B R Ambedkar advocated for a strong, united central government and placed the nation above all individual, caste, or ideological interests.
• Despite facing discrimination due to untouchability, Ambedkar did not let personal bitterness influence his work in the constituent assembly.

Centre-State Relationships

• Ambedkar objected to the idea of two separate sets of polity as proposed in the objective resolution by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, which suggested separate constitutions for federal and provincial governments.
• He believed in a stronger central government than what was envisaged under the Government of India Act 1935, promoting a singular, unified Indian identity.

Directive Principles of State Policy

• Ambedkar emphasized that while the directive principles may not have legal force, they serve as essential guidance for future executives and legislatures.
• He argued that these principles act as instruments of instruction and are crucial for future governance, stressing their importance beyond mere declarations.
• The principles are designed to guide the polity in the future, ensuring that whoever is in power has to respect these guidelines, accountable to the electorate if not to the courts.

Strength of the Central Government

• There was criticism of the draft constitution's centralization of power; Ambedkar defended it, stating that modern conditions naturally lead to centralization.
• He argued that the draft constitution was workable, flexible, and robust enough to maintain national unity in both peace and wartime.