Dr. Ambedkar’s Vision of India and Jammu & Kashmir

Book excerpt: This book aims to understand the vision of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji (Babasaheb) Ambedkar for India and whether that vision has been achieved in relation to Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Ambedkar wasÊa principal architect of the Constitution of India and his vision for India was reflected in his contributions in the constitution-making process. There is no provision in the Constitution which was drafted and discussed in the Constituent Assembly without his active participation, thus having his imprint; Except Article 370 where, Dr. Ambedkar is conspicuously absent, rather deliberately kept out. Dr. Ambedkar viewed a unified country with a strong centre to remove regional spirits of alienation, equality of men and women, no concept of special rights for residents of states and above all the need for special treatment of persons from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. All these core values that form the basis of Dr. AmbedlarÕs vision of India are disregarded and disrespected in Jammu and Kashmir. The manner of handling of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the principal reasons for his resignation from the Union Government in 1951. This book is about trampling of fundamental values of the vision of India that were enshrined in the Constitution by Dr. Ambedkar in Jammu and Kashmir.