Why is Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar regarded as the father of the Constitution? What were other constituent assembly members doing then?

On 29th August 1947 the 7 member drafting committee was appointed.

1. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

2. N.N. GopalSwami Ayengar

3. Alladi Krishnaswami

4. Mohd. Saadullah

5. K.M. Munshi

6. B.L. Mutter

7. D.P. Khaitan

Out of the seven, TWO died, TWO resigned, ONE emigrated to USA, ONE lived far from Delhi.

So, Dr. Ambedkar was the ONLY PERSON left to do the drafting.

T.T.Krishnamachari in his speech in Constituent assembly about Dr. Babasaheb’s dedicatory contribution said,

“Out of the seven members selected to prepare the draft constitution, one resigned, one died, one left for America, one was busy with his work in princely state, one or two live away from Delhi, some had to be excused for health reasons, Dr. Ambedkar was the only one who had to bear the burnt.”

The 1st President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, praised the services rendered by Dr. Babasaheb in the making of the Constitution said,

“I have carefully watched the day-to-day activities from the presidential seat. Therefore, I appreciate more than others with how much dedication and vitality this task has been carried out by the Drafting Committee and by its chairman Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in particular. We never did a better thing than having Dr. Ambedkar on the Drafting Committee and selecting him as its chairman.”

This may answer the question, “Why is Dr. B.R Ambedkar regarded as the father of the Constitution of India”

To imagine what the constitution would look like had it been solely authored by the dominant Brahmins, we just have to look at the effects and consequences of Article 370.

The Brahmin, Gopalswami Ayengar wrote article 370 at the advice of Jawaharlal Nehru. Dr. Ambedkar was strictly against it.

Dr. Ambedkar foresaw the problems it would create and was therefore strictly against this article, that is purely a contribution of the Brahmins to the constitution. What problems has it has created in Kashmir?

REFERENCE: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches: Volume 13, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar – The Principal Architect of the Constitution of India.

Author : Shekhar Bodhakar