What a remarkable reversal of fortune history has delivered. B R Ambedkar — once denounced by orthodox caste Hindus and dismissed by Congress and the Left as a sectarian figure — has emerged as one of the most invoked and revered personalities in Indian public life. His stature has grown so immense that even the tone and context in which his name is uttered in Parliament can provoke a political storm. This shift can be attributed to the politicisation and consolidation of Dalit identity around Ambedkar’s legacy — a reality that dominant caste-led political parties, for reasons of electoral expediency, dare not challenge in public discourse.
The enduring iconisation of Babasaheb by Dalits — despite relentless hostility and acts of desecration directed at his statues — has drawn both incredulity and resentment from sections of India’s elite. Sadly, the public discourse around Ambedkar continues to be constrained by two dominant frameworks — either his legacy is reduced to a tool of instrumentalist electoral politics, or Dalits are subject to moral scrutiny for their passionate reverence. Both approaches obscure the full breadth of his legacy, which encompasses his spirit, actions, and writings. Ambedkar provides us with an ethical and political compass to navigate the complex crises of our time.
He understood with piercing clarity the dangers posed by religious majoritarianism and upper-caste dominance — if, unchecked, they could devastate social and religious minorities. Unlike his contemporaries, who placed their faith in moral appeals or modernisation — Gandhi, who urged Hindus and Muslims to embrace peace through moral introspection; Nehru, who believed industrial progress would resolve social hierarchies; and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who implored minorities to trust the goodwill of the majority — Ambedkar insisted on enforceable constitutional safeguards and institutional protections. He reinterpreted Indian history by centring the narratives of Dalit-Bahujans, in contrast to the glorification of ancient Hindu civilisation and anti-colonial nationalism that dominate conventional historiography. He was unsparing in his critique — not only of Hindu orthodoxy and colonial indifference but also of nationalist icons who ignored the plight of the oppressed. Yet, he acknowledged the British contribution in introducing the principle of equality before the law — he saw it as a momentous event that enabled the possibility of justice in a deeply hierarchical society.
Despite facing immense hostility, Ambedkar’s intellectual and political courage remained unwavering. The political correctness enforced by dominant forces — whether Congress, the Hindu Mahasabha, or the Muslim League — did not deter him from charting an anti-hegemonic, emancipatory path that remains relevant and radical in today’s India, where Dalit-Bahujan socio-economic needs are often swallowed by dominant cultural battles. Yet, what seems absent from the contemporary Ambedkarite movement is the spontaneity, sharp strategic insight, and relentless labour that Ambedkar brought to the cause. From the Southborough Committee and the Simon Commission to the Minorities Subcommittee of the Round Table Conferences, his interventions were marked by rigorous argumentation, deep awareness of political currents, and an unwavering focus on securing rights — including separate electorates, political safeguards, and equitable representation in education and public services.
Today, his image has become an emblem of hope, dignity, and courage for millions living under the shadow of systemic discrimination. From sanitation workers protesting in Delhi to Dalit women asserting their rights in rural Uttar Pradesh, from cobblers in Bengaluru to students challenging casteism in elite institutions and Muslims asserting citizenship rights, Ambedkar has become a symbol of resistance and rightful claim.
This legacy goes beyond grievance — it embodies celebration. Dalits commemorate Ambedkar with songs, processions, and festivals, honouring him not merely as a political figure but as a parental presence, a source of inspiration and moral clarity. To them, he is Babasaheb — a title not just of reverence but of profound emotional and cultural connection.
At a time when political discourse often feels bankrupt of moral imagination, Ambedkar offers us a vision of justice rooted in dignity, law, and rationality. To truly honour his legacy, we must move beyond symbolic invocations and electoral calculations and engage with his thought in all its complexity and urgency. For, in Ambedkar lies not only the memory of resistance but the promise of a more just and humane future.
The writer is an anti-caste scholar and a rapper
