During the freedom struggle, Dr. Ambedkar had sharp differences with Gandhi and Congress.
Ambedkar Jayanti 2026: At present Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is needed by every political party. He failed in two Lok Sabha elections in independent India. But interestingly, seven decades after his death, he is the only leader of the country on whose name political parties hope to attract a large vote bank. During the freedom struggle he had sharp differences with Gandhi and Congress. But on the same Gandhi’s initiative, he was given the responsibility of Chairman of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly and then included in the Nehru Cabinet.
After leaving the government, his attempt to enter the Lok Sabha from Bombay was not possible because of Nehru. But Nehru considered it necessary for him to remain in the Rajya Sabha. On the occasion of his birthday, read why Dr. Ambedkar’s importance remained intact at every step despite disagreements with Gandhi-Nehru on many issues?
Gandhi-Ambedkar’s relationship a puzzle
The relationship between Gandhi and Ambedkar was very complex. Sometimes there was cooperation and sometimes there was sharp conflict. During the British rule, Gandhi opposed Ambedkar’s demand for a separate electorate for Dalits. On this question he fasted unto death in Yerwada jail. Ambedkar said that the Dalit community is not only socially but also politically deprived. Therefore it is necessary for him to get political autonomy.
Mahatma Gandhi. Photo: Getty Images
Under the dominance of upper castes, Dalits cannot choose their representatives freely. In joint elections, Dalit candidates will be dependent on upper caste votes and will be deprived of representation. According to Ambedkar, Hindu society is seriously divided. Therefore, considering one society and joint electoral system is injustice to Dalits. His demand was that just as Muslims and Sikhs got separate electorates, Dalits should also get the same. He had cited Ramsay MacDonald’s Communal Award to demand political protection for Dalits as a minority.
Poona Pact – In Ambedkar’s eyes there is no victory, only compromise!
Gandhi was imprisoned in Yerwada jail at that time. He strongly opposed this demand of Ambedkar. Gandhi said that separate elections for Dalits would mean permanently dividing the Hindu society. He considered Dalits an integral part of Hindu society. He had described such efforts as a threat to national unity. He said that Muslims separated first. Now if Dalits separate then Indian society will be further divided. According to Gandhi, untouchability will end only through internal reform of Hindu society.
Doctor B.R. Ambedkar.
Political isolation will not lead to social reform. In support of his demand, Gandhi started a fast unto death in jail itself. Amidst the pressure of the fast and nationwide protests, Dalits got reservation in the Poona Pact of 1932 but the demand for separate elections was not accepted. Seats were reserved for Dalits in provincial assemblies. Special measures were promised for socio-educational reforms and upliftment of Dalits. Ambedkar was not happy. He felt that Gandhi used his moral power to force him. Ambedkar later said that the Poona Pact was a compromise for the Dalits, not a victory.
Congress gave importance even amidst disagreements
Whatever may have been Ambedkar’s disagreements, Congress made full use of his unique constitutional abilities in drafting the Constitution. On 29 August 1947, the Constituent Assembly constituted a drafting committee. On the same day, Dr. Ambedkar was elected its chairman. Of course, this was a collective decision of the Constituent Assembly but it should be remembered that this assembly was dominated by Gandhi’s followers.
Ambedkar’s name has been forever preserved in the history of India for his brilliant role in drafting the Constitution. Interestingly, Ambedkar’s entry into the Constituent Assembly happened with the support of Jogendra Nath Mandal from Bengal, who became the first Law Minister of Pakistan. Ambedkar’s party Scheduled Caste Federation was badly defeated in the 1946 elections. Then Mandal helped Ambedkar. The seat from which Ambedkar had won went to Pakistan during partition. As a result, Ambedkar’s membership ended. But in the meantime, due to Gandhi’s initiative and Patel’s efforts, relations between Congress and Ambedkar had improved somewhat. At the same time, a seat in Bombay became vacant due to the resignation of Dr. M.R. Jayakar. Then with the support of Congress, Ambedkar was elected from there.
Pandit Nehru.
Complaint of neglect in Nehru cabinet
Along with the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Ambedkar was also a part of the government as the country’s first Law Minister. This was Mahatma Gandhi’s suggestion, following which non-Congress leaders like Ambedkar and Syama Prasad Mukherjee were given a place in the cabinet. He remained in the government for a little more than four years but amid disagreements, he resigned from the post of minister on 27 September 1951. He disclosed the reasons for his resignation in his statement dated 10 October 1951. His complaint was that important decisions are taken in advance by the committees and then presented before the cabinet for formality.
He was also dissatisfied with being restricted to just the role of Law Minister. His complaint was that he was not made a member of any important committee of the cabinet. He also had disagreements with the government on foreign policy issues. He had written with disappointment that even after four years of independence, there is not a single country speaking in support of India in the United Nations.
In reality, even while being in the government, Ambedkar maintained distance from Nehru and Congress.
Nehru accused of difference in words and actions
In reality, even while being in the government, Ambedkar maintained distance from Nehru and Congress. The main reason for his resignation from the government was the Hindu Code Bill, which was introduced in the House by Ambedkar on 11 April 1947. It was sent to the Select Committee for consideration. After a long gap it was again before the House on 5 February 1951. This bill, which provided widow remarriage, equal rights for sons and daughters and authorized women to seek divorce, faced widespread opposition from the House to the streets. The question of the protesters was that why such a law is necessary only for Hindus? The country’s first general elections were near.
Pandit Nehru decided to postpone it till the elections. An angry Ambedkar made a sharp attack on the difference between Nehru’s words and actions and said that if the bill had been passed, he would have been happier than the acceptance of the Constitution.
Dr. Ambedkar was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1952 till his death on 6 December 1956.
Joined government to advocate for Dalits
Why did Ambedkar agree to join the government despite ideological distance from Congress and not agreeing with Nehru’s working style? In fact, advocacy of Dalits was his top priority. His efforts in this direction in his struggle against the inequality of society began during the British rule.
He remained alert on this question while assuming responsibility in the Constituent Assembly. Even while being involved in the government, he always remembered this. On this question, Ambedkar cornered the Nehru government both in the House and on the streets. He said in the House that the Prime Minister’s entire focus is on the safety of Muslims. They must be given security. But should they be the only ones to be protected? After all, why are Scheduled Castes not given security? Compare the government’s concern about Muslims with that of the Scheduled Castes. The government is not concerned about them.
Two unsuccessful attempts to enter Lok Sabha
Ambedkar had separated from the government. He was leaving no opportunity to corner Nehru. He reached the Lok Sabha with the help of Congress. But further he had to compete with the Congress. In the first general election for the Lok Sabha in 1952, heWas a candidate from Bombay North Central (reserved seat). Congress made his old associate Narayan Kajrolkar its candidate. Pandit Nehru also held meetings in support of the party candidate. Ambedkar was defeated in this election by a margin of about fifteen thousand votes. In 1954, Ambedkar once again tried unsuccessfully to enter the Lok Sabha through the by-election of Bhandara (Maharashtra) seat.
This time he was behind Congress candidate Bhaurao Borkar by about ten thousand votes. Ambedkar’s conclusion regarding the reasons for his failure in electoral politics was that India is apparently a democracy. But in the depths of the society there is still a lack of equality, social justice and democratic values. This democracy is just a layer on top. In fact its foundation (soil) is undemocratic. Even after losing the Lok Sabha elections, the country continued to benefit from Ambedkar’s intelligence. He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1952 till his death on 6 December 1956.
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