Ambedkar as a critical Theorist: Emancipatory idea of democracy and nation building
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, a key architect of the Indian Constitution and a well-renowned politician, educationalist and scholar, critically interrogated the hegemony of the Indian National Movement and the idea of India through his provocative question: “A Nation for Whom?”. Ambedkar argued that t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125006138 |
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| Summary: | Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, a key architect of the Indian Constitution and a well-renowned politician, educationalist and scholar, critically interrogated the hegemony of the Indian National Movement and the idea of India through his provocative question: “A Nation for Whom?”. Ambedkar argued that the National movement led by the Indian National Congress and M.K. Gandhi prioritised the interests of the governing elite while neglecting the structural inequalities faced by marginalised communities. This paper analyses Ambedkar's critique in three dimensions: the political dominance of Congress, the limitations of social reform under Gandhi, and the contested legitimacy of the Indian nation presented by the Indian National Congress. After presenting the critique, this paper outlines Ambedkar's alternative framework for inclusive nation-building. This paper positions Ambedkar as a critical theorist who not only highlighted the dominant structures of exclusion in the “freedom movement of India” but also provided a more inclusive idea in the form of emancipatory democracy, which includes radical transformation of society, adequate representation, associated living, and economic restructuring. This study adopts a textual method and refers to volumes published on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs, compiled by Vasant Moon and published by Dr Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, along with key support from the Education Department, Government of Maharashtra, since 1979. This study underscores Ambedkar's relevance as a global critical theorist conceptualising for an emancipatory form of democracy by challenging the exclusionary dominant narrative to realise the goal of social justice. |
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| ISSN: | 2590-2911 |