Communal Deadlock and a Way to Solve It

by B.R. Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables, while also supporting the rights of women and labour.

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2015

About the author

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in 1891 into an “Untouchable” family of modest means. One of India’s most radical thinkers, he transformed the social and political landscape in the struggle against British colonialism. He was a prolific writer who oversaw the drafting of the Indian Constitution and served as India’s first Law Minister. In 1935, he publicly declared that though he was born a Hindu, he would not die as one. Ambedkar eventually embraced Buddhism, a few months before his death in 1956.

Reviews

[Arin Goswami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ambedkar breaks down his proposition of how to organize representation and guaranteed outcomes in the Indian parliament, makes the case for a separate electorate for religious minorities, SC/ST, etc.

[Vignesh Yelluri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3*

Was a bit dry in first half but got some interesting insights. Got to know the dangers of majority rule. Majority in India is communal majority rather than political majority as in western countries.

Interesting to give more weightage to a minority which is lesser in number (also inferior in socio -economic scale) than a minority which larger in number (also superior in socio-economic scale).

Also, if minorities combine, they can form a government of their own without depending on majority. Interesting scaling / distribution of power techniques.

[Shashwat Kumar]

This work is a speech of Dr. Ambdekar, which he delivered at a Session of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation that is held in Bombay on May 6, 1945. In the speech, Dr Ambedkar proposed an insightful solution for communal deadlock and apparently, this solution has the potential to safeguard the rights of all the communities in India. It is clear from this work that Dr Ambedkar was opposed to an absolute majority.