SIR. BHIMRAO RAMJI AMBEDKAR AND CONSTITUTIONAL ECONOMICS
SIR. BHIMRAO RAMJI AMBEDKAR AND INDIA REFORMATION
India in her pre-independence era, had numerous and renowned Intellectual revolutionists, and dozen lists of social reformists, yet, certain iconic names, appears as renowned figures, in their independence struggle, herein Sir. Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of Indian Independence Movement against the British rule, came to be considered, ‘the Father of the nation’, Sir. Jawaharlal Nehru, as the first Prime Minister of India, and Sir. Bhimrao R. Ambedkar, as the Founder of India, Independent Labour Party, became recognized, as ‘the Father of India Constitution’. Having the India Constitution recognized globally, as the longest structurally written text.
Dr. Ambedkar as a jurists and economist, was born on 14th April 1891 into Hindu Mahar Caste (an Upper Class elite) of India society. Received his High School Education in Elphinstone Secondary School, passed his matriculation examination in the year (1907) to enter Elphinstone College, an affiliate to the University of Bombay. At the age of (21)years, he has obtained his first degree in Economics and Political Science, from the University of Bombay, in her contemporary form incorporated as, University of Mumbai. And in the year (1913), did receive a scholarship grants from Baroda State of India, to have a post-graduate study at Columbia University in New York at USA. In the year (1915), he has obtained the Masters degree in Economics, with minor study in Sociology, History, Philosophy and Anthropology, from University of Columbia, and further pursued the Doctoral study in Economics, and graduated in the year (1927).
He furthered his study to be admitted, and enrolled at the Bar Course at Gray’s Inn as a Barrister-at Law in London, and received an admission to the London School of Economics, as a second doctoral degree in Economics, with a strong major in Finance, in the year (1928), and graduated in the year (1931) at the age of (41)years.
Dr. Ambedkar returning to his home country, India, after a long tour of study in Europe and USA, was offered a lectureship position, as a professor of Political Economy in Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. And invited to testify before the Southborough Committee, which was then, preparing Government of India Act (1919), to create an electoral college. Onwards, Dr. Ambedkar began his social reformation intellectual work, as an activist, against Socio-culture inequality in India society, by the castes system, and sought for constitutional abolition of discriminatory practice, which emerges as a religious form of Hindu caste system. And went ahead to practice his law at Bombay High Court. He was later appointed, as a Principal to the Government Law College at Bombay, which evolved into Aligarh Muslim University, faculty of law, in the year (1935), while serving as the Chairman of the Governing Body of Ramjas College, University of Delhi.
When, India attained her independence on the 15th August 1947, the first Prime Minister Sir. Jawaharlal Nehru, appointed Dr. Ambedkar, to serve as the first Law Minister, and the Chairman to the drafting Committee of the Constitution, for the future Republic of India. When, he assumed office, he lay a foundation to a Constitution, which will guarantee and protect, a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, as an Indian, including, Freedom of religion, the abolition of ‘untouchablility’, as well outlining all forms of discrimination. With a depth of understanding, to the prevailing challenges of the India society at that era, went further, to advocates, and in documentation propose for extensive economic and social rights for women, introduced a system of reservations of jobs, in the civil services, schools and colleges, for members of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward class, as an affirmative constitutional economics policy drive.
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Photo of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar © Republic of India National Archives
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Emmanuel Tweneboah Senzu, DBA., Ph.D., SJD.
Professor of Constitutional Law and Economic Criminology, fellow, University of Sierra Leone.
Fulbright Research Fellow, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, USA.
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