Ambedkar’s Idea of Minority Rights in a Democracy: Status of Muslim as a Test

Abstract

Dr B. R. Ambedkar dreamt of a society based on modern liberal ideals of ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’, throughout his life. To translate his dream into a reality, Dr Ambedkar strove harder to put ‘Depressed Classes’ under the ‘Minority’ category. While arguing in favour of his argument, he put forth the socio-economic status of Dalit before the Southborough Committee in 1919. After a long struggle, he was able to achieve constitutional safeguards for dalits. Dr Ambedkar had roped in all the principles into India’s Constitution in the post-independence period to peaceful social revolution. However, after independence protection of Dalit came under the Scheduled Castes category. Nonetheless, his epistemological origin and engagement with the minority as an ‘idea’ and creating favourable space within the democratic political structure has been still relevant. This article has engaged with Dr Ambedkar’s idea of minorities and their political and economic welfare in a communal majoritarian polity. To operationalise the ideas, this article has discussed the implementation of the constitutional promise of ‘rights’ in the case of Muslims. The article also looks at successive governments’ approaches vis-a-vis Muslims’ development to ascertain the trajectory of policies.