Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches Vol. 13

Description

The volume is divided into three main parts:

Part I: Entry into the Constituent Assembly to First Draft Presentation (1946-1948)
This section chronicles Dr. Ambedkar’s initial involvement in the Constituent Assembly, starting from December 9, 1946, when he joined as a representative of Bengal. It includes significant discussions regarding the objectives of the Assembly, particularly a resolution by Jawaharlal Nehru that outlined the aims for India’s future Constitution.
Dr. Ambedkar’s response to this resolution emphasized the importance of not just enunciating rights but also providing remedies for their violation. He argued that rights without remedies are ineffective.

Part II: Clause-wise Discussion of the Draft Constitution (1948-1949)
This part comprises detailed discussions on various clauses of the Draft Constitution, where Dr. Ambedkar defended provisions related to minority rights against opposition from other members.
He asserted that minority rights should be absolute and not contingent upon external factors or actions by other governments.

Part III: Third Reading Discussions and Adoption (November 1949)
The final section presents debates from the nine-day discussion leading up to the formal adoption of the Constitution on November 26, 1949.
Here, Dr. Ambedkar expressed confidence in the robustness and flexibility of the Constitution while acknowledging its imperfections and suggesting areas for potential amendments.