2nd DR. AMBEDKAR MEMORIAL LECTURE

THEME: DR. AMBEDKAR AS A NATION BUILDER: PATHWAYS TOWARDS VIKSIT BHARAT

On the occasion of the 2nd Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture, the dignitaries sharing the dais with me, Hon’ble Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar ji; Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Pant ji; Respected scholars, eminent guests, other distinguished dignitaries, and my dear Bhaiyon and Behnon.

I extend my greetings to all of you present here today on Dr. Ambedkar Jayanthi! On this solemn occasion, we have all assembled here today to commemorate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest architects of modern India—Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji.

I appreciate the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for organizing this lecture series which is a befitting way to pay tribute to Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji. This initiative will inspire the younger generations to embrace the spirit of democracy and the constitutional values always upheld by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji throughout his life. It is also an opportunity for all of us to reconnect with the moral and intellectual foundations upon which our Republic stands.

Today and always, we must appreciate the achievements of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji. His life was not smooth, and it was riddled with extreme hardships. Yet his greatness lies in converting every challenge into an opportunity.

By his sheer grit and intelligence, he was able to proceed for higher studies to the U.S.A., UK, and then Germany. He chose the hardest of the subjects for his studies –law, economics, sociology, political science, philosophy, anthropology, and public policy. His life is a story of extraordinary perseverance, scholarship, and commitment to justice. With knowledge in his hands and courage in his heart, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Ji showed that true freedom begins with education.

Baha Saheb Ji always believed “Education is the Path to Liberation”. For him, education empowers individuals to challenge injustice, to think critically, and to participate meaningfully in society. Today, India’s commitment to education for all through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the newly implemented National Education Policy reflects the continuation of this vision. Educational opportunities are essential for ensuring that every citizen can shape their own future.

While all of us recognize Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji as the chief architect of our Constitution, today I would also like to highlight the depth of his intellectual brilliance. He was among the rare intellectuals who combined academic excellence with a deep moral commitment to social transformation.
His thesis on ‘The Problem of Rupee’ at the London School of Economics made him famous overnight.  In that, he clearly explained how the British financial system in India was unfair and mainly served their own interests.  With great courage and knowledge, Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar Ji questioned these policies and showed that they were harmful to the Indian economy. This was so powerful that he was asked to rewrite it for the acceptance of this thesis. He did so, but he did not alter his conclusions.

We have to remember that this was a time when the British Government was so powerful that it was said that the sun never sets on the British Empire. By taking on such a powerful Government, he proved that education and wisdom can challenge even the most powerful systems.

As I said earlier, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji’s most remarkable contributions to India was his leadership in drafting the Constitution. Over 141 Sessions, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Ji played a pivotal role in shaping the Constitution. He made efforts to establish inclusivity, guaranteed equal rights, and safeguarded cultural and educational freedom for all citizens.

Through the Constitution, he established a powerful foundation for an inclusive Bharat, rooted in constitutional values of justice and equality. The Constitution of India continues to be regarded as one of the most comprehensive democratic charters in the world. I recall his words saying that: “The Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document; it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.”

Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji, through the Constitution, envisioned a Parliament that functions through meaningful debate and respect for constitutional values.  He always emphasized the importance of constitutional morality, urging members to follow rules and uphold the dignity of institutions.
As the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, I have always tried to ensure that the House engages in dialogue, debate, discussion, and may even disagree sometimes. But what is important is that the parliamentary discourse should ultimately lead to a ‘decision’ and not ‘disruption’. It is through informed arguments, careful listening, and constructive exchange of ideas that we arrive at decisions that truly reflect the will and welfare of the people.

In Baba Saheb’s vision, Bharat’s strength lies in its plurality and diversity – its languages, cultures, traditions, and identities. These values are, according to him, the basic foundation of an inclusive and vibrant democracy.

At a time of great transformation across the world, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji presented a visionary model of democratic nation-building, firmly rooted in the principles of constitutional morality. Many nations gained freedom around the time Bharat became independent. However, it is to the great credit of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji and the other Constitution makers that they designed a far-sighted Constitution. Because of this, democracy in India continues to thrive and grow stronger with time and we are now in the Amrit Kaal.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Baba Saheb’s legacy is his unwavering commitment to women empowerment. At a time when gender equality was rarely discussed in political discourse, Baba Saheb placed women’s rights at the centre of his reform agenda.  He said, “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”

In 2023, the centenary year of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji’s enrolment as an advocate was widely commemorated by the law fraternity and that year also coincided with the enactment of the 106th Constitutional Amendment – the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Whenever I attend convocation, be it in Srinagar in the North, Chennai in the South, or Tripura and Nagaland in the North-East, I consistently witness a heartening trend of more and more girls winning gold medals.

The efforts of the Government under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shriman Narendra Modi Ji, have pushed forward empowerment of women through schemes such as Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didis – there are over 3 crore Lakhpati Didis at present. All of these are truly a powerful celebration of women-led development in new-age Bharat, as desired by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji.

He also believed that political democracy must be accompanied by social and economic democracy. We are witnessing transformative policies in the last decade under Shriman Narendra Modi Ji, which are driven by a renewed and focused approach that places people, progress, and inclusive development at the forefront.

The Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme for the poor has transferred over 6 lakh crore rupees during the last fiscal year. The last villages along the borders are now called the first villages or vibrant villages. The Aspirational Districts Programme embodies the vision of economic democracy by prioritizing the upliftment of the most underdeveloped regions and ensuring that growth reaches those who need it the most.

The core ideals of our Constitution, as laid down by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji, were Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji always proclaimed that liberty without equality would lead to privilege. Equality without liberty would stifle initiative. Fraternity was the moral force that ensured harmony between the two. The trinity of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity comes together in harmony, ultimately finding its highest expression in the spirit of justice.

India’s progress as a nation will always depend on our ability to nurture these values in our institutions and in our collective social consciousness. The aspiration of building a Viksit Bharat, a developed India, has captured the imagination of the nation. Just as Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji dedicated himself to the service of the nation, Mother Bharat, we all should embrace the spirit of Rashtra Pratham-Nation First,  and work collectively towards building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

A Viksit Bharat is more than an economically prosperous nation. It is a society where development is inclusive, opportunities are equitable, and institutions remain robust. It is a society where innovation thrives, diversity is celebrated, and citizens actively participate in shaping national progress. Above all, it is a society where the constitutional values envisioned by Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji become living realities.

I am happy to see that the Government in the last decade has made special efforts to honour the life and legacy of Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar Ji through the development of the Panch-Teerth – the five important sites associated with his life and work at Mhow, London, Nagpur, Delhi and Mumbai. These sacred places serve not only as memorials but as centres of inspiration for future generations. As Governor of Maharashtra, I had visited some of them. They serve as reminders that ideas have the power to transform societies.

Let us work together to build a society where no individual remains marginalised.

• A society where elders live with dignity and respect.
• A society where women, youth, farmers, and workers have equal opportunities to fulfil their aspirations.
• A society where democracy thrives through dialogue, knowledge, and collective participation.

That will be our true tribute to our Ratna of Bharat, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji!

• Thank you!
• Jai Hind!
• Jai Bheem!
• Long Live Mother Bharat!

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