As Viceroy's Executive Council member, Ambedkar introduced 8-hour workday, equal pay for equal work to women
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was a unique personality in Indian history who dedicated his entire life to social, economic, and political equality. Although he passed away on December 6, 1956, his ideas continue to guide Indian society to this day. Babasaheb was not just a leader for Dalits but a global icon in the struggle for equality. Throughout his lifetime, there were efforts to confine his legacy within specific boundaries, and such attempts persist even today. However, his work's breadth and depth are so vast that it transcends these limitations. While his contributions to India's independence movement were significant, it was his role in the socio-economic reconstruction of independent India that truly set him apart as a leader.
Babasaheb's most enduring legacy is his message of education, organization, and struggle. His mantra, "Educate, Agitate, Organize," was not just a slogan but a vision for life. He fought for the rights of all oppressed groups in society, whether socially marginalized Dalits, economically impoverished laborers, or gender-oppressed women. He consistently emphasized that the deprived sections of society must fight for their rights, acquire education, and build a new society through collective strength.
Under Babasaheb's leadership, the Indian labor movement gained a new direction. From 1942 to 1946, he served as a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council. During this period, he introduced revolutionary labor laws, including the eight-hour workday, a significant achievement at a time when Indian workers were subjected to 10 to 14-hour shifts. He also advocated for separate labor laws for women, imposed restrictions on their working hours, and introduced the principle of equal pay for equal work. Many of today's labor laws can trace their origins to Babasaheb's vision and efforts.
Dr. Ambedkar played a crucial role in ensuring the economic security of India through the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The bank's framework was based on the economic principles laid out in his book The Problem of the Rupee. During the global economic depression, the RBI's policies shielded India’s economy from severe damage, protecting the financial stability of ordinary citizens. His economic insights continue to benefit the nation even today.
Babasaheb’s contributions to women's rights are unparalleled. He drafted the Hindu Code Bill to secure women's equal inheritance rights, the right to divorce, and other vital legal protections. However, this bill faced strong opposition from the ruling party and other political leaders of the time. Even the President of India refused to approve it. Disillusioned by these developments, Babasaheb resigned from his position as the Law Minister. He firmly believed that without women's education and the enactment of equal rights laws, societal progress was impossible. Under his leadership, women in independent India were granted the right to vote—a progressive move at a time when only a few countries like the Soviet Union and China had done so. Indian women owe Babasaheb an eternal debt of gratitude.
Caste was the biggest obstacle in Indian society for Babasaheb. He devoted his life to dismantling the caste system. In his historic work Annihilation of Caste, he conducted an in-depth critique of caste and proposed measures for its eradication. He famously stated, "Caste is a monster that obstructs India's progress. True progress cannot occur until the caste system is destroyed." Through the Mahad Satyagraha, he secured the right to water for Dalits. This historic movement saw significant participation from Dalit women. At Mahad, he burned the Manusmriti, a text he believed formed the foundation of inequality. He firmly believed that reforming religious texts was essential for eliminating inequality in Indian society.
Babasaheb viewed education as a tool for social transformation. He believed that without education, the oppressed could not find the path to progress. Despite facing numerous challenges, he pursued higher education and inspired others to do the same. His studies at Columbia University laid the foundation for his ideas on social justice and equality, which remain guiding principles today.
Dr. Ambedkar played a pivotal role in drafting the Indian Constitution, granting every individual rights based on equality, liberty, and fraternity. In the Constituent Assembly, he remarked, "We are entering a society full of contradictions. Politically, we have provided equality to all, but social and economic inequalities persist. Until these inequalities are eliminated, political equality cannot endure."
Babasaheb remains relevant today because Indian society continues to grapple with caste, religion, and gender discrimination. Until education, equality, and justice reach every individual, his thoughts and efforts will serve as a guiding light. In the fight against untouchability, female infanticide, gender inequality, and economic disparity, Babasaheb's ideas remain indispensable.
In earlier feudal systems, kings would reward individuals with lands, making them feudal lords or zamindars. However, with the decline of feudalism, the concept of private land ownership emerged, benefiting primarily the Brahmins and upper castes. During this period, Dalits and backward communities managed to acquire small landholdings.
During British rule, the Ryotwari system required landowners to pay taxes directly to the government. Failure to do so resulted in eviction. However, the British government proposed reforms to favor large landlords, which Dr. Ambedkar vehemently opposed. He argued that restricting land ownership to a narrow elite would lead to agricultural and social decline.
In Maharashtra, the Khoti system allowed intermediaries, or Khots, to exploit farmers, often evicting them from their lands. In 1937, Dr. Ambedkar introduced a bill in the Bombay Legislative Assembly to abolish this exploitative system. His efforts led to its eradication, granting farmers rights to their land.
In 1927, the British government proposed a bill to transfer small farmers' lands to large landlords. Dr. Ambedkar strongly opposed this, asserting that agriculture's productivity depended on labor and resources, not land size. He advocated for cooperative farming as a sustainable solution to agricultural challenges.
Dr. Ambedkar emphasized the nationalization of land, education, insurance, industries, and banks. He believed nationalization was the key to eradicating social hierarchies and ensuring justice. In 1946, he demanded land nationalization in the Constituent Assembly and later in Parliament in 1954. However, his progressive ideas were ignored by the ruling class.
Today, India's agriculture faces deepening crises. Over 50% of the population depends on farming. In such circumstances, handing over agriculture to corporations invites new forms of exploitation. Babasaheb’s vision of cooperative farming, supported by state-provided capital and resources, remains a relevant and effective solution.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was not merely a leader of his time; he was a timeless guide and source of inspiration. He not only gave India its Constitution but also a new ideal of humanity. His thoughts remain relevant globally, as they are scientific, egalitarian, and humanitarian. Indian society must embrace his vision to build a truly equitable society. This would be the most fitting tribute to him.
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*Senior journalist
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