Who Owns Ambedkar Today: From Dalit Communities to National Politics

— ✍️ Rakhi Yadav

While Ambedkar's appearance remains the same: a crisp blue suit, a copy of the constitution in one hand,  the index finger of his other hand pointing toward the sky, his portrayal and the engagement with his politics vary across political and social contexts. 

Among Dalits, he is revered. He is not just a symbol for anti-caste x; he is a source of strength. In leftist and anti-caste spaces, his politics and work are treated with respect and reverence. On the other hand, when you look at Ambedkar’s presence in mainstream politics, his portrayal is limited to that of an architect of the Constitution. While his image is used in mainstream politics to mobilise the Dalit vote bank, mainstream politics doesn’t engage with Ambedkarite politics in any meaningful way. 

For instance, while using Ambedkar’s image for their political gain, most mainstream political spaces question and decry reservations. But no one cared about what Ambedkar actually believed on reservation, Ambedkar’s primary concern on reservation was social and educational backwardness, which in India has been deeply linked to caste. Reservation was meant as a means to achieve equality, not a permanent solution but its time frame depended on the persistence of inequality, which still exists today. He supported reservation based on historical oppression, not mere poverty. According to him, economic disadvantage alone cannot justify affirmative action. However, these constitutional and socio-economic visions are set aside. 

Here, we can assume that Ambedkar is universal but his portrayal in different spaces changes as per the interest of the people and politics. On one hand Ambedkar is pride, on the other he is just a political interest, though  his statue is present in both the spaces but its expression is totally different.

Ambedkar: Symbolization and Tokenism

We are living in a time when Dr. B. R. Ambedkar has become a significant figure of interest among many sections of society, with several political groups and leaders aligned with social justice politics, while some others remain indifferent or opposed to his ideology. But here we can articulate that while political parties are using Ambedkar and not following his democratic and radical ideas, after many decades his caste is still relevant in the society. People from the marginalized communities are still under the social hierarchies. Dalit Students still face caste based discrimination in educational institutes, marginalised people's participation is still very low in education and politics. Women are still a subject to honour killing in the name of inter caste marriages. The time when Ambedkar is almost every political party's ideal and favourite then why his idea of annihilation of caste is not successful. It simply means that Ambedkar, for national politics, is just a medium for vote banks. 

The favour Ambedkar finds is very selective for the leaders in regional and national politics. When political leaders hold Ambedkar’s Portrait, Constitution copy, they are just using Ambedkar as a "shield" of secularism or a "magnet" for the Dalit vote bank. This is actually the symbolization of Ambedkar. It is tokenism, because leaders still maintain traditional power structures, social hierarchies in society and systems everywhere and that excludes Dalit leadership. Symbolization of Ambedkar, for leaders, is just to gain power and rule over the marginalized people. Here, we can see how Ambedkar’s symbolic presence has different meanings and is all defined by political necessity. This politics around Ambedkar owning does not end here, it actually raises a question: where is Ambedkar 's presence more relevant and important ? 

Ambedkar: Dalit Leader Vs Universal Leader

Ambedkar’s legacy is broad and multifaceted, making it difficult to limit his identity to any particular social or political label. He is a man of diverse personality and intellect such as he was also an economist, legal scholar, political thinker, and most importantly social reformer and philosopher whose writing works and radical ideas engaged deeply with the questions of caste, democracy, religion and social justice. Because as the well known Indian economist Amartya Sen believes that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is actually ‘’the father of Economics’’, his role in shaping India’s economic architecture extends far beyond his celebrated contributions as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. As a rigorously trained economist with doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar laid the foundations of India’s economic system. His ideas helped shape how the country manages its finances and economy even today. In his significant work The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution (1923), he analyzed India’s currency system and suggested reforms to make it more stable. His ideas influenced the creation of the Reserve Bank of India. He also emphasized the need for balanced financial relations between the center and the states, stable monetary policies, and development that benefits all sections of society. With this great contribution, he has played a crucial role in improving energy production and hydroelectric power of India. Ambedkar established the Central Technical Power Board (CTPB) and introduced the grid system in India. He also focused on irrigation, which is why in 1944 he set up a special Irrigation and Waterways Commission. He was the key force behind major projects like the Damodar Valley, Hirakud, and Sone River projects. Much of India’s strength in irrigation and electricity today comes from his vision, and the water and power reaching our homes are the result of his efforts.

Ambedkar actually redefined social justice and worked toward building a society rooted in dignity and inclusion. He is the leader who was multi-dimensional and a great visionary, with his revolutionary vision he advocated labour rights. The Department of Labour was established in November 1937 and Dr Ambedkar took over the Labour portfolio in July 1942. Ambedkar played a decisive role in securing labour rights in India through institutional reforms and legislation. As a Labour Member of Viceroy's executive council in 1942, He reduced working hours from 14 to 8 hours and introduced key welfare measures such as Employees State Insurance, dearness allowance, paid leave, and wage revisions. He brought it in the 7th session of Indian Labour Conference in November 27, 1942, New Delhi. Dr. Ambedkar also enacted provisions for provident funds in coal and mica industries, established labour welfare funds, and improved working conditions through safety laws and welfare schemes. Ambedkar also strengthened the labour policy by creating the Tripartite Labour Council, ensuring recognition of trade unions, and supporting the right to strike. He laid the foundation of modern labour governance in India through administrative reforms such as placing labour laws in the Concurrent List, creating employment exchanges, and forming labour investigation committees.

Dr. Ambedkar framed many laws especially for women workers in India such as Mines Maternity Benefit Act, Women Labour Welfare Fund, Women and Child Labour Protection Act, Maternity Benefit for Women Labour, and Restoration of Ban on Employment of Women on Underground Work in Coal Mines. He also ensured  the constitutional provisions for women’s welfare and universal adult franchise. As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar believed  “I measure the progress of the community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” He understood the deep unequal status of women in Hindu society where practices like denial of inheritance, prohibition of widow remarriage, absence of divorce, and acceptance of polygamy prevailed as a serious social injustice requiring legal reform. To address this issue , he introduced the Hindu Code Bill in 1947, aiming to transform Hindu personal laws by granting women the rights to divorce, equal inheritance, and property ownership, while banning dowry, polygamy and providing legal grounds for separation. Despite its progressive provisions, the bill faced intense opposition from political leaders and religious organizations, leading to its failure and Ambedkar’s resignation in protest. The Hindu Code Bill was later broken into separate legislations such as the Hindu Marriage Act (1955) and other laws in 1956, which partially implemented his vision by legalizing divorce, outlawing polygamy, and granting women property and adoption rights. Along with all this, he also firmly believed that women have the right on their own bodies.

He argued for the reproductive rights of women and also their choice of having or having not a child. Later he advocated for the accessibility to birth control for e.g. contraceptives , which is an important aspect of women's health. At the time when very less or no leaders stand up for the rights of women , Dr. Ambedkar stand tall as a foundational figure in the evolution of feminism in India, also highlighted caste and gender as interconnected systems of oppression. He  identified endogamy and the control of women’s sexuality through cruel practices like Sati, Child marriage, and restrictions on widow remarriage as central to maintaining caste. His critical examination of texts like Manusmriti  challenged dominant narratives of the golden age for women, highlighting their historical subjugation. With his writings such as "The Rise and Fall of the Hindu Woman", he exposed the double marginalisation of women within Brahmanical structures. These feminist visions of his ,makes him a modern architect of India, not just a sectarian figure.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is one of the most important figures in India’s modern history and contemporary time period, a thinker, reformer, and a symbol of resilience, his ideas continue to influence the country’s democratic journey. He laid the foundation for a republic grounded in equality, liberty, and fraternity. But Ambedkar’s vision stretched far beyond the confines of the constitutional framework. He challenged caste hierarchies, redefined social justice, and worked toward building a society rooted in dignity and inclusion. So, remembering and recalling Ambedkar as either solely an anti-caste leader or primarily the architect of the constitution actually side lining him from the main frame of national icons, unravelling his statue in parliament and popularizing him just a father of the Indian constitution is also a politics to side line his democratic ideas of politics, which are very important for the society and democratic demeanour. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s identity is not limited, he is the leader of all not just a particular community because he advocates against every discrimination and injustices of our society. 

- The author is an independent writer and researcher. She is currently working part-time as a Social Media Editor at Feminism In India