Baba Saheb's Iconoclasm: A Conspiracy of Selective Interpretations

In Bombay, she came in contact with Ambedkar andbecame so close that whenever Ambedkar came to Bombay, he would stay in her house. Their friendship sparked off rumours that they might get married. (Iconoclast: A Reflective Biography of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by Anand Teltumbde)

Dr. Ambedkar's father received a pension of 50 rupees, which is equivalent to about 78,000 rupees today. He was fortunate that two rulers provided him with fellowships to study abroad. (Iconoclast: A Reflective Biography of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by Anand Teltumbde)

It appears, Ambedkar was never serious with Sikhism and merely wanted to show interest to extract something from them such as Khalsa college, his Europe tour, etc., for which the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee had paid Rs 7000 as published in Gurudwara. (Iconoclast: A Reflective Biography of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by Anand Teltumbde)

Baba Saheb Ambedkar once made a disrespectful speech about Congress women. This is the same Ambedkar who said that the progress of a society can be measured by the progress of its women. (Iconoclast: A Reflective Biography of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by Anand Teltumbde)

Many such things, "Conspiracy of Selective Interpretations" is a book written by Anand Teltumbde, a biography of Baba Saheb, "Iconoclast: A Reflective Biography of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar", Penguin India.

The title Iconoclast which means "one who breaks idols". The copyist of this planned biography of idol breaking claims that this biography is presented as an effort to "rescue" Ambedkar and the Dalit movement from his followers and alleged co-optation. The author tries hard to establish Ambedkar only as the draft man of the Indian Constitution and nothing more—a mere lawyer in the Constituent Assembly.

Many claims in the book are based on the biographies of C. Khairmode and Dhananjay Keer. The author himself states that Khairmode was upset with Ambedkar and later joined the Hindu Mahasabha. Dhananjay Keer himself has been a follower of Savarkar.

Well, the second point of the beginning of this comment can be a basis for selective perception, leaving aside the facts that Dr. Ambedkar's father and mother had died long before his first foreign trip for higher education and the family was struggling with financial struggles.

The basis of the first point is C. Khairmode and the 'Mildred Dresser' mentioned in it are not the ones with whom Baba Saheb had correspondence. He had correspondence with a woman named Francisca ('F') from England. Through other facts including Mildred Dresser mentioned by Khairmode, Baba Saheb's shortcomings have been told towards Baba Saheb's partner Rama Bai. The book presents certain facts selectively, without keeping the thread of Ramabai and their relationship.

The Sikh religion tries to paint Dr. Ambedkar as a cunning person. Several other such instances in the book follow the same pattern—using selective facts to fit a specific narrative.

The entire book appears to be crafted with a particular agenda, similar to the strategies used by RSS and Hindu nationalist groups—picking selective incidents to suit their motive and purpose. That too mostly from the writings of Hindu Mahasabha and Savarkar's devotees. The great responsibility of the purpose 'idol breaking'. Apart from the iconoclast's translation of "idol-breaker," but can also mean "humanizing an icon." Which Anand Teltumbde also says in his interpretation. But in the alleged humanization of great idols, of great images, it has to be seen that you yourself do not become dehumanized. Dhananjay Keer also wrote a biography under his special agenda but his love for Baba Saheb is visible in it.

Any Ambedkarite (or the one who has respect for Baba Saheb) will be annoyed that why the alleged anti-women speech after initiation should not be verified once. Even if it is included in the complete works of Baba Saheb. Anyone Ambedkarite gets restless after reading it, and reaches for the source. Its source is the alleged reporting of newspapers, or 'hear say'. This is the reason why people who have affection for Dr. Ambedkar and his legacy are talking about removing the reported things from the literature. There can be speeches, letters, articles etc. in the literature, not newspaper reporting. Researcher Prakash Tupe of Ambedkari Vangmay is researching on this from the newspapers of that time, is also preparing for PIL that reported things should be removed from the complete works.

To confirm his views on Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit movement, Anand Teltumbde quotes Nanak Chand Rattu ji's writing at the time of Baba Saheb's death, but not his book 'Babasaheb: My Life with Dr. Ambedkar' from the reference of Mai Saheb. In another episode, he mentions the presenter of this book, Vijay Suravde, but he has no meaning from this mention by Vijay Suravde that Rattu Saheb was in remorse for his comments. Although the writer has to give his opinion on the Dalit movement, he uses Mai Saheb as a shield and sword for this.

If you have to read a book/biography that interprets Baba Saheb's work, his influence, his struggles and his politics and contribution outside the idol, then why not read Christophe Jaffrelot's book or Madhu Limaye's, who also have affection for Baba Saheb Ambedkar and a respectful neutrality towards his contributions or ideas.

I don't know what the experts of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's life and works would have to say on this, but it seems to me to be a clear part of a conspiratorial plan. Even though Teltumbde is the son-in-law of Baba Saheb's son, but also seems to be a member of an ecosystem in which Dr. Ambedkar as an obstacle to their so-called revolution. Such people make a kind of harmony with the saffron brigade and their system is international. Soon, this book will likely be published by a major Hindi publisher as well.