A book on evolution of India’s electoral system that comments on contributions and rifts between three major political leaders of the time — Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhai Patel — was launched here on Tuesday.
The book — Ambedkar Gandhi and Patel – The making of India’s electoral system — is authored by Raja Sekhar Vundru, a retired civil servant whose doctoral work in National Law School of India was on Dr. Ambedkar.
Different viewpoints
Mr. Vunduru is Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Ratan Award winner of the year 2016. Releasing the book former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy commented that the book gives an insight into working of Indian democracy.
“The differences between Patel, Gandhi and Ambedkar was not ideological rifts but differences in strategic approaches. These differences had arisen because of different priorities which each of these leaders had at the time,” Mr. Reddy said.
Dr. Ambedkar was the only person who could influence Gandhi, he added in his keynote address. The book discusses conflicts between the three leaders on Dr. Ambedkar’s demand for separate electorates for Dalits and other historically marginalised communities.
Other Dalits, Muslims and Sikhs too had asked for separate electorates. Speaking at the meeting former member of Union Public Service Commission K. S Chalam said: “The book explores the rise of a political class. Dalits and OBCs should come together and we should become a social class. The electoral system should facilitate this.”
Understanding India
Author of the book, Mr. Vundru said this this work would explain how and why India developed its current electoral system. From first past the post system to intricacies of first and second Round Table conferences and negotiations over Pune Pact.
“The Indian people, especially the young generation should understand how we developed our electoral system,” the former bureaucrat explained.
