Hassan:
Narendra Jadhav, Rajya Sabha member and economist, said B.R. Ambedkar was the great champion of women’s rights and gender equality, who even resigned as Minister for Law as a mark of protest when the government failed to pass the Hindu Code Bill that ensured property rights among other things to women. He was delivering a lecture here on Thursday on Dr.Ambedkar’s contributions to India as part of his Ambedkar Vichara Yatra.
Ambedkar, as member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council before India gained Independence, fought for the welfare of labours. He was the one who reduced the working hours for employees from 12 hours to eight hours a day, besides introducing maternity leave. “No doubt he is the liberator of Dalits. But, he should not be restricted to the Dalits alone. He worked for the welfare of all weaker sections. He is a true national leader,” he said.
Speaking about Ambedkar’s differences with Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Jadhav said Ambedkar fought for separate electorate for Dalits, while Gandhi opposed it. “In the second Round Table Conference, both had heated arguments on the issue. The British government favoured Ambedkar. But Mahatma Gandhi went on a fast and forced Ambedkar to withdraw his demand," he said.
Elaborating Ambedkar’s work as chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution, Jadhav said he worked hard to fulfil his task. He piloted the Constitution as well as amendments to it. “There is no other mass leader in the country who can match Dr.Ambedkar’s scholarship. He authored 22 books on various topics,” he said.
Mr. Jadhav, who has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by the BJP government, said he has taken up a yatra to give lectures to students on Ambedkar. He started his yatra in Maharashtra and held six meetings in Karnataka, and has plans to cover all states.
District BJP president Yoga Ramesh, District SC Morcha president Devappa Malligevalu and others were present.
