Mumbai: November 26, 2019, marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. Constitution Day was first celebrated four years ago in 2015, when the government decided to mark the day as a tribute to BR Ambedkar, who played an important role in the framing of the Indian Constitution.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the President of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) remarked that the Indian Constitution has provided the people of India with the basic principles to lead their lives on, along with an opportunity to change themselves and the society for the better.
Here are the highlights of the conversation:
Q 1: What do you have to say about the Indian Constitution's implementation over the years?
A 1: Indian society has undergone a great transformation in recent years. The ideologies of the society and the Constitution have now begun to converge. I consider this as an achievement for the makers of the Constitution.
Q 2: What was the major contribution of your grandfather in the process?
A 2: Baba Saheb was a skillfully far-sighted man. He drafted a Constitution that is still relevant today. It makes sense for both the older and younger generations as it gives them the right to voice their opinions and stand for their ideals.
Q 3: There were several people involved in drafting the Consitution, yet Baba Saheb was bestowed with the title 'Father of the Indian Constitution'. Why do you think so?
A 3: There were two committees that worked on the Constitution. Baba Saheb was the one leading the Drafting Committee. But, people have different opinions about him, which they have expressed over time, through different mediums. I probably need not say anything about this.
Q 4: What do think about the Amendments that have been made in the Constitution in all these years?
A 4: I recall the Kesavananda Bharati case whose judgment was delivered by CJI Justice Sikri, in which it was established that the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be changed but it can be modified.
Q 5: Your take on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir?
A 5: After the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir High court had said that if Constituent assembly was part of the judgment then the recommendation had to be made by the Constituent Assembly of the State. Even though Jammu and Kashmir has become an integral part of India now, the Supreme Court's verdict is still being questioned.
Q 6: Your expectations from the new Chief Justice of India?
A 6: I think the present chief justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde, who is from Maharashtra should show courage like ex-judges of the country. I expect him to act courageously. He should hold hearings and make a quick judgement on the pending petitions in the Supreme Court, particularly on the Article 370 issue. People need to know what is wrong or right.
Q 7: It is alleged that the current government has constantly been trying to make changes in the Constitution. What do you think about this?
A 7: India is a country with several ideological clusters. The Sangh, banking on their ideology, wants to re-establish the long lost Aryavrat, which is not possible. People love freedom which the Indian Constitution has provided them and therefore they will never accept Sangh's ideology.
Q 8: The Supreme Court recently gave its verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute. Do you think the decision was under the constitutional limits?
A 8: I expected the SC to put forward more facts than stories. The Allahabad HC had ordered for carbon dating procedure and also permitted the Archeological department to inspect the land. If SC was honest enough, it would have told us about the results. But it ceased to do so.
The Court came with a solution that was convincing to all, but it failed to maintain its intellectual honesty. No doubt it will continue to receive criticism on this issue.
Q 9: How do you expect the Constitution to function in the present scenario?
A 9: All I have to say is as long as the society keeps functioning, the Constitution will continue to hold it accountable.
Also read: Story behind India's first Interim President of Constituent Assembly
