Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s warning and anxiety about the working of the Constitution, expressed in his final speech to the Constituent Assembly on 25th November 1949, was a deeply reflective and cautionary note. It went beyond the legal text of the Constitution and focused on ethical, social, and political responsibilities necessary for the Constitution to succeed in practice.
(1) Use Only Constitutional Methods
Dr. Ambedkar
said that to achieve our social and economic goals, we must follow constitutional
ways—like elections, laws, and peaceful discussion. We should not use
violence, protests like satyagraha, or civil disobedience. These methods
may have been justified earlier under British rule, when we had no rights. But
now that we have our own Constitution and legal paths to bring change, using
illegal or violent methods is wrong. He called such actions the "Grammar
of Anarchy" and warned they must be stopped.
(2) Avoid Hero-Worship in Politics
Ambedkar
warned against blindly following even great leaders. It's okay to respect and
be thankful to good leaders, but we should never give up our freedom or
blindly trust them. In India, people often follow leaders with deep
emotional devotion (called Bhakti), which is dangerous in politics. He
said hero-worship in politics leads to dictatorship, and that no
nation should sacrifice its liberty for any leader, no matter how great.
(3) Build Social Democracy, Not Just Political Democracy
Dr. Ambedkar
said it's not enough to just give people the right to vote and form a
government. True democracy must also mean equality in society—everyone
should be treated with respect, regardless of caste, class, or wealth. If
there’s still social and economic inequality, political democracy (like
elections and laws) won’t survive for long. So, freedom, equality, and
brotherhood must be part of everyday life, not just part of the
Constitution.
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