Babasaheb Ambedkar is one of the most fascinating figures in Indian politics. In layman's terms, if Gandhi is the father of the nation, Ambedkar is father of the Indian Constitution. Both have a legendary status which inspires extreme views. Any critique of them is seen as grave misconduct and evokes furor in the society. Similarly, a 1949 cartoon of Ambedkar and the Constitution in a NCERT textbook has prompted a protest in Parliament and an immediate withdrawal of the cartoon.
Two advisers to the NCERT resigned arguing that the cartoon as a text was not read within the entirety of the context. Two immaculate professionals were abandoned by the education minister in another knee-jerk display of populist politics. The event needs to be analyzed in detail.
First, as records go, neither Ambedkar nor Nehru had any objection to the cartoon. Why would they? They both were educated people and knew the idea about cartoon. They knew that they were politician and this caricature or representation the current situation was a normal thing.
The first objection to the cartoon is based on the assumption that what was good for 1949 may not be suitable for 2012. The argument is as follows. The Constitutional assembly as a ritual process is over. It is now a contract, even a sacrament. Second, Ambedkar is now an iconic figure and to treat an icon to the irreverence of a cartoon is to insult him.
He himself might have felt anger by the scenes of unconstitutional behavior of the people of a particular party who boasts to represent Ambedkar ideology. This is not what he had written or studied for so many years. The Bharat Ratna was always promoter of non violence so the current behavior is not acceptable or need to stop.
We all are proud of the constitution which we have and the man behind it. He was rightly awarded bharat ratna, but in a liberal society cartoon plays a critical role and should not be made such a life and death issue. We have seen what a cartoon row can do when the cartoon of Mohammad came to seen. At that time the issue was related to faith and which needs to be respected.
I am not arguing we can disrespect the people who has iconic status in India, but there is always right way to protest and vandalism is surely not one of them. This mentality of hooliganism is spreading and these political parties who has nothing to do with the upliftment of the dalit's making this as a political fodder.
I know this wont be the last cartoon controversy as we are becoming more and more intolerant society day by day. The extreme behaviors are on the prowl and going to make these matter worse. This blog is not about the cartoon in the books but the cartoons sitting in the parliment and in the society who are disturbing the peace.
There is no need to tell that the constitution has been the one thing which we cherish the most post independence but these cartoon (in the society) are destroying it which is the reason for concern.
Two advisers to the NCERT resigned arguing that the cartoon as a text was not read within the entirety of the context. Two immaculate professionals were abandoned by the education minister in another knee-jerk display of populist politics. The event needs to be analyzed in detail.
First, as records go, neither Ambedkar nor Nehru had any objection to the cartoon. Why would they? They both were educated people and knew the idea about cartoon. They knew that they were politician and this caricature or representation the current situation was a normal thing.
The first objection to the cartoon is based on the assumption that what was good for 1949 may not be suitable for 2012. The argument is as follows. The Constitutional assembly as a ritual process is over. It is now a contract, even a sacrament. Second, Ambedkar is now an iconic figure and to treat an icon to the irreverence of a cartoon is to insult him.He himself might have felt anger by the scenes of unconstitutional behavior of the people of a particular party who boasts to represent Ambedkar ideology. This is not what he had written or studied for so many years. The Bharat Ratna was always promoter of non violence so the current behavior is not acceptable or need to stop.
We all are proud of the constitution which we have and the man behind it. He was rightly awarded bharat ratna, but in a liberal society cartoon plays a critical role and should not be made such a life and death issue. We have seen what a cartoon row can do when the cartoon of Mohammad came to seen. At that time the issue was related to faith and which needs to be respected.
I am not arguing we can disrespect the people who has iconic status in India, but there is always right way to protest and vandalism is surely not one of them. This mentality of hooliganism is spreading and these political parties who has nothing to do with the upliftment of the dalit's making this as a political fodder.
I know this wont be the last cartoon controversy as we are becoming more and more intolerant society day by day. The extreme behaviors are on the prowl and going to make these matter worse. This blog is not about the cartoon in the books but the cartoons sitting in the parliment and in the society who are disturbing the peace.
There is no need to tell that the constitution has been the one thing which we cherish the most post independence but these cartoon (in the society) are destroying it which is the reason for concern.
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