Ramachandra Guha: Ambedkar Would Have Opposed Congress’s Hereditary Politics

Speedy Summary

• Historian Ramachandra Guha delivered the inaugural Justice Ahmadi Distinguished Lecture in Bengaluru, organized by the National Law School of India University and the Ahmadi Foundation.
• The topic of the lecture was “What would Dr. Ambedkar have made of the Republic of India today.”
• Guha emphasized that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar would have been opposed to political parties operating as family firms or adhering to hereditary principles.
• He quoted Ambedkar: “Parliamentary government means negation of hereditary rule.No person can claim to be a hereditary ruler” and called these principles repugnant in present-day organizations like Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena.
• Guha recalled Kannada writer Devanur Mahadeva’s speech as an inspiration for his studies on Ambedkar’s legacy.
• Highlighting ambedkar’s warnings about personality cults in politics and inequality across society, Guha linked them to actions by governments historically under Indira Gandhi and currently argued trends under today’s management.

Indian Opinion Analysis

ramachandra Guha’s lecture provides a reflective evaluation of how contemporary Indian politics aligns-or misaligns-wiht ideals set forth by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during India’s foundational years. His critique of hereditary politics across multiple parties addresses enduring structural concerns regarding openness in governance and equitable portrayal.

the commentary on administrative practices involving civil services,judiciary,and regulatory bodies adds to debates around institutional integrity. Such perspectives mark broader implications for democratic health if governance mechanisms become excessively politicized.

Ambedkar’s insights against hero worship-underscored here-serve as timely reminders given global challenges balancing leadership zeal with constitutional safeguards against authoritarian drift.

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