Tribune
editorial ‘Ambedkar Cartoon row rocks Parliament’
(May 14) – Cartoons have a special importance in
the field of Journalism. One simple look at it brings
to the mind of the reader so many meanings, hidden or
express, associated with the event depicted that a write
- up loaded with tough and difficult words may not do.
The cartoon more often than not by its comic appearance
has the magic to tickle the funny bone and create a little
humour also. At the same time, the possibility of it creating
trouble and anger among people can also not be excluded.
That of course depends upon the bonafides of the person
wielding the pen.
The
cartoon on Baba Sahib Dr. Ambedkar included in the class
xi school text books has virtually shaken both the houses
of Parliament, the hon’ble members cutting across
party lines baying for the blood of those presumably responsible
for insulting Baba Sahib. The anger expressed by the Parliamentarians
and others may not be purely for selfish reasons nor will
it be proper for anyone to say that the people in those
days when the cartoon in question was drawn and published
in 1949 were more tolerant and democratic than the ones
making noise now over it.
The
fact of the matter is that the Constitution – making
business under the stewardship of Dr. Ambedkar at that
time was just in progress which in the opinion of some
critics was moving at a snail’s pace. And Shankar
Pillay, the renowned cartoonist of the day was quick enough
to artfully put that feeling in the form of the cartoon.
It was not objected to by anyone or Dr. Ambedkar himself
who must have seen it for the simple reason that it was
just a comment of a passing nature expressed in a lighter
vein. Seen in that light, it was not fair by any means
for the NCERT committee to make it a permanent piece of
history to be taught to the young impressionable minds
through the school text books that was sure to stick on
their minds forever.
Now to form a fair judgment if Baba Sahib was really guilty of the implied charge of not piloting the Constitution speedily enough, one has to go into the history of the Constitution – making itself. For that, there cannot be a more reliable and authentic document than the speech that Ambedkar delivered on 25th November 1949 in the Constituent Assembly.
Now to form a fair judgment if Baba Sahib was really guilty of the implied charge of not piloting the Constitution speedily enough, one has to go into the history of the Constitution – making itself. For that, there cannot be a more reliable and authentic document than the speech that Ambedkar delivered on 25th November 1949 in the Constituent Assembly.
This
speech read together with the speeches of the several
Assembly members especially the chairman Dr. Rajendra
Parsad and T.T. Krishnam Acharaya leaves not even an iota
of doubt that in the given circumstances, the enormity
of the task and the formidable odds facing the Drafting
Committee, it was virtually an unbelievable feat for Dr.
Ambedkar to have completed the work within the shortest
possible time. Speaking of the excellent performance of
Dr. Ambedkar, Dr. Rajendra Parsad had then said on the
floor of the house “He (Dr. Ambedkar) has not only
justified his selection but has addedlustre to the work
that he has done.” It would be thus not only a perversity
of the facts of history but a great injustice to the memory
of such a great man by perpetuating wrong impression about
his work and personality through such books. Posted
on May 17, 2012
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