As India celebrates her 75th Republic Day on January 26th, 2024, let us look back and learn from the hero of the story, Babasaheb Ambedkar – the architect of the Indian Constitution. Dr Ambedkar was instrumental in establishing India’s democratic bedrock on the visionary principles of justice, equality, and social rights, embedded into the Constitution. The Republic Day celebrates not just the adoption of the Constitution in 1950 but also Ambedkar’s ideals of social justice, empowerment, and inclusiveness, particularly where it gives strength to a united and progressive India.
Social Philosophy of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
“Positively, my Social Philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Let no one, however, say that I have borrowed my philosophy from the French Revolution. I have not. My philosophy has roots in religion and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of my Master, the Buddha. In his philosophy, liberty and equality had a place; but he added that unlimited liberty destroyed equality, and absolute equality left no room for liberty.
In His Philosophy, law had a place only as a safeguard against the breaches of liberty and equality; but He did not believe that law can be a guarantee for breaches of liberty or equality. He gave the highest place to fraternity as the only real safeguard against the denial of liberty or equality or fraternity which was another name for brotherhood or humanity, which was again another name for religion.” –Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
Let us try and understand the three pillars of Babasaheb’s social Philosophy –
Liberty
Liberty is an important political concept associated with the condition of being free from the overbearing restraints imposed by authority. It embodies individual sovereignty, giving subjective freedom to choose and act without any arbitrary intervention. There is no simple definition of liberty because it can be political, social and also private.
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
George Bernard Shaw
Political freedom deals with the lack of arbitrary government interference, protection of civil rights and creation of a system that ensures individual freedoms. It provides protections that allow the citizens to share their views, participate in governance and receive legal protection from unfair actions. For instance, a political system based on democracy and freedom of speech where the citizens are not afraid to critcise the government is an example of such liberty.
Social liberty can be defined as the lack of social controls that restrict an individual’s opportunities and rights because they are due to gender, race or a certain socio-economic status. In a liberal society, all the people are equal in the sphere of education and careers as well as in social relations. For example, the policies aimed at gender equality where women enjoy equal opportunities in the workplace as men do, signify social freedom.
Personal liberty refers to an individual’s freedom in determining the actions that impact his or her life, without altering another person. It also encompasses the freedom of thought, faith and action. A case in point is the freedom of religion or any philosophical belief without inviting prejudice or discrimination towards one’s beliefs.
However, liberty is not an absolute concept, rather a fine balance between individual freedom and general prosperity. Society needs certain rules and order to function properly. Achieving the right balance remains a continuing challenge in nurturing just and fair societies, both in terms of developing them as well as maintaining them.
Overall, liberty includes political, sociological as well as personal aspects of freedom from unnecessary constraints at many different levels. A society that promotes and protects liberty seeks to provide a setting in which freedom is respected, and individuals are free to pursue their desires without any unreasonable limitations, while at the same time contributing towards common welfare.
Equality
Equality is the idea that all human beings are equal, and they enjoy the same rights and opportunities regardless of their differences in terms of race, gender, social status or any other factor. It implies equal treatment, non-discrimination and the elimination of all hindrances that prevent participation on an equitable footing, with access to all common resources.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
For instance, the equality of gender calls for equal rights and opportunities afforded to the people of all genders. In a gender equal workplace, there should be equal employment opportunities for the entire working populace, in addition to fairness when it comes to promotion as well as an equal pay for the same work performed.
Another aspect is racial equality that talks about equitable treatment of people regardless of their race or ethnicity. Anti-racial discrimination policies and practices guarantee that anyone from any race gets the same chance as others under education, employment or social services.
Socioeconomic equality aims at dealing with the gaps in wealth and resources. Efforts such as progressive taxation or social welfare programs are designed to help reduce economic inequality and provide a level playing field to individuals with different financial circumstances.
As such, egalitarianism is concerned with developing a society in which equal opportunities and rights are given to every individual, thereby establishing a fairer community. It is not about eliminating the differences, but about recognizing and appreciating diversity while ensuring that differences get neither rewarded nor punished.
Fraternity
Fraternity implies the idea of brotherhood or a feeling of unity among the people in society, which makes them a community, by emphasizing on social concordance and reciprocation. It suggests a relationship of shared principles, accord and collective welfare. Fraternity refers to a harmonious relationship among individuals and a strong sense of belongingness to the community.
Equality lies only in human moral dignity. … Let there be brothers first, then there will be brotherhood, and only then will there be a fair sharing of goods among brothers.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
For instance, social fraternity can be clearly seen in the communities that rally behind each other during difficult situations like natural catastrophes. Real fraternity is exhibited in the aftermath of a disaster when people unite to help the victims, offering them resources and physical and emotional support.
Political solidarity is best represented in the ideas of democracy and citizenship. In democratic cultures, the members of the public are linked by their commitment to ensure betterment of society at large. This commitment can be seen in the practices including voting, civic participation and shared decision-making processes that demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood among citizens.
Fraternity is also recognized in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, which aims to provide for its citizens “fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation”. In this regard, fraternity attempts to create social harmony between groups with wide-ranging differences, uniting them into one mass.
All in all, the concept of fraternity represents what is summarized as collective solidarity and mutual assistance infused with a sense of belonging. It is an essential element in creating unity and common ideals among societies at both the local and national level.
75th Republic Day – The dream and the reality
India’s Constitution acknowledges liberty, equality, and fraternity as the three principles of life that cannot be separated from one another. Equality cannot be separated from the liberty, nor can liberty be divorced from equality, and liberty and equality cannot also be set apart from fraternity – they need to co-exist. Liberty, equality, and fraternity are the three fundamental aspirations for the creation of an ideal Constitution of India.
While Liberty offers subjective freedoms like those of free speech and expression, Equality offers positive discrimination by establishing a quota for deprived groups, and fraternity seeks to ensure social harmony by promoting people from diverse backgrounds. With caste-based discrimination, economic differences and gender disparity acting as major roadblocks, the journey to an ideal Constitution based on the fundamental principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, is arduous, to say the least.
The stumbling blocks on the path to liberty are poverty, unequal access to education and lack of equal economic prospects. Equality, though guaranteed by the constitution, bears the brunt of caste prejudices. Gender disparities, evident in wage differences and societal norms, set many barriers to achieving fraternity. Moreover, the ideal of unity, inherent in the concept of fraternity, is undermined by communal and regional divide.
The way forward
As we celebrate the 75th Republic Day in India, let us get to know the values that went into making this constitution. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s philosophy, rooted in liberty, equality, and fraternity, draws inspiration from Buddha’s teachings, emphasizing the delicate balance needed for a just society. The pillars of liberty, equality, and fraternity stand tall, intertwined, and inseparable. Of course, we do face challenges like poverty, caste discrimination, and gender disparities, which hinder growth and restrain us in achieving an ideal Constitution. The way forward involves dismantling these barriers, ensuring equal access to education and economic opportunities, fostering gender equity, and promoting communal harmony for a united and progressive India.
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