Identity, Assertion and Legacy of Socio-Political Movements of Ambedkar

Abstract

This article examines the identity, assertion, and legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's socio-political movements. It highlights the perceived failure of post-Ambedkar Dalit movements to meet the community's expectations and address their enduring issues of caste oppression and discrimination, despite constitutional safeguards. The text positions Ambedkar as an iconoclast and scholar, detailing his relentless struggle for the identity, rights, and political representation of the Untouchables (Dalits), tracing this from pre-Ambedkar activism to his pivotal role in the Communal Award and the drafting of the Constitution. Key moments like the Mahad Satyagraha and the burning of Manusmriti are discussed as acts of self-assertion. The enduring legacy of Ambedkar's emphasis on education and the symbolic power of his statues as icons of liberation are explored.