‘The untouchable is not a citizen’: Why BR Ambedkar wanted political representation for lower castes

Dr Ambedkar argued that in a democracy, a popular government should benefit everyone equally. As he noted,

A Government for the people, but not by the people, is sure to educate some into masters and others into subjects; because it is by the reflex effects of association that one can feel and measure the growth of personality. The growth of personality is the highest aim of society. Social arrangement must secure free initiative and opportunity for every individual to assume any role he is capable of assuming provided it is socially desirable. A new rule is a renewal and growth of personality. But when an association – and a Government is after all an association – is such that in it every role cannot be assumed by all, it tends to develop the personality of the few at the cost of the many – a result scrupulously to be avoided in the interest of Democracy. To be specific, it is not enough to be electors only. It is necessary to be lawmakers; otherwise who can be lawmakers will be masters of those who can only be electors.

Dr Ambedkar’s conception of democracy and government was based on the welfare of the people.

In order to make the government truly representative, Dr Ambedkar...

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