Read your history for 15 minutes – and create your own history

6th December is about a very simple but stunning idea, which was introduced to the world (and India) that: no one has the right of absolute control over others.

According to this idea, people have the inherent right to some measure of freedom. Rules should be agreed upon, and not be imposed. Although this notion has become our most cherished political value, in the 17th century it existed in practice nowhere on the planet. When it did spread, slowly, it was applied to men, usually white men.

Bit by bloody bit, the idea has encompassed other groups, but it has yet to be applied to innumerable people in India. Most of whom belong to the lower end of the caste system …

Today’s India tends to be critical of Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar without their -isms being understood.

This is unfortunate.

Among other things, these were intellectual stalwarts.

For example, Dr Ambedkar besides being a lawyer and a champion for social justice, studied at the Columbia University and did a MSc dissertation on Administration and Finance of the East India Company. Also a PhD on National Dividend: A Historical and Analytical Study. Later at the London School of Economic, Ambedkar evaluated the Problem of the Rupee along with Edwin Cannon. And above all, he drafted the Constitution of India.

The point is, Dr Ambedkar radicalised the process of justice and development.

Today, his relevance can be questioned, but not belittled.

On 6th December, spare 15 minutes and read Dr Babasaheb’s Ambedkar original writings in any language you deem fit.

Question his thoughts, by all means, but spare those 15 minutes and then ask the questions …

Please forward this link. So that more and more people are reading Dr Ambedkar for 15 minutes on 6th December

Some online links…

http://drambedkarbooks.wordpress.com/about/

http://drambedkarbooks.wordpress.com/dr-b-r-ambedkar-books/

http://drambedkarbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/waiting-for-a-visa.doc

http://drambedkarbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/annihilation-of-caste.doc

http://drambedkarbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/notes-on-parliamentary-procedure.doc

http://drambedkarbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/who-were-the-shudras.doc

http://drambedkarbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/preservation-of-social-order.doc

http://drambedkarbooks.wordpress.com/other-important-books/

http://drambedkarbooks.wordpress.com/other-important-videos/