5 Triumph and Disillusion
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Shashi Tharoor
Abstract
Chapter 5 introduces the reader to an opinionated, impulsive, ill-tempered and exhausted Ambedkar at the peak of his career. The last decade of his life was tumultuous. This chapter begins with an episode in which Ambedkar rejects help from a prominent actor as he establishes two colleges. It traces his years of prominence as India’s first Law Minister and principal draftsman of the country’s new Constitution, and the political setbacks he suffered. It describes his successive electoral defeats and the British government's lack of interest in giving the Scheduled Caste Federation an independent political space in new India. The chapter further describes Ambedkar‘s ideas on Pakistan, Linguistic states, the Hindu Code Bill, political versus social democracy and his vision for democratic India. The chapter talks of Ambedkar’s focus on equity and fraternity and describes the fall-out between him and the Congress government, leading to his acrimonious resignation. On the personal front, it discusses Ambedkar’s deteriorating health, his marriage to Savita Ambedkar and his conversion to Buddhism months before his death. The chapter ends with brief excerpts from eulogies on the great man by different commentators.
Abstract
Chapter 5 introduces the reader to an opinionated, impulsive, ill-tempered and exhausted Ambedkar at the peak of his career. The last decade of his life was tumultuous. This chapter begins with an episode in which Ambedkar rejects help from a prominent actor as he establishes two colleges. It traces his years of prominence as India’s first Law Minister and principal draftsman of the country’s new Constitution, and the political setbacks he suffered. It describes his successive electoral defeats and the British government's lack of interest in giving the Scheduled Caste Federation an independent political space in new India. The chapter further describes Ambedkar‘s ideas on Pakistan, Linguistic states, the Hindu Code Bill, political versus social democracy and his vision for democratic India. The chapter talks of Ambedkar’s focus on equity and fraternity and describes the fall-out between him and the Congress government, leading to his acrimonious resignation. On the personal front, it discusses Ambedkar’s deteriorating health, his marriage to Savita Ambedkar and his conversion to Buddhism months before his death. The chapter ends with brief excerpts from eulogies on the great man by different commentators.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Preface vi
- Epigraph vii
- Contents ix
- List of Plates xi
- Preface xiii
- A Note from the Author xix
- I Book One 1
- 1 Laying the Foundations 3
- 2 Mounting the Podium 28
- 3 Scaling the Peaks 52
- 4 View from the Mountaintop 79
- 5 Triumph and Disillusion 100
- II Book Two 137
- 6 A Life Well-lived 139
- Acknowledgements 202
- Bibliography 203
- Index 217
- Plates 227
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Preface vi
- Epigraph vii
- Contents ix
- List of Plates xi
- Preface xiii
- A Note from the Author xix
- I Book One 1
- 1 Laying the Foundations 3
- 2 Mounting the Podium 28
- 3 Scaling the Peaks 52
- 4 View from the Mountaintop 79
- 5 Triumph and Disillusion 100
- II Book Two 137
- 6 A Life Well-lived 139
- Acknowledgements 202
- Bibliography 203
- Index 217
- Plates 227
