Ambedkar's preamble : a secret history of the Constitution of India /
Aakash Singh Rathore.
- 1st ed.
- Gurugram Penguin Random House India 2020
- xivii, 236 p. : ill. (black and white)
Includes bibliographical references (pages 195-225).
The book titled "The Making of the Indian Constitution: The Untold Story of B.R. Ambedkar and the Preamble" challenges the mainstream narrative of the Constitution of India's creation and highlights the significant role played by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. The book argues that the preamble to the Constitution, which sets out the values it enshrined, was almost entirely written by Ambedkar, not by B.N. Rau, as is often mistakenly attributed. The book explores the intellectual origins of the six central concepts of justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, dignity, and nation that are enshrined in the preamble. It reveals that these ideas have their provenance in Ambedkar's writings and speeches and that he was a driving force behind their inclusion in the Constitution. The book also sheds light on the revolutionary political thought of Ambedkar, which has been largely ignored in conventional accounts of Indian history. The book provides a unique perspective on the creation of the Constitution of India, which is usually viewed as a collaborative effort by the Constituent Assembly. It argues that Ambedkar's contributions were significant and that the preamble reflects his vision for a just and egalitarian society. Overall, the book offers a fresh and important interpretation of modern Indian history and the role of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in shaping it.