BR Ambedkar Advocating Sikhism

Dr S Tarlochan Singh speaks of the vision of Dr B R Ambedkar, who dreamed of a classless society based on equality and equity, and was instrumental in the building of Khalsa College in Mumbai

- TARLOCHAN SINGH EX-MP

In India, there is competition among all political parties to claim that they are the only ones following the ideals of Dr B R Ambedkar, who was the Law Minister in the Indian Cabinet headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946. The present Indian Constitution was drafted by a committee headed by Dr Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly of India. Dr Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, in a Scheduled Caste family.

Dr Ambedkar wanted that the Scheduled Caste population, which was part of the Hindus, should get better treatment in society. For that purpose, he was convinced that only by converting to some other religion could they get proper treatment and respect in the society. For this purpose, he started negotiations with various religious leaders, including the Sikhs.

I have recently read the biography of S Atma Singh, former Punjab Minister and a prominent leader of the Akali Dal, written by Dr Harvinder Singh Khalsa. Dr B R Ambedkar’s dialogue with the Sikhs has been described in detail to the extent that Khalsa College was built in Mumbai in 1937 at the request of Dr Ambedkar. S Atma Singh was then on the staff of the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara Committee, and S Narayan Singh was the manager.