Father of MODERN India.

Editor’s Note: This article is from a series of Questions answered by Shekhar Bodhakar

Who is the founding father of modern India?

Originally Answered: Is Ambedkar the founding father of modern India ?

YES he is. This is not a view. This is a fact.

Columbia University officially recognizes Dr. B R Ambedkar as founding father of modern India. (Photo: courtesy of Columbia University)

Many have written why Dr. Ambedkar “deserves to be recognized as the Father of Modern India”. They have adequately answered the ‘why he deserves to be’ or why he SHOULD BE’ the Father of Modern India. I don’t have much to add to their very comprehensive answers. Instead, I will focus on the FACT that HE IS the founding father of modern India.

Above is a screenshot from the prestigious Columbia University website. It clearly shows Dr. B R Ambedkar as the founding father of modern India.

ONLY Ambedkar-the-Great is OFFICIALLY recognized as the founding father of modern India. No one else. There are good reasons for that.

He was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian constitution.
Any modernization you have in India is only because Dr. Ambedkar set the foundations for it to be so in the constitution. “To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform” is one of the fundamental duties of the people of the Republic of India, according to the Constitution of India.
Dr. Ambedkar was the ONLY person to fight for the rights of ALL Indians (including women of ALL castes and religions and the so-called untouchables and low castes). He succeeded in securing those rights in the constitution.
Dr Ambedkar ensured the abolition of Hindostan, LITERALLY CREATING “INDIA” that is “Bharat” with a pen, inserting the name into it’s constitution.
The first article of the Constitution of India states that “India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states,” implicitly codifying “INDIA” and “BHARAT” as equally official short names for the REPUBLIC OF INDIA. The words “that is” have a special significance.

So, when the Hindutva right wing elements say something like, “Oh India is just an English equivalent of Hindustan”, THEY ARE WRONG. It is BHARAT that is equivalent to India.

NOTE TO THE POLITICIANS AND MEDIA:

THOSE WHO REFER TO INDIA AS HINDUSTAN.. BEWARE !!

Referring to INDIA by any other name is a serious insult to the constitution, the country, it’s founding father and it’s citizens. Legal action can and should be taken against ANYONE who displays this anti-constitutional behaviour.

NOTE TO THE CITIZENS OF INDIA:

Correct anyone who refers to India by any other name except BHARAT. Notify them that steps to legal action against them are in place and if they do not stop, legal action will be taken.

Honour the founding father of modern India by taking the vow to protect Indian sovereignty by saving it’s constitution and the original preamble to the constitution.

NOTE TO THE WOMEN OF MODERN INDIA:

The Founding Father of Modern India said that he measures the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have made.

Before the inception of the Indian constitution!, WOMEN HAD NO RIGHTS. So EVERY Indian women, regardless of race, religion, caste and creed who enjoys the fruits of social, political and gender equality owes an insurmountable debt of gratitude to Dr. Ambedkar. If you can read this or have a high flying job with a bank account or have ever voted, thank the founding father of modern India, Ambedkar-the-great.

NOTE TO THE SOCIAL REFORMERS:

The Founding father of India opened the door via the constitution to annihilate caste because:

To make into reality, the dream of an Enlightened India, is NOT POSSIBLE without the annihilation of caste.

Annihilation of caste is not the solution to all problems faced by modern India but without annihilating caste you cannot have equality, liberty, fraternity and justice for all. This ideal, etched in the PREAMBLE of the constitution of India by the founding father of modern India.

Who was Raja Ram Mohan Roy? Why was he the ‘Father of Modern India’?

Ram Mohan Roy was born on 22 May 1772 in Hindu Brahmin family in Hooghly, Bengal.

In a 2004 poll, Roy was ranked 10th as the greatest Bengali (not Indian) of all time.

He worked as a munshi in Murshidabad and later as an assistant to an official at British East India Company. It was in 1829 that the Mughal ruler of Delhi gave him the title of Raja, although it wasn’t recognised by the British.

Nor was there ever any authority who gave him the title ‘Father of MODERN INDIA ’. There couldn’t have been, as India as a country didn’t even exist when Roy died. He had no idea it would even exist. The land he was familiar with was called HINDOSTAN Which later split into several countries, i.e. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh etc.

Roy maybe the father of modern Vedanta created with a helping hand from the invaders but cannot be the father of MODERN India. He certainly wasn’t a Raja (king) of any land.

Dr. Ambedkar is the only person officially declared with the title “Father of Modern India” by any prestigious authority. However, You have the right to say whoever you personally regard as the Father of Modern India.

Going by the reasoning (whatever it may be) of those who say Ram Mohan Roy is father of modern India, he must also then be the FATHER of MODERN Pakistan and Bangladesh etc. I doubt if there are any Pakistanis or Bangladeshis who would agree with that and nor does it make any sense.

Ref: Raja Ram Mohan Roy

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Author of this article Shekhar Bodhakar is a London based Anti-Caste activist. He is the Composer of Buddhatāla and has also worked as Head of Mathematics department in a London college in the past.