UNIT 4 – DR B R AMBEDKAR
Highlights
Dr Ambedkar was a voracious reader.
He bought books by minimizing his daily needs.
In New York he purchased 2000 old books.
In London he bought many books.
He was influenced by the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
He started three newspapers: Mooknayak, Bahiskrith Bharath and Samatha.
Buddha had questioned the caste system. There are only two castes: noble and ignoble.
According to poetess Avvai, there are only two castes. They are charitable and Misers.
Ambedkar called the Civil Disobedience, Non-cooperation and Satyagraha as ‘The
grammar of Anarchy.’
Jawaharlal Nehru called him ‘Symbol of revolt’, chose him as the law minister because
he had a great skill in law and Legislation. He had the vision of social justice
The three pillars of the state – Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS
II Answer the following questions in 2 – 3 sentences each: 2 MARKS
1. How did the 14th amendment of US constitution and Mahatma Phule influence on
Ambedkar?
Ans: The fourteenth amendment of US constitution gave freedom to the black Americans;
Mahatma Phule worked for the classless society and women uplift, both the situations
influenced Ambedkar to work for the depressed classes in India.
2. Write a short note on Ambedkar idea about three pillars of state.
Ans: Ambedkar had a clear idea about three pillars of state namely the legislature the
judiciary and the executive. He described the jurisdiction of each and their nature of work.
3. What are the significant observations of Ambedkar on constitution?
Ans: The constitution is a fundamental document which defines the position and power of
three pillars of the state namely executive, judiciary and legislature.
4. How did Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi try to wipe out the caste discrimination
in India?
Ans: Gandhiji reminded the higher classes their duty towards the depressed classes where as
Ambedkar remained the depressed classes their inherent right to equality with the higher
and more powerful classes.
5. What made Dr BR Ambedkar to describe the methods of civil disobedience, non-
cooperation and Satyagraha as the grammar of anarchy?
Ans: According to Ambedkar civil disobedience non-cooperation and Satyagraha are
necessary in a state which is ruled by foreigners. However, in our own rule it should not be
used as they cause for loss of lives and public property.
6. Which are the two divisions according to Buddha?
Ans: According to Buddha, the only valid divisions are the nobles who are wholesome and
the ignoble who are unwholesome.
7. Which are the two classes according to the poet Avvai?
Ans: According to the poet Avvai only two classes in the world namely the charitable who
can give and are superior, the miser who cannot give and or inferior.
8. Why did Nehru choose Ambedkar as the first law minister of independent India?
Ans: Nehru noticed in Ambedkar, the skills in law and legislation and his vision for social
equality hence he chose Ambedkar as the first law minister of independent India.
9. How can you say that Ambedkar was a voracious reader? OR As a student, Ambedkar
had a great thirst for books. Support this statement with reference to the text.
Ans: Ambedkar curtailed his daily needs and bought books when he was in London he
bought the books, which sent to India in 32 boxes. He spent most of his life time for reading
books hence we can say Ambedkar was a voracious reader.
10. Name the newspapers started by Dr BR Ambedkar?
Ans: Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat and Samatha were the newspapers started by Dr B R
Ambedkar.
11. Constitution is a fundamental document to both the ruler and the ruled. How?
Ans: The constitution is a fundamental document which defines the position and power of
the three organs of the state the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. It also defines
the powers of the executive and the powers of the legislature as against the citizens hence
the constitution is a fundamental document to both the ruler and the ruled.
12. Ambedkar had rare gifts, what were they?
Ans: Ambedkar had the rare gift of unravelling the most complicated legal concepts in a
language, which the laymen understood.
13.How did Dr B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhiji try to wipe out the caste system in
India? Ans: Gandhiji reminded the higher castes of their duty towards the depressed Classes.
Ambedkar did the same by reminding them of their inherent rights to equality with the higher
and more powerful castes. Gandhiji stressed on duties; Ambedkar stressed on rights. Together,
they brought about a veritable revolution in social thought.
14. Why is Dr. B. R. Ambedkar considered as a champion of the depressed classes in India?
Ans: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar spent all his time and talent for the upliftment of the depressed
classes. He tried to bring awareness through his newspapers and also set up institutions. He
tried to bring equality for the depressed classes through the constitution.
15. Why did Ambedkar stress the importance of constitutional methods to achieve social
objectives?
Ans: In a democratic country Civil Disobedience, Non Co-operation and Satyagraha may result
in the loss of lives and public property.
16. Why did Nehru describe Dr. Ambedkar as ‘a symbol of revolt’?
Ans: Dr. Ambedkar had a vision of social justice. He fought for the depressed class in the
society. He made various provisions in the constitution for the upliftment of the depressed
classes.
Read the following extracts and answer the following questions:
1. ” He had an insatiable thirst for books”
a) Who does ‘he’ refer here? Ans: Ambedkar
b) What do you mean by insatiable? Ans: That cannot be satisfied
c) How can you say that he had insatiable thirst for books?
Ans: He curtailed his daily needs and bought books.
2. ” He bought so many books that they had to be sent to India in 32 boxes”.
a) Who does he refer to? Ans: Ambedkar
b) Where did he buy those books? Ans: In London
c) Why did he go there? Ans: He went to attend second round table conference in London.
3. ” He saw at once the parallel of the situation for the depressed classes in India”.
a) Who does he refer here? Ans: Ambedkar
b) Where was the situation that parallel as in India? Ans: The life of blacks in America
c) what was the situation that parallel?
Ans: There was no freedom for depressed classes in the society.
4. “He decided to devote all his time and talents for the amelioration of the underprivileged
brethren”.
a) Who does he refer here? Ans: Ambedkar
b) What do you mean by amelioration? Ans: Make something better.
c) Whom did we consider as the underprivileged? Ans: Depressed classes in India.
5. ” He raised brick by brick the magnificent edifice”.
a) Who does he refer to? Ans: Ambedkar
b) What is the magnificent edifice? Ans: The Constitution of India.
c) What was raised ‘brick by brick’? Ans: Fundamental Rights
6. “He had a clear perception of the mutuality of the three pillars”.
a) Who does ‘he’ refer to? Ans: Ambedkar
b) Which are the three pillars? Ans: The legislature, the executive, the judiciary.
c) What will happen if there is no mutuality among them?
Ans: There will be complete tyranny and oppression.
7. “He chose him to be the first law minister of independent India.”
a) Who does ‘he’ refer to? Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Whom did he choose as first law minister? Ans: Ambedkar
c) Why did he choose him as the law minister?
Ans: Because he had skills in the field of law and legislation.
8. “Who could have dreamt that one born to a Mahar family would one day become not only
a law minister but also a lawmaker and be hailed as the modern Manu?”
a) Who is referred to as the law minister here? Ans: Ambedkar
b) Who chose him as the law minister? Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Why is he recognised as the law minister?
Ans: Because he had skills in the field of law and legislation.
9. “His flair for legislative work became evident to the whole nation.”
a) Whose flair became evident? Ans: Ambedkar’s flair
b) When did it become evident?
Ans: When he was elected to the Bombay legislative assembly.
c) What does ‘flair’ mean? Ans: Natural ability to do something well.
10. “They brought about a veritable revolution in social thought.”
a) Who are they? Ans: Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar
b) What revolution referred here? Ans: Revolution in social thought.
c) How did they bring about the revolution?
Ans: By stressing on rights and duties and changed the social thought.
11. “The only valid divisions are the divisions between those who are noble and wholesome
and those who are ignoble and unwholesome.”
a) Who said these words? Ans: Buddha
b) When did he say this? Ans: About 2500 years ago.
c) Why did he say this? Ans: To question about the caste system in India.
12. “There are only two castes in the world the charitable and misers.”
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Avvai
b) Who was Avvai? Ans: A Tamil poetess.
c) How did she describe the two castes?
Ans: The charitable are superior who can give and the misers are inferior who cannot.
13. “He described him as the symbol of revolt.”
a) Who was the speaker? Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Whom did he describe as ‘the symbol of revolt’? Ans: Ambedkar
c) When did he say this? Ans: When Ambedkar passed away.
14. ‘It is recorded that at the time of the Second Round Table Conference, he bought so many
books that they had to be sent to India in 32 boxes.’
a) Who bought books? Ans: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
b) Where was he at that time? Ans: London
c) What does it reveal about the person who bought books? Ans: He was a voracious reader.
15. In an interesting observation he once described the methods of Civil Disobedience, Non
Co-operation and Satyagraha as the ‘Grammar of Anarchy’.
a) Who is the ‘he’? Ans: Dr. Ambedkar
b) According to the author, when do these methods assume importance?
Ans: Against an alien power
c) Why are these methods called as ‘Grammar of Anarchy’?
Ans: Because it is used against democratic government elected by people’s consent.