In recent JNUSU elections, one slogan which was very popular was ‘Jai Bhim, Lal Salam’. The sloganeers were basically trying to integrate Ambedkarism with Communism. However, a basic education in philosophy of Ambedkar tells that ‘the great thinker’ out rightly rejected the idea of Marxist economics. Babasaheb Ambedkar was a celebrated economist of a global stature. He had Master’s and doctoral degrees in Economics from Columbia University and London School of Economics. During his days at Columbia University he completed 29 courses in economics, 11 in history, six in sociology, five in philosophy, four in anthropology, and three in political science in three years. Babasaheb criticized communists and Communism vehemently. “It is absolutely impossible for me to keep relations with the communists. I am an implacable enemy of the Communists,” said Ambedkar in a speech.
He founded a political party named Independent Labor Party in 1936 and participated in Central legislative election in 1937. But when asked about whether he will align with Communists or not, Ambedkar replied his party would not in any case align with the Communist Party “for the plain reason that I do not believe in Communism.” In fact, he was among early analysts to tell that ‘Communism and democracy’ could not work together and having a Communist state will be disastrous for people of any country. “Can communism and free democracy work together? Can they live together? Is it possible to hope that there will not be a conflict between them? The theory, at any rate, seems to me utterly absurd, for communism is like a forest fire; it goes on burning and consuming anything and everything that comes in its way. It is quite possible that countries which are far distant from the centre of communism may feel safe that the forest fire may be extinguished before it reaches them or it may be that the fire may never reach them. But what about the countries which are living in the vicinity of this forest fire? Can you expect that human habitation and this forest fire can long live together?” declared Babasaheb in his writings.
So, an essential reading about Ambedkar suggests that he views Communism as disastrous and stupid. He even criticized the concept of ‘revolution’ by Marx to establish rule of masses. “Can the Communists say that in achieving their valuable they have not destroyed other valuable ends? They have destroyed private property. Assuming that this is a valuable end can the Communists say that they have not destroyed other valuable end in the process of achieving it? How many people have they killed for achieving their end? Has human life no value?” Could they not have taken property without taking the life of the owner?” said Ambedkar on his speech on Budhha and Marx. But the communist parties in JNU are trying to bring Ambedkar and Marx together despite the fact that they were opposed to each other. Leftist student organizations have fooled Scheduled Caste students of the University for their own benefits. Jayant Jigyashu, a former activist of Left student organization disassociated himself with Communists and revealed that Kanhaiya Kumar, former president of JNUSU had opposed reservation in hostel allotment.
Babasaheb supported liberal economic and social policies. He criticized ‘dictatorship of proletariat’ concept of Marx and said, “In Dictatorship you have only duty to obey but no right to criticize it.” Many of his suggested policies had been embraced by the Indian government in later years. He was ardent supporter of fiscal restraint but Indian government did not embrace his ideas in post-independence period. However, Vajpayee government ultimately brought Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act which was an extension of economic thoughts presented by Ambedkar. He argued that price stability (inflation targeting) should be the aim of monetary policy in early 19th century. Post independence government did not accept the idea but Modi government ultimately institutionalized framework for a Monetary Policy Committee which is tasked with keeping inflation in the rage of 2 to 6 percent. He was way ahead of his peers in recognizing role of industrialization and pulling people out of agriculture. “In short, strange though it may seem, industrialization of India is the soundest remedy for the agricultural problems of India,” wrote Ambedkar.
