It won’t be factually incorrect to say that Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister from Congress had a strong enmity against the architect of India’s Constitution, Dr. BR Ambedkar. The history opens up a box of truth that showcases the insults Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian National Congress meted out against Ambedkar. It was Congress who played a key role in Ambedkar’s electoral defeats. In the first general elections of 1952 and later in the 1954 by-elections, Congress actively campaigned against him. Jawaharlal Nehru himself treated Ambedkar’s defeat as a prestige issue, ensuring that Congress mobilized its resources to prevent him from gaining a parliamentary seat.
Amid the ongoing political slugfest between the political parties over the disrespect done to BR Ambedkar, the letter which Jawaharlal Nehru down to first health Minister of India, Amrit Kaur is circulating across the social media platforms which adds up to the historical evidences pointing out the worst of the treatment given to Ambedkar by the Nehru.
In the letter to Amrit Kaur, Nehru mentions a conversation with a man who suggested that the Congress should reconcile with Ambedkar. Nehru sharply rejected the idea, stating that the Congress would “do nothing of the kind” unless Ambedkar apologized for his repeated insults toward the party and its leaders. He emphasized that Ambedkar’s alliance with the British Government against the Congress had created an irreparable divide. Nehru’s language demonstrates a deep-seated resentment, as he described Ambedkar’s behavior as offensive and accused him of working against the nationalist movement. Despite being a key voice for marginalized communities, Ambedkar was viewed by Nehru as a rival rather than an ally.
Jawaharlal Nehru writes “My dear Amrit, I have received two or three letters’ from you. As for Mayer’s letter, I sent it merely for Bapu’s information. There is nothing to be done about it.
I quite agree with you about this business of using blood for writing and tilcik marks.” I have protested repeatedly.Nan is now due to arrive here early next week. But I shall not be certain till she actually comes. You will have read about the violent attack on the Communists in Bombay. This is producing an intolerable situation. I have said some- thing about it, I hope Bapu will take this matter in hand.
He further writes,“About the gentleman named Rai Sahib Sonadhar Das Senapati at Shillong and the report of the conversation between him and me, I am not aware of the name of the person but someone did meet me and irritated me exceedingly by his stupidity. The report as given is very incorrect, he asked me why the Congress should not go to Ambedkar and make it up with him. I told him that we are going to do nothing of the kind. Ambedkar had repeatedly insulted the Congress and Congress leaders and unless he apologised we would have nothing to do with him. I certainly did not say that the scheduled castes would not get the political privileges given to them under the Poona Pact. My whole stress was on the fact that Ambedkar had allied himself with the British Government and against the Congress and we could not deal with him”.
