Ambedkar’s concept of social justice and its relevance to the STs in India
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Mathiupuang Gonmei (Researcher & Social Worker)
Contd from previous issue
Impact: The Sixth Schedule has empowered tribal communities with self-governance and cultural autonomy, a practical embodiment of Ambedkar’s idea of political justice. 2. Protection of Customary Laws and Land Rights Ambedkar’s recognition of tribal distinctiveness is visible in provisions allowing:
(i) Tribal communities to maintain their customary laws. (ii) Protection against land alienation. Impact: North Eastern tribes enjoy legal protection of traditional land holdings — a core issue in tribal identity and economic justice.
3. Education and Empowerment Ambedkar emphasized education as the foundation of social change. Today, various affirmative policies, such as ST quotas in higher education and scholarships, etc. reflect this principle. However, literacy rates in some parts of the North East remain low, and especially access to higher education & quality institutions are uneven, especially in remote areas.
4. Challenges to Fraternity and National Integration Ambedkar warned that fraternity must not come at the cost of cultural homogenization. The North East continues to struggle with identity politics, ethnic tensions, and a perceived lack of inclusion in the national discourse. Relevance: Ambedkar’s concept of unity in diversity provides a guiding framework for addressing alienation through respect for pluralism.
5. Legal Frameworks and State Intervention Ambedkar believed that law should be an instrument of justice. While laws like the AFSPA contradict his vision of civil liberty, legislations like the Forest Rights Act and PESA (though not extended to the Sixth Schedule areas) align with his ideals. Conflict: Continued use of AFSPA in the North East undermines Ambedkar’s call for state accountability and human dignity.
Conclusion
Dr BR Ambedkar’s philosophy of social justice, though shaped in the context of caste, offers a robust framework for understanding and addressing the injustices faced by India’s Scheduled Tribes. His insistence on structural change, state responsibility and human dignity is deeply relevant in today’s context, where tribal communities continue to struggle for their rights over land, livelihood, and identity.
Realizing Ambedkar’s vision requires political will, grassroots mobilization and policy innovation that place tribal voices at the centre of development and justice in India. Therefore, to truly fulfil Ambedkar’s ideals, India must address the following issues in more seriousness:
(1) Strengthen the implementation of constitutional safeguards.
(2) Re-assess laws like AFSPA in light of human rights.
(3) Promote inclusive development that respects tribal identity.
(4) Foster national integration through cultural pluralism, not uniformity.
(5) In the name of development the land and resources of the Scheduled Tribes should not be compromised.
(6) Decentralize democracy and protect indigenous identity.
(7) More tribal women should be politically empowered, etc. Even though, Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of social justice was born in the context of caste oppression, it is also profoundly applicable to the schedule tribes all over the country including the ethnic and tribal complexities of North East India.
His commitment to constitutional protections, affirmative action, self-governance, and human dignity finds strong resonance in the aspirations of North Eastern communities for equality, autonomy, and recognition. Thus, the concept of social justice propounded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has an overwhelming relevance to the Scheduled Tribes in contemporary India.
References: Ambedkar, Dr. B.R., The Annihilation of Cast, India, 15th May, 1936 (First Edition). Bakshi, P.M., The Constitution of India, 14th Edition, Universal Law Publishing, Gurgoan, 2017. Basu, Durga Das Introduction to the Constitution of India, 27th Edition, LexisNexis, Gurgoan, 2024. Xaxa, Virginius, State, Society, and Tribes: Issues in Post-Colonial India, Pearson, New Delhi, 26th May, 2008. Baruah, Sanjib, India Against Itself: Assam and the Politics of Nationality, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1999. Reports from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (The Year End Review 2024 highlights MoTA’s key achievements during 2014–15 to 2022–23). North Eastern Council Reports (NEC publishes Monthly Achievement Reports). PESA Act, 1996; Forest Rights Act, 2006. Bezbaruah Committee Report of 11th July, 2014.
The writer can be contacted @ 91-9650965234 (OR) Email@: [email protected]
Contd from previous issue
Impact: The Sixth Schedule has empowered tribal communities with self-governance and cultural autonomy, a practical embodiment of Ambedkar’s idea of political justice. 2. Protection of Customary Laws and Land Rights Ambedkar’s recognition of tribal distinctiveness is visible in provisions allowing:
(i) Tribal communities to maintain their customary laws. (ii) Protection against land alienation. Impact: North Eastern tribes enjoy legal protection of traditional land holdings — a core issue in tribal identity and economic justice.
3. Education and Empowerment Ambedkar emphasized education as the foundation of social change. Today, various affirmative policies, such as ST quotas in higher education and scholarships, etc. reflect this principle. However, literacy rates in some parts of the North East remain low, and especially access to higher education & quality institutions are uneven, especially in remote areas.
4. Challenges to Fraternity and National Integration Ambedkar warned that fraternity must not come at the cost of cultural homogenization. The North East continues to struggle with identity politics, ethnic tensions, and a perceived lack of inclusion in the national discourse. Relevance: Ambedkar’s concept of unity in diversity provides a guiding framework for addressing alienation through respect for pluralism.
5. Legal Frameworks and State Intervention Ambedkar believed that law should be an instrument of justice. While laws like the AFSPA contradict his vision of civil liberty, legislations like the Forest Rights Act and PESA (though not extended to the Sixth Schedule areas) align with his ideals. Conflict: Continued use of AFSPA in the North East undermines Ambedkar’s call for state accountability and human dignity.
Conclusion
Dr BR Ambedkar’s philosophy of social justice, though shaped in the context of caste, offers a robust framework for understanding and addressing the injustices faced by India’s Scheduled Tribes. His insistence on structural change, state responsibility and human dignity is deeply relevant in today’s context, where tribal communities continue to struggle for their rights over land, livelihood, and identity.
Realizing Ambedkar’s vision requires political will, grassroots mobilization and policy innovation that place tribal voices at the centre of development and justice in India. Therefore, to truly fulfil Ambedkar’s ideals, India must address the following issues in more seriousness:
(1) Strengthen the implementation of constitutional safeguards.
(2) Re-assess laws like AFSPA in light of human rights.
(3) Promote inclusive development that respects tribal identity.
(4) Foster national integration through cultural pluralism, not uniformity.
(5) In the name of development the land and resources of the Scheduled Tribes should not be compromised.
(6) Decentralize democracy and protect indigenous identity.
(7) More tribal women should be politically empowered, etc. Even though, Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of social justice was born in the context of caste oppression, it is also profoundly applicable to the schedule tribes all over the country including the ethnic and tribal complexities of North East India.
His commitment to constitutional protections, affirmative action, self-governance, and human dignity finds strong resonance in the aspirations of North Eastern communities for equality, autonomy, and recognition. Thus, the concept of social justice propounded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has an overwhelming relevance to the Scheduled Tribes in contemporary India.
References: Ambedkar, Dr. B.R., The Annihilation of Cast, India, 15th May, 1936 (First Edition). Bakshi, P.M., The Constitution of India, 14th Edition, Universal Law Publishing, Gurgoan, 2017. Basu, Durga Das Introduction to the Constitution of India, 27th Edition, LexisNexis, Gurgoan, 2024. Xaxa, Virginius, State, Society, and Tribes: Issues in Post-Colonial India, Pearson, New Delhi, 26th May, 2008. Baruah, Sanjib, India Against Itself: Assam and the Politics of Nationality, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1999. Reports from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (The Year End Review 2024 highlights MoTA’s key achievements during 2014–15 to 2022–23). North Eastern Council Reports (NEC publishes Monthly Achievement Reports). PESA Act, 1996; Forest Rights Act, 2006. Bezbaruah Committee Report of 11th July, 2014.
The writer can be contacted @ 91-9650965234 (OR) Email@: [email protected]