DAY 17 | ENGLISH | I SEM | B.C.A | PROSPECTS OF DEMOCRACY IN INDIA | L1

Summary

The video script discusses Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's views on democracy, emphasizing its essence as a mode of associated living. It highlights the challenges posed by India's caste system to the true spirit of democracy, suggesting that only when this system is dismantled can democracy truly flourish. Ambedkar, a key figure in India's constitution, advocates for education as a tool to combat caste discrimination and promote equality, underlining the importance of a collective understanding of the common good for the successful implementation of democracy.

Takeaways

• 📜 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, viewed democracy as a mode of associated living, emphasizing the need for people to live together in harmony.
• 🌱 The caste system in India, with its graded inequality and discrimination, is seen as a significant barrier to the true implementation of democracy, according to Ambedkar.
• 🧐 Ambedkar expressed doubts about the prospects of democracy in India due to the deeply entrenched caste system that has historically denied opportunities to the 'untouchables' or 'dalits'.
• 🏛️ Despite the presence of the caste system, Ambedkar noted that democracy in India has managed to coexist, suggesting a complex social reality.
• 🤔 Ambedkar questioned the Indian society's understanding of the 'common good,' suggesting that a lack of consensus on this concept hinders the effective functioning of democracy.
• 📚 Education is presented as a powerful tool to dismantle the caste system, as it can instill a sense of equality and the courage to challenge existing social hierarchies.
• 🚀 Ambedkar believed that educating the lower strata of society could lead to a rebellion against the caste system, potentially leading to its eradication.
• 🌟 He emphasized that democracy is more than just a form of government; it is fundamentally a way of life that requires social relationships based on equality and mutual respect.
• 💡 The transcript highlights the importance of awareness and the role of every citizen in promoting the facilities and rights provided by the government to the marginalized sections of society.
• 🌻 Ambedkar concluded that Indian democracy is workable, flexible, and strong, capable of uniting the diverse population in both peace and war, and should be embraced and worked for by all.
• 🗳️ The script also touches on the importance of voting and choosing representatives who will work for the welfare of the people, not just their own caste or community.

Q & A

What is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's view on democracy?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar describes democracy as a mode of associated living, emphasizing that it is about people living together in a society without discrimination.

Who were the untouchables in India's context as mentioned by Dr. Ambedkar?

The untouchables, also known as the Dalits, were the outcasts and the downtrodden community in India's Hindu society, often treated as the lowest strata and subjected to social discrimination.

What role did Dr. Ambedkar play in the formation of the Indian Constitution?

Dr. Ambedkar served as the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution of India and also as the Minister of Law and Justice in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru.

How does Dr. Ambedkar link the caste system to the prospects of democracy in India?

Dr. Ambedkar suggests that the caste system, with its graded inequality and discrimination, is a significant hindrance to the true implementation of democracy in India.

What does Dr. Ambedkar believe can break down the caste system in India?

Dr. Ambedkar believes that education is the key to breaking down the caste system, as it can raise the spirit of rebellion among the lower strata of society and fight for equality.

What is the significance of Dr. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism and its impact on the Dalits?

Dr. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism was a symbolic act against the caste system. It inspired many Dalits to follow Buddhism, promoting social reform and challenging the traditional Hindu caste hierarchy.

What does Dr. Ambedkar mean by 'graded inequality' in the context of the caste system?

Graded inequality refers to the systematic and hierarchical ranking of castes, where certain castes are considered superior to others, leading to discrimination and unequal treatment in society.

How does the caste system affect the political landscape in India according to Dr. Ambedkar?

Dr. Ambedkar points out that the caste system influences political decisions and voting patterns, often leading to caste-based voting and politicians catering to their own caste groups rather than the broader society.

What is the importance of education in fostering democracy as per Dr. Ambedkar's views?

Education is crucial in fostering democracy as it can help individuals understand the importance of equality, challenge the caste system, and work towards the upliftment of the downtrodden sections of society.

How does Dr. Ambedkar define the 'common good' in the context of Indian society?

The 'common good' refers to a collective understanding and agreement on what is best for society as a whole. Dr. Ambedkar suggests that the lack of a unified concept of the common good in Indian society is an obstacle to the implementation of democracy.

What does Dr. Ambedkar suggest as the ultimate solution to the caste system and its impact on democracy?

Dr. Ambedkar suggests that the ultimate solution is to provide education to the bottom of society, empowering the downtrodden to challenge the caste system and work towards a more egalitarian society where democracy can truly flourish.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Dr. Ambedkar and Democracy

The script begins with an introduction to the concept of democracy as a way of living together, as described by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It highlights the challenges faced by the 'untouchables' or 'dalits' in Indian society and introduces Dr. Ambedkar as a key figure in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. The summary explains his background, his fight against social discrimination, and his role in shaping the democratic framework of India.

05:03

🏛 The Impact of the Caste System on Democracy

This paragraph delves into the influence of the caste system on the functioning of democracy in India. It discusses how the caste system has been a long-standing barrier to true democratic values, with Dr. Ambedkar expressing doubts about the prospects of democracy in the presence of such a system. The summary points out the prevalence of caste-based discrimination in various aspects of life, including education, politics, and social privileges.

10:06

🌐 The Role of Education in Overcoming the Caste System

The script emphasizes the power of education in dismantling the caste system, as advocated by Dr. Ambedkar. It suggests that by educating the lower strata of society, the caste system could be challenged, and a more egalitarian society could be achieved. The summary underscores the importance of education in fostering equality and social change, as well as the potential for rebellion against the established order.

15:07

🔍 The Strength and Flexibility of Indian Democracy

This paragraph explores the resilience and adaptability of Indian democracy, as viewed by Dr. Ambedkar. Despite the challenges posed by the caste system, he believed that democracy in India was robust enough to unite the nation in times of peace and war. The summary highlights Dr. Ambedkar's faith in the workability and strength of Indian democracy, and the need for collective belief and effort to sustain it.

20:10

🛑 The Necessity to Overcome the Caste System for True Democracy

The final paragraph reinforces the idea that the caste system is fundamentally at odds with the principles of democracy. Dr. Ambedkar argues that for democracy to flourish in its truest form, the caste system must be eradicated. The summary calls for a collective effort to fight against the caste system, to raise awareness of its detrimental effects, and to work towards a society where all individuals are treated equally.

Keywords

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through elected representatives. In the video's theme, democracy is portrayed as a mode of associated living, emphasizing the collective participation in decision-making. Dr. Ambedkar discusses the challenges of implementing true democracy in India due to the caste system, suggesting that democracy can only work effectively when the caste system is dismantled.

💡Caste System

The caste system in India is a social stratification system that categorizes people into different social groups based on their birth. The script describes it as a long-standing practice that has led to graded inequality and discrimination, particularly against the 'untouchables' or 'dalits'. Dr. Ambedkar argues that this system is fundamentally against the principles of democracy, as it prevents social equality and hinders the true functioning of a democratic society.

💡Untouchables/Dalits

The terms 'untouchables' and 'dalits' refer to the lowest social group in the traditional Hindu caste system, who face significant social and economic discrimination. In the script, Dr. Ambedkar highlights the plight of these communities, who were historically denied basic rights such as education and political participation. The upliftment of these communities is presented as a necessary step towards establishing a more equitable and democratic society.

💡Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is a prominent figure in the script, known as the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian Constitution and a social reformer. He is celebrated for his fight against economic and social discrimination, particularly towards the untouchables. His views on democracy and the caste system provide the philosophical underpinnings of the video's narrative, emphasizing the need for social reform to achieve true democracy.

💡Social Reform

Social reform in the context of the video refers to the transformation of societal norms and practices to promote equality and justice. Dr. Ambedkar's work as a social reformer is highlighted, particularly his efforts to challenge the caste system and advocate for the rights of the downtrodden. The script suggests that social reform is essential for the establishment of a democratic society that is inclusive and equitable.

💡Education

Education is presented in the script as a powerful tool to combat the caste system and promote equality. Dr. Ambedkar believes that by providing education to the lower strata of society, particularly the downtrodden, it can foster a spirit of rebellion against the caste system. The script illustrates this with the idea that an educated populace will be more likely to challenge inequality and work towards a democratic society.

💡Equality

Equality is a central theme in the video, referring to the state of being equal, especially in terms of rights, opportunities, and social status. The script discusses how the caste system undermines the principle of equality, which is fundamental to a democratic society. Dr. Ambedkar's vision for India includes an egalitarian society where all citizens have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their caste.

💡Caste-Based Voting

Caste-based voting refers to the practice where individuals vote for candidates from their own caste, often leading to political representation that is divided along caste lines. In the script, this practice is criticized as it undermines the democratic principle of equal representation and contributes to the perpetuation of the caste system within the political sphere.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination in the script is used to describe the unequal treatment of individuals based on their caste, leading to social and economic disparities. It is highlighted as a key issue that the caste system perpetuates, which is at odds with the principles of democracy and social justice that Dr. Ambedkar advocates for.

💡Associated Living

Associated living, as described by Dr. Ambedkar, refers to the way people live together in a society, particularly in terms of their social relationships and interactions. The script emphasizes that democracy is not just a form of government but a mode of associated living that requires social cohesion and mutual respect among all members of society, regardless of their caste.

Highlights

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar describes democracy as a mode of associated living, emphasizing living together.

Ambedkar identifies the untouchables, also known as the downtrodden or Dalits, as the outcasts in Indian society.

Ambedkar's role as the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian Constitution is highlighted.

The caste system is presented as a significant obstacle to the implementation of democracy in India.

Ambedkar suggests that the absence of the caste system is necessary for democracy to function effectively in India.

The essay by Ambedkar presents the social reality of India and the challenges to democracy.

The caste system's long-standing denial of democracy's existence is critiqued by Ambedkar.

Ambedkar notes the graded inequality within the caste system, leading to societal splits.

The outcasts' exclusion from politics, industry, commerce, and education is discussed.

Ambedkar emphasizes the importance of education in breaking down the caste system.

Education is proposed as a means to enable the lower strata of society to rebel against the caste system.

Ambedkar asserts that Indian democracy is workable, flexible, and strong enough to hold the country together.

The concept of democracy being more than a form of government is introduced by Ambedkar.

Ambedkar's belief in the potential of Indian democracy to overcome challenges is highlighted.

The transcript ends with a call to action against the caste system for a peaceful and happy society.

Transcripts

further he says that democracy is mostly

way of living together what is democracy

it is nothing but living together

according to ambedkar what is democracy

dr amirkar describes democracy as a mode

of

associated living who are these

untouchables they are also called as the

dalits they are the people who are

called as outcasts the downtrodden

community in the society are the dalits

they are the untouchables

[Music]

hello everyone this is aradya lecturer

department of english vidyasram first

grade college mysuru the temple of

excellence

welcome to you all you all know india is

an independent country and india follows

democratic government what is democracy

then do you know what are the prospects

of our constitution what are the

prospects of democracy in india all

those i'll be teaching you today in

today's session where we'll take up the

chapter the prospects of democracy in

india so let's start the chapter the

prospects of democracy in india and this

is written by dr br ambedkar who doesn't

know who is br ambedkar ambedkar was the

chairman of the drafting committee of

indian constitution and we know him very

well we also know him as

baba sahib ambedkar right so let us know

about his prospects and the prospects of

democracy

so to know about author

bhimra ramji ambedkar is also popularly

known as dr baba sahib ambedkar he was

born on 14th april 1891 and died on 6th

december

1956.

he was an indian jurist economist and

social reformer who fought economic and

social discrimination against the

untouchables who are these untouchables

they are also called as the dalits they

are the people who are called as

outcasts the downtrodden community in

the society are the dalits they are the

untouchables in india's hindu society

they are considered as the last wing the

last strata people are considered as the

dalits or the untouchables and who later

renounced hinduism and inspired dalit to

follow buddhist movement so he fought

for the people of the untouchables

because they were not touched by the

higher rank or higher caste people so he

fought for them he fought against the

system the caste system and at his later

ages he converted to buddhism and also

he inspired many dalits to follow

buddhism in their life ambedkar served

as chairman of the drafting committee of

the constitution of india so his role in

framing constitution is very important

he was the chairman of drafting

committee of the constitution and he

also served as the minister of law and

justice in the first cabinet of

jawaharlal nehru so he became the

minister of law and justice when the

government was formed when jawal became

the first prime minister

br ambedkar was in his cabinet and he

served as the minister for law and

justice he served from 1947 to 1951 he

is also referred to as honorific baba

sahib so this is what we already know

about baba sahib ambedkar or br ambedkar

next we'll move on to the summary of the

prose or the piece of essay by br

ambedkar and what does uh essay tell us

this is all about the prospects of

democracy in india and this essay is

written by baba sahib

he presents to the reader the social

reality of india in this essay he

presents he shows us what is the real

society what is the social reality in

india what is happening in the society

in india this is presented by ambedkar

in this essay

it is only when the caste system isn't

there that democracy can work in india

so what he says is that only when the

cash system isn't there if there is no

cash system only then democracy can work

in india so is it that easy do you think

this can be done

because for each and everything we write

our cast for the admission in school or

can be for any job or for any

reservation or for any facility by the

government or maybe for any privilege by

the government for each and everything

we mention our caste so is this possible

can this happen that

there is no caste system in india and

democracy is working well so this is

what dr ambedkar wrote long back before

the independence and even now the cash

system is relevant

we may need or not but politically cash

system is very important in today's

situation

democracy is mostly a way of living

together there are many places where the

roots of democracy can be found so

further he says that democracy is mostly

way of living together what is democracy

it is nothing but living together who

all will live together here the one who

elects the representative and the

representative and also the whole

community they all along live together

there are many places where the roots of

democracy can be found he says that

there is no not only caste system but

there are few places few situations

where democracy is alive where the roots

of democracy are found means where there

is no cash system or there is no

discrimination between the upper caste

and the lower caste

next the fact that there is a cash

system in a long-standing denial of the

fact that democracy is real so what he

says here is this cash system is very

long since thousands of years it is

practiced and it will continue for

further more years also

but what is important that with all

these abstracts democracy is practiced

in india this is what we need to notice

here though there is caste system

democracy also exists in the same

society this is what we need to notice

here

in the caste system there is a graded

inequality this is how system works so

inequality also there is grades again so

that is what

we see every day so this group of people

will have this facilities and the other

group will have the other facilities it

is not only the cast also the class rich

and poor and

the age difference also the young ones

will get more facilities and the old

ones will get little so there are this

discrimination this inequality is found

in everything so he says that the in the

society inequality is graded it leads to

a split in society all of the things

that happen in indian society are

organized by caste yes of course as i

told you for admission in an institution

or to apply for a job or to get any

facility or privilege by the government

for our right even our voting card the

id what we have for voting even that has

cast in it so they ask which cast you

belong to even in that so this is how

caste is prevalent everywhere

the outcasts aren't welcome in politics

industry or commerce they also can't go

to school thus the cash system is the

first thing that stands in the way of

democratic country here when this

statement is done by

ambedkar

it was

before the independence so at that time

outcasts were treated very badly they

were not allowed to enter school they

were not allowed to enter politics or

industry or any commerce they were not

allowed to fetch water from the public

well so there were many restrictions to

the outcasts at that time so during that

time dr ambedkar has given this

statement but now the scenery is

completely different now people go to

school they have got so many privileges

from the government they are making use

of it

it is fact that some of them do not get

the privilege or the facilities given by

the government but it is all our duty

each and every citizen's duty that we

bring awareness to them that these are

the facilities given by the government

and they should make use of it it is the

duty of each and every citizen of india

to bring awareness about the facilities

given to the outcast people and

to your information now we do not call

them as outcast they are categorized and

they are given special privileges and

facilities all these privileges and

facilities are given only to bring them

up to bring them to the mainstream of

the society so that they can live

equally with all of us only for this

reason dr ambedkar added these points in

the constitution

and he says that the cash system is the

first thing that stands in the way of

democratic country so

which is the factor affects the

democracy in india and the main factor

the first factor which comes in that is

the caste system the only caste system

has become

an hindrance in the implementation of

democracy in india but now we can see

that democracy is established we all are

part of the democracy we vote our right

we choose our leader we choose our

representative and how they work for us

it is

different

ambedkar talks about the second thing

that makes democracy hard he says that

indian society does not know what is

common good is so it can't work together

so what is the second thing that is an

obstacle for the implementation of

democracy it is the

common good

indian society do not know what is the

common good for them so they do not come

to one opinion one single opinion they

differ in their opinions always if all

the people they come to one common

opinion then implementing anything or

bringing something to the society would

be easy but why is it difficult it is

because of

this

not

coming to single opinion everyone differ

in their opinions everyone want their

own

choice so that is the problem there is

how we are not able to bring a good

government we

vote during the elections and what

happens during the election again if it

is based on the caste creed or something

which is an obstacle to the democracy

and we to do not choose one who is

necessary or who can work well for the

society we choose somebody based on the

caste where they can they do not work

for the society this is the reason why

ambedkar says that if people do not come

to a common

opinion or they can't get the common

good to their society

further he says that only education can

break down the cash system and only

education can do that so what ambedkar

opens is that only education can bring

that change only education can fight

against cash system and only education

can break down the cash system in the

society it is not any other awareness if

each

indian is educated he'll know the

equality he'll know to value all the

cast people he'll work for the

upliftment of the downtrodden people in

the society it is not enough but it

would make people who aren't rich more

likely to rebel so what he tells here is

this education may not uplift them

completely will not keep them equally

but education will help them to rebel

against what sufferings they are facing

so he tells that this rebellion may help

them to come up in the society education

should be given to the people at the

bottom of indian society so what does he

say he says that education should be

given to the bottom of the society

bottom of the society means again these

downtrodden people the cast people who

are not touched by the people who are

not treated equally by the uppercast

people for them education must be given

that is the bottom of indian society

if the people at the bottom of the

society get an education the cash system

will be thrown out of the window how

will this happen if the downtrodden

people are educated and they are taught

to fight for equality will the upper

caste people give them right here why

ambedkar tells this is

already the uppercase people have the

education they are educated they know

that they should treat the people

equally but

what they feel is if they are means the

lower caste or the downcast people if

they do not demand and if they are fine

with what treatment is given to them why

to take risk this is the mentality of

the educated upper caste people so

ambedkar opens that education should be

provided to those people to rebel

against the caste system and fight for

the equality thus ambedkar says that

education should be given to people at

the bottom of the society in order to

break down the cash system so this is

what he opines so education should be

given to the bottom of the society to

break down the caste system to conclude

in the waves of dr ambedkar indian

democracy is workable it is flexible and

it is strong enough to hold the country

together both in peace time and in the

war time so what it says is democracy in

india is not which is stagnant or which

is not flexible it is workable it works

it is flexible it can be changed or it

can it is flexible so that it can bring

all the people together and also strong

enough to hold the country together both

in peace and war so democracy can bring

all the people together and with those

people together you can fight for war or

can be for peace

no one can doubt the workability and

strongness of indian democracy as

prescribed by dr ambedkar so he says

that no need of

doubting we need not doubt about the

workability and strongness of indian

democracy

and he says we need to believe in

democracy and work for democracy

now

to

know more about democracy what is

democracy democracy is something where

we people

select or choose a person among

ourselves we choose one person as our

representative and that representative

he works for the well-being of his

people means the people who have voted

them so only abraham lincoln has

well-defined democracy as by the people

of the people and for the people they

are the people who are elected by the

people and they are one among those of

the people and they work for the people

again these representatives they're all

people so this is what democracy is hope

you understood this now let us discuss

some question answers which can be asked

in your examination

how does dr ambedkar describe democracy

according to ambedkar what is democracy

dr ambedkar describes democracy as a

mode of associated living so it is

nothing but people living together

associated living he says that the roots

of democracy lie in the social

relationship where is the roots of

democracy it is in the social

relationship because in society if there

is difference as uppercast and lowercase

then there can't be equality so he says

it lies in the social

relationship

and in the terms of associated life

between the people who form the society

it is between among all the people who

form the society

why does dr ambedkar express doubts

about india's democratic system

why is he expressing doubt here

according to dr ambedkar due to the

existence of caste system

so caste system the ambedkar things is

doubtful to bring up democracy in the

country so the caste system in indian

society democracy cannot exist in india

in its true sense there can be democracy

but not in the true sense not exactly

what democracy is

so expresses doubts about india's

democratic system so according to him if

cash system

stays in the society democracy cannot be

prevalent democracy cannot be seen in

the country

how does dr ambedkar describe the

existence of caste system in india

dr ambedkar says that the indian society

does not consist of individuals so he

says the indian society do not consist

of one single individual it consists of

a collection of innumerable caste it is

the groups of

caste so the cast the judge or they

judge the

society they decide what they want it is

not the individual he demands for what

he needs it is the cast which demands

what they need

indian society is so embedded in the

caste system that everything is

organized on the basis of caste so it is

embedded so finally in the indian

society that everything is decided based

on the caste

how is the cash system against true

democracy how is this he's been telling

that the cash system is against

democracy how true it is the cast system

is consisted of such features which

militate against democracy which

militate means which go against

the democracy

these features include graded inequality

as we already discussed graded

inequality cast bound occupations

occupations are also based on the cast

this cast person should do only this the

other cast person should do that

profession these kind of prejudice are

there in our society

deliberate stunting of growth and caste

based voting so deliberate stunting so

we do not allow for the growth of the

society growth of the country so this is

hindered by caste system again so caste

based voting we vote only for our caste

people or the politicians work for only

their caste people so all these give us

or create a doubt about the existence of

democracy in india how can education

help in destroying the caste system so

ambedkar here gives a solution also that

education can fight against caste system

and break down the cash system how is

this possible if education is given to

the lower strata of indian society for

the lower strata whom we call the

downtrodden or the outcast or the dallas

if education is given to them it would

raise their spirit of rebellion they may

rebel against the caste system in this

way education may help in destroying the

caste system in this way we can fight

against the caste system

what does dr ambedkar mean by a

democracy is more than a form of

government what does he mean by stating

this dr ambedkar says that the roots of

democracy lay not in the form of

government it doesn't depend on the form

of government form of government means

whose rule it is it is it the republican

government or the dictatorship that form

of government our india has the

republican type of government a

democracy actually is more than a form

of government it is primarily a mode of

associated living so he says this is the

mode of associated living we all should

live together if we fight for caste then

there won't be any unity if there is no

unity there can't be growth in the

society so

let us fight against the caste system

let us not reserve ourselves only for

our caste let us work for the society

let us bring the awareness about the

evil effects of caste system and let us

enjoy the happy and peaceful

society so

by this statement

i end up decision and wish you

good luck and

thank you