COMMUNICATION
SURESH MANE, LECTURER IN LAW, DEPT. OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF BOMBAY, BOMBAY – 32
The news item, “No takers for Ambedkar’s Voluminious Works” (Times of India – Sept. 11, Bombay 1992) is painful and shocking to many scholars and the crores of disciples of Dr. Ambedkar. It seems that the Government of India especially the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is unfair and unjust to the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution.
Though Dr. Ambedkar Birth Centenary Celebration is not earmarked by any concrete scheme either by Centre or any State in the country, many political parties, including that of the Centre, have gained a lot by beating the drums in the name of Dr. Ambedkar. The Government of India’s project on the publication and translation of Dr. Ambedkar’s works is the best way of offering a tribute to the world renowned scholastic personality. However, I do not understand why the PMO has directed the Publication Division of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to act merely as a coordinator, when normally the Division undertakes and executes such projects for the govt. It is equally disgraceful and disgusting that the Sahitya Academies and the universities approached are either disinclined or have not replied.
The Education Dept. Of the Government of Maharashtra has already published Dr. Ambedkar’s writings and speeches in English in ten volumes and the remaining are eagerly awaited. The Govt. of Karnataka is publishing 12 volumes of Dr. Ambedkar’s works, then why the Govt. of India is unable to execute the project on its own? As it is reported in a letter to the Welfare Ministry by the Director of the Publications Division, Dr. S.S Shashi, the Publications Division for the first time has been asked to get the entire work done from an outside agency, and that too sans guidelines and marketing parameters. It reveals that the direction of PMO to the Division is just directionless.
Dr. Ambedkar’s life and work is a searchlight for the crores of the oppressed and exploited throughout the globe. Besides, there is no scarcity of demand for his works. On the contrary, although the Maharashtra govt. publications are in English, they are in great demand. The Govt. of India, therefore, must honour the builder of modern equalitarian India either by executing the entire project by its Publications Division, or by finalising a deal with anybody.
