A Jayanti Tribute to Dr. Ambedkar – Reminiscing Cricket and Politics

 

A Jayanti Tribute to Dr. Ambedkar – Reminiscing Cricket and Politics

Every year on 14 April, we commemorate and remember two legends – both Bharat Ratna awardees – Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Sir M Visvesvaraya. The former, chief architect of our Constitution and one of the most transformative social reformers in modern Indian history, was born on this day in 1891 and the later, a legendary engineer and nation builder, passed away in this day in 1962 in Bangalore.

In a tribute I had written earlier on my blog (https://khened.blogspot.com/2023/04/tribute-to-dr-bhimrao-ramji-ambedkar.html) I had recalled how Ambedkar’s journey began amid severe social discrimination. Born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow into a family considered “untouchable,” Dr Ambedkar encountered exclusion from childhood — segregated seating in classrooms, denial of water, and social humiliation. These experiences, as I had noted in my blog, forged in him a “steely grit” that shaped his lifelong struggle against caste discrimination and for equal rights.

Despite these adversities, Ambedkar rose through education — from Elphinstone College to Columbia University and the London School of Economics — eventually becoming a scholar, lawyer, and reformer who reshaped India’s social and constitutional landscape. His intellectual contributions culminated in drafting a Constitution that promised equality, dignity, and justice to all citizens.

Today as we celebrate Dr Ambedkar’s Jayanti during a season when elections dominate headlines and the Indian Premier League captures national imagination, it is worth reflecting on a lesser-discussed irony: the architect of India’s democratic framework himself faced back to back electoral defeats, often shaped by the rough and tumble of political rivalries and the politicking that gets played out in politics.

Beneath the grand statues and floral tributes that are offered to Dr Ambedkar on his Jayanti, all across the nation, lies a narrative of profound irony—a story of a man who could craft the foundational document of the world’s largest democracy but ironically, could not secure a seat in its inaugural Parliament. The story becomes particularly interesting when viewed through the lens of cricket.

Pre-independence Bombay cricket, especially the Quadrangular and Pentangular tournaments, produced legendary figures like Palwankar Baloo. A Dalit cricketer who rose to prominence in an era of entrenched caste divisions, Baloo became a symbol of social mobility and excellence. His exploits were not merely sporting achievements; they challenged caste hierarchies in public life. The celebrated book by Ramachandra Guha, A Corner of a Foreign Field, recounts how Baloo and his brothers transformed cricket into a stage for social assertion.

Ambedkar admired such figures. He believed that showcasing role models from marginalized communities could inspire collective upliftment. It is said that Dr Ambedkar prepared Marathi booklets highlighting contributions of prominent Dalit achievers — including Baloo — to create awareness and pride within the community. However, politics often turns admiration into rivalry.

During the 1937 provincial elections under the Government of India Act 1935, Palvankar Baloo was pitted against Dr Ambedkar in the Bombay Presidency. The contest symbolised more than an electoral battle; it reflected ideological divisions and strategic calculations. Fortunately, Ambedkar won, but narrowly — a result that revealed how even icons belonging to the same community, could be drawn into competitive political narratives. This electoral contest between Baloo - a Gandhian and also the man who supported Gandhi on his Pune pact against Ambedkar who was its staunch opponent -  and Ambedkar, has often been interpreted as an attempt by Congress leaders, including those aligned with Mahatma Gandhi, to counter Ambedkar’s influence by supporting another respected Dalit leader. Whether this was direct intervention or broader party strategy remains debated, but the bitterness of politicking was unmistakable.

It must be recalled that the Poona Pact of 1932, forced by Gandhi's fast-to-the-death, had denied Dalit’s separate electorate, ensuring they would always be dependent on the majority (often Congress-leaning) vote to win. Incidentally Baloo, besides Nehru and others in the Congress had convinced a reluctant Ambedkar to give in to accept the Pune Pact. Independent India did not soften these realities and political rivalries.

The irony reached its zenith during the first General Elections in 1952. Ambedkar, having resigned from Nehru’s cabinet over the stalling of the Hindu Code Bill, contested from the Bombay North Central constituency (reserved). It should have been a walkover for a man of his stature. However, the political machinery of the Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru and steered locally by the formidable S.K. Patil, had other plans. Their main aim was to defeat Ambedkar to reduce his stature.

The Congress, therefore, deployed a two-pronged strategy that leveraged both personal loyalty and community sentiment. They fielded Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar - Ambedkar’s former personal assistant - as their primary candidate. But the masterstroke (or the "cruellest decision”, depending on your perspective) was the involvement of Palwankar Baloo. By then, the legendary cricketer had joined the Congress. While Kajrolkar was the official opponent, Baloo’s presence in the Congress camp and his campaigning against Ambedkar created a fractured mandate within the very Dalit vote bank Ambedkar had painstakingly built. The man Ambedkar had once championed as a role model was now a “tool” in the hands of the establishment used to ensure his electoral defeat.  

Despite his towering stature, Ambedkar lost to his former assistant. Many political analysts have suggested that the Congress organisation, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, mobilised strongly against him after ideological differences emerged following his resignation from the Cabinet. The defeat was symbolic — a reminder that electoral success often depends as much on organisational strength as on intellectual authority.

Ambedkar tried again in the 1954 Bhandara by-election, but was defeated once more, finishing third. These setbacks highlight a paradox: the man who empowered millions politically struggled within electoral arithmetic himself. It underscores an enduring truth — politics, like cricket, is a game of strategy, alliances, and sometimes unpredictable pitches.

The cricketing analogy is compelling. Even the greatest batsman can be undone by a difficult wicket or a clever field placement. This was seen in yesterday’s IPL match where the dashing youngster – Vaibhav Suryavanshi - was out for a duck. Similarly, Ambedkar’s political innings unfolded on a pitch shaped by ideological divisions, organisational rivalries, and shifting loyalties. The rivalry of Dr Ambedkar with Baloo in 1937, the contest against Congress candidates in 1952, and the defeat in 1954 all reveal how democratic competition can be intensely personal and strategically driven.

Yet, Ambedkar’s legacy transcends electoral wins and losses. As I had emphasized in my earlier tribute, his greatest contribution was the Constitution — framed after nearly three years of deliberation, providing equal rights and opportunities to all citizens. Ambedkar ensured that democracy would not merely be a political arrangement but a social revolution. Reservations, fundamental rights, and constitutional safeguards for marginalized communities all bear his imprint.

In cricket, players are ultimately remembered not for a single innings but for their overall contribution to the game. Similarly, Ambedkar’s stature lies not in electoral outcomes but in institutional transformation. His defeats did not diminish his achievements; rather, they humanized him, showing that even giants must navigate the rough edges of democratic politics.

Today, as election campaigns intensify and IPL matches dominate conversations, Ambedkar’s life offers a timely reminder. Rivalries may emerge even among admirers. Political strategies may override shared goals. But the true measure of leadership lies in enduring ideas and societal impact.

Ambedkar’s innings, unlike many political careers, was not defined by the scoreboard. He changed the rules of the game itself. If politics occasionally dealt him a difficult pitch, he responded by building institutions that ensured fairness for generations.

That is why, on his Jayanti, the most fitting tribute is not merely to recall his victories but to acknowledge the challenges he faced — including the bitterness of politicking — and to recognize that his legacy rose above them. Like a legendary cricketer who transforms the sport, Ambedkar transformed Indian democracy. 

The match may have seen setbacks, but the series belongs to him — and to the nation he helped reshape.

Long Live Dr BR Ambedkar.

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