Subramanian Swamy: Ambedkar was the finest Ram Bhakt and spokesperson of Hindutva

Babasaheb Ambedkar was the finest Ram Bhakt and the most articulate spokesperson of Hindutva. But Nehru made him lose elections and made him bitter, said Dr Subramanian Swamy, talking about Ram being an important influence behind India's culture. He was speaking at The New Indian Express' e-conversation series e-expressions. "Ambedkar was the most articulate spokesperson of Hindutva but Nehru made him bitter over the years. I respect him a lot," he added.

Responding to a question from TNIE Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla about what the laying of the foundation stone at Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir meant and whether it would herald the beginning of a Ram Rajya, Swamy said, "In a nutshell, it means the implementation of the Indian Constitution, because all the concepts of Ram and what he propagated is there in the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights and in the advocacy of language."

Upon being asked if the people who wrote the Constitution of India were 'Ram Bhakts', Swamy responded vehemently, "Absolutely, Ambedkar was one of the finest. Nehru made him bitter and towards the end of his life he became very harsh. But if you see his seminar papers at Columbia University in 1915 and subsequently in his books, he is perhaps the most articulate spokesman for Hindutva I can think of. I have read every one of those books and that's why I revere him. Jawaharlal Nehru targetted him and drove him to a corner and made him lose election after election. The fact of the matter is that those who frame the Constitution were three — President of the Constituent Assembly Rajendra Prasad, Chairman of the Fundamental Right Committee Sardar Patel and the person in charge of the amendments and the passage of the Constitution, Dr Ambedkar."     

As the foundation is set for the Ram Mandir in Ayodha, TNIE Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla debated the origins of the deep-rooted issue and how it will impact our culture with Dr Subramanian Swamy, Rajya Sabha MP, Prof Kapil Kapoor, Chairman, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies and Dr Kuldeep Ratnoo, Director, India Policy Foundation.