Priyank Kharge shares Ambedkar’s speech; says “extremely relevant to this day”

Team Udayavani, Jun 13, 2022, 1:20 PM IST

Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson Priyank Kharge on Monday, June 13 shared the excerpts of Dr. Babasaheb Amedkar’s last speech in the Constituent Assembly saying the message was “extremely relevant to this day.”

In a series of posts on the Koo App, Kharge shared the excerpts from Ambedkar’s speech titled “Will India Maintain her independence or she lose it again?” This speech expresses Dr. Ambedkar’s reflections on India’s future and its independence when the constitution was almost ready to be adopted in 1950.

The long thread comes at a time when Karnataka is embroiled in controversy over textbook revision and India is witnessing protests over controversial remarks by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Kharge seems to be hinting at these recent occurrences in the state and the country when quotes Ambedkar anxiety that “if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy.”

The speech begins with: “On January 1950, India will be an independent country (Cheers). What would happen to his independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again? This is the first thought that comes to my mind. It is not that India was never an independent country.

“The point is that she once lost the independence she had. Will she lose it a second time? It is this thought which makes me most anxious for the future. What perturbs me greatly is the fact -that not only India has once before lost her independence,

In the next few lines, Ambedkar describes how India lost her independence by the “infidelity and treachery” of some of her own people… “In the invasion of Sind by Mahommed-Bin-Kasim, the military commanders of King Dahar accepted bribes from the agents of Mahommed-Bin-Kasim and refused to fight on the side of their King.

“It was Jaichand who invited Mahommed Gohri to invade ‘India and fight against Prithvi Raj and promised him the help of himself and the Solanki Kings. When Shivaji was fighting for the liberation of Hindus, the other Maratha noblemen and the Rajput Kings were fighting.

“In 1857, when a large part of India had declared a war of independence against the British, the Sikhs stood and watched the event as silent spectators.” Ambedkar cites these historical examples for his apprehensions of the future.

On Koo, Kharge wrote: “Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety.” quoting from the speech.

“Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever.”

Kharge signed off with Ambedkar’s reminder: “This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.”

Koo App

This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.” 10/10

View attached media content

– ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್_ಖರ್ಗೆ) 13 June 2022