BENGALURU: Not only are Dalits subjected to injustice but even the ‘title deeds’ of their humanity have been taken away, said Lord Bhikhu Parekh, a political theorist and Labour member of the House of Lords.
He was speaking at the Dr B R Ambedkar International Conference 2017 here on Saturday. He said that there was a need for Dalits to reclaim their human dignity.
Lord Parekh also said that though Indians celebrate Republic, it is not one in the true sense. “We celebrate Republic but it means nothing to us,” he added.
He recollected about the condition of India soon after Independence. He said that at the time of framing the Constitution, Jawaharlal Nehru did not include the word ‘Republic’ in the first draft. When asked, Nehru said that the word ‘Democracy had included Republic’.
In the second draft, Republic was included while the word Democracy was not. Lord Parekh recollected that all this was possible as India was in a volatile condition back then.