Chapter - II Methodology and Review of Literature fc. 0 0 V.. <? /
METHODOLOGY AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE The Statement of the Problem: Babasaheb Ambedkar was a great son of India. Mr. Beverly Nicolas one of the famous journalists called Babasaheb Ambedkar as one of the third best brain of India. He played a major role in reforming the vertical hierarchical Brahminical social order and establishing humanitarian social order based on the principles of equality, liberty and fraternity. People began to criticize Babasaheb Ambedkar saying that these principles of equality, liberty and fraternity were borrowed from French Revolution. But in the real sense they were not borrowed principles from French Revolution but they were the basic principles of Buddhism which were advocated by Lord Buddha. Babasaheb Ambedkar struggled to restore human dignity. He also launched various struggles in social, political, economic and religious spheres. He was a great liberator of humanity and messiah of the majority of oppressed and suppressed masses of India. Many research studies have been carried out on various achievements cf Babasaheb Ambedkar. They include Babasaheb Ambedkar s contributions in the field of economics, political science, religious reformation, social change and education. His interest also included the field of journalism, which has not been properly recorded. He has done a remarkable work in the field 15
of journalism. He aimed at eradicating many evils that prevailed in the society and to establish an equalitarian Indian society. He was the editor of many publications. Hence the present study is aimed at filling this gap by analyzing various dimensions of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a journalist. The present research is aimed at analyzing Babasaheb Ambedkar s contributions to social transformation movement through his journalistic endevaours. The researcher feels that no systematic study has been attempted to present the significant contributions of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a journalist. Hence the present study has been taken up. Babasaheb Ambedkar wrote on several contemporary issues in many forms. However the present study is restricted to only his journalistic writings and editorial leadership. Significance of the Study: Ambedkarism is a ism, which is aptly defined as empowerment. That means power to the majority people who were denied of it for centuries. This ism gives them a better and respectful identity to those majority masses that were divided into as many as 6000 castes. The present study would help the missionaries who are involved in the process of social transformation and economic emancipation movement and the use of newspapers in the process. The present 16
study specifically helps those humanitarian journalists who are working as transformative journalists to enlighten the masses on their rights. Scope of the Present Study: The present study aims to analyze the role of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a journalist. The study would also look into to the thought provoking articles, essays and speeches which were being written and published in the journals. The speeches were published from time to time in the other leading national dailies, weeklies and fortnightlies have also been made use in preparing the thesis. So far about 17 volumes of writings and speeches of Babasaheb Ambedkar have been already published. Letters written by him to his close associates were also being collected and published. The articles, which were written and published by Babasaheb Ambedkar, were so popular and thought provoking that the then British Government published them in the form of book. Even the intelligence reports that were being collected from time to time by the then British government have also been made use in the present dissertation. These reports, which have been published by the British and native governments, have been used as an important source material. 17
THE OBJECTIVES OP THE STUDY The main aim of the present study is to analyze the role of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a journalist and his contributions to the society through the publications he edited. The following are the specific objectives of the study: 1. To find out the circumstances which made Babasaheb Ambedkar to take to journalism 2. To analyze the leadership provided by Babasaheb Ambedkar in editing the journals 3. To examine the role of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a successful journalist 4. To evaluate his overall contributions to the society through the publications he edited. 5. To examine the role of press in society from Babasaheb Ambedkar s perspective. Methodology: The present study is based on various historical materials available. Therefore historical methodology is adopted whereby the events of histoiy are chronologically arranged in such a way that a logical consequence is maintained. Its objective is to draw explanations and generalizations from the past trends. It enables us to grasp our relationship with the past and to plan more intelligently 18
for the future. The past contains the key to the present and the past and present influences the future. The study is aimed at peeping into the historical past through the journals and other literature, which were being published. The method adopted in the present study by researcher is descriptive and analytical so that meaningful conclusion is drawn. Source Materials: The literature indicating the various facets of Babasaheb Ambedkar is enormous. Most of his valuable works are published in the form of research articles and books are found both in India and abroad specifically in the countries and universities where he studied in England and United States of America. Besides as a journalist since he was the chief editor of the leading journals like Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat, Samata, Janata and Prabudha Bharat for which he invariably wrote the editorials which have been widely circulated and have created a storm in contemporaiy Indian context is being made use in the present. All these have been made use in preparing this thesis. Besides, the books which have been published by education department of Government of Maharashtra in two series- a) Writings and Speeches of Babasaheb Ambedkar, b) Source material on Babasaheb Ambedkar are also referred. The copies of the journals edited by Babasaheb Ambedkar were collected from the Government of Maharashtra for reference. The researcher 19
collected many back issues from Babasaheb Ambedkar s contemporaries, followers and also from museums and libraries. Back issues of Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat have been published by Maharashtra Government. Several issues of Janata and Prabudha Bharat were collected from Mumbai University library. An Overview of the Report The present thesis is arranged in five chapters in such a way that a logical and chronological order is maintained throughout. The first chapter deals with introduction of the topic selected for the study. The second chapter deals with research methodology and review of literature. In this chapter, the statement of the problem, the scope of the present study, the objectives of the study and limitations of the study are included. An overview of the report and limitations of the study are also included in this chapter. The third chapter deals with chronological events of Babasaheb Ambedkar s life. It also narrates the childhood incidents that played a major role in shaping his personality for the launch epoch struggle against existing social order. It also describes various facets of his life, institutions he founded, political parties that he started and other works. 20
The fourth chapter deals with Babasaheb Ambedkar s ideal concept of journalism and also his concern for contemporary social, religious, political, economic, educational issues. The fifth chapter contains the major findings of the study besides summarizing the study. The appendix covers the bibliography and terminology. Limitations of the Study: The researcher had tough time in collecting required information for the thesis. The problem was to collect the scattered material from several sources. In spite of his best efforts several issues of newspapers could not be referred, as they were not in position to read them. Besides, several contemporaries of Babasaheb Ambedkar are no more. The present study is restricted to his journalistic writings, which were available to the researcher. Review of Literature: The researcher has carefully looked into several works carried on Babasaheb Ambedkar s contribution to Indian society. Many studies have been carried out about his contributions to legal, political, social and constitutional laws. The researcher has observed after reviewing the available literature that no significant and elaborative study in respect of Babasaheb Ambedkar s contribution to journalism has been carried out. Only few general articles have been published about the publications edited by Babasaheb Ambedkar. 21
In several works, the role of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a journalist has been mentioned but no systematic and comprehensive analysis has been done. The researcher is presenting some of the observations made by some scholars who have studied the works of Babasaheb Ambedkar including his journalistic contributions. Commenting on the writing style of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Dr. Harish Chandra Nirmale (1987) observed that frank and straight forwardness are the ornaments of Marathi literature. He was a great essayist. That is why his essays have got the special position in the Marathi literature."1 Sukaram Hiravale, (1990) said, Babasaheb Ambedkar was mainly interested in mass awakening, socio-economic transformation, and mass education of the suppressed. For this he started publications called Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat Samata and Janata. He will be recognized as a true journalist. He had no selfish motive in establishing press. He looked and mediated for the welfare of the people. 2 Dr. B. L. Dharurakar, (1991) has noted that Babasaheb Ambedkar made us to realize that everybody had debt towards the society and it is bounden duty of everyone to credit the debt. This is 1 Dalitanche Niyatakalike, (Pune), Sugava Prakashan, p. 134 2 Lok Patrakar Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, (Kolhapur), Prachar Prakashan, second edition, p. 29. 22
the message given by him. It is the real question before us to ponder over. He had taken us to the top of the Cultural Revolution and perfectness. The new culture will make us to act as the conscious beings and it will pave the way for the new thinking to the entire country and life saving message. This is the strongest testimony to prove that Babasaheb Ambedkar was a greatest journalist."3 Dr. M B Shaha (1991) said, Those people who struggled for the freedom of the country got much prominence in the country and also commended the respect of masses. But the statesman and unselfish journalist like Babasaheb Ambedkar was neglected who fought for the social democracy of the masses. However, he kindled the light of self-respect among the illiterate and ignorant masses those were neglected and treated as sub humans. It is not small thing that he made them to believe in self-help and constantly encouraged them for better living. It can be considered great work of revolution. It remained as the milestone in the history of Marathi journalism. 4 Dr. Mahesh Chandra Guru (1995) observed that, Babasaheb Ambedkar was terribly frustrated in regard to the monopoly of 3 Dr. Ambedkaranchi Patrakarita: Sanskrutik Krantiche Pahat. Prof. T V Gavali, (Eds.), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Gourav Granth, (Kolhapur), Praehar Prakashan, p. 560. 4 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkaranchi Patrakarita, Prof. T V Gavali, (Eds.), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Gourav Granth, (Kolhapur), Praehar Prakashan, p.544. 23
press. He had diametaically opposed the ownership, control and management of the Indian press by Brahmins, Banias and the privileged class of the Indian society. He could not find even a single newspaper, which was committed to abolition of untouehability and emancipation of depressed classes from social injustice, economic inequality and political dominance. He had dreamt of waging a war against everything that came in the way of the emancipation of the depressed classes and their uplift. Thus, he chose to enter the field of journalism which wielded enormous influence on the minds of people. 5 Dr. Gangadhar Pantavane, (1996), noted that the press has been his stronger medium to accomplish his task. From his journals he will shine as an idol of great idealist and courageous journalist. 5 6 Rajeev Kamble (1997) observed that Ambedkar accorded more importance to the news related to social movements like Mahad tank agitation and Kalaram temple followed by religious, economic issues. This shows that he was much interested in creating social awareness among the untouchables that they were ignorant and unconscious slaves of Hindus.7 5 Ambedkar and Journalism, Prof. V T Patil, (Ed.), Studies in Ambedkar, (Delhi), Devika Publicaton, p. 291. 6 Patrakar Dr. Ambedkar, (Pune), Pratima Prakashan, second edition, p. 374. 7 Babasaheb Dr. B R Ambedkar as a Journalist: A case study of Bahishkrit Bharat, Unpublished Dissertation Submitted to die Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Karnataka University, Dharwad. 24