Dr Ambedkar, one of the greatest icons of modern India, had nothing in common with the ideology of the Sangh Parivar which is now going all out to claim Ambedkar as its own.
RSS stands for caste system, Ambedkar had quit it
Ambedkar suffered the atrocities of upper castes and throughout his life fought the barbaric caste-system.
He realised that millions of 'Shudras' (untouchables) can never get justice under India's Brahmanical system. His vision and his works for the uplift of the masses, have made him a hero of India's majority population comprising Backwards, Dalits, Tribals and Religious Minorities,
But leaders of Sangh including its Sarsanghchalaks always supported caste system that divides society on the basis of castes. After independence, he drafted the constitution of India.
Dr Ambedkar quit Hinduism, along with millions of his supporters, followers and devotees. They embraced Buddhism. This was a big setback to the right-wing forces in the country.
Still, they remained firm on their agenda and kept supporting caste system openly. Now a days, they are less vocal but known to justify it privately.
For the purpose of leaving Hindu religion, he chose Nagpur, the city that was headquarters of the caste Hindus and their power centre, RSS. This was important message.
For decades Hindutva leaders had an aversion for Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Ambedkar's 22 vows can never be palatable to Hinduism.
The first three of Dr Ambedkar's vows:
1. I will neither regard Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as gods nor worship them.
2. I will neither regard Ram and Krishna as gods nor worship them.
3. I will not regard any of Gauri-Ganapati etcetra of Hindu dharma as gods or goddesses nor worship them.
Read all the vows on this Page
It is clear that following Ambedkar is a path, no Hindutva-wadi can accept, as it means the death of oppressive caste system as well. Few years after independence, Home minister Vallabh Bhai Patel allowed the RSS to function only on the condition that it would follow India's constitution.
RSS had never believed in India's constitution and after Gandhi's assassination it was banned. Even today RSS never unfurls the national flag on its headquarters or other offices, because it believes in Saffron flag.
RSS has no figures or icons, played no role in freedom movement
However, electoral considerations have compelled the Hindutva groups to change their strategy. From Vivekananda to Madan Mohan Malviya, Subhas Chandra Bose to Dr BR Ambedkar, it wants to appropriate every prominent figure.
The reason is RSS has no figures or icons. It played no role in reform in Indian society. It was not interested in freedom movement and its leaders played no part when the entire nation was in the grip of the fervour to struggle for independence from British rule.
BJP and its ideological gurus today shamelessly claim that they believe in Ambedkar's philosophy. The truth is that the party has remained firm on the Sanghi traditions and just aims at luring Dalits.
Sangh Parivar at Dr Ambedkar's doorstep for its own survival
For a long period, Hindutva strategy has been to co-opt its detractors, if it fails to overpower them. With passing years, Ambedkar's stature has grown manifold.
It is their compulsion that they have to reach Ambedkar's doorstep for their survival. But Ambedkar's message can never be appropriated by them. If Sangh even tries seriously, it will be the collapse of its own order.
