(This is part three of a four-part 'September' series that revisits significant historical events or policies and how the lessons learned from them continue to be of relevance in present-day politics and society. Read part one here, part two here, and part three here.)
In hindsight, history would regard it as an incredible display of sagacity by Dr B R Ambedkar. But back then, in the weeks and days leading up to a signature ceremony under a mango tree inside the Yerwada jail in what was then Poona, media and commentators had been lambasting Ambedkar as being petulant.
There were credible death threats issued against him. In the end, Ambedkar was compelled to surrender to the “moral force” of Mahatma Gandhi.
But in his own way, Ambedkar also triumphed as Gandhi agreed to the demand of Ambedkar to have seats in provincial assemblies reserved for the “untouchables” who are categorised as scheduled castes or Dalits in contemporary India.