Marginalisation of Ambedkar and the Scheduled Castes Federation in the Process of the Transfer of Power
Keywords:
Dalit, Scheduled Castes Federation, B.R. Ambedkar, Dalit politics, transfer of powerAbstract
The Indian National Movement also witnessed a movement of Dalit politics towards freedom from hierarchical social constructs, led by leaders like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and the Scheduled Castes Federation. However, despite being officially recognised as significant representatives of Scheduled Castes for a long period, the Cabinet Mission sidelined them. This paper explores the diminishing legitimacy of Ambedkar and the Scheduled Castes Federation, looking at the process of transfer of power through Ambedkar’s lens.
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