Q. Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?
- The Peasants and Workers Party of India
- All India Scheduled Castes Federation
- The Independent Labour Party
Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (UPSC Prelims 2012)
Answer:
2 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is [B] 2 and 3 only. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was a prolific social reformer and political leader who established several organizations and political parties to advocate for the rights of the depressed classes and the labor force in India.
- The Independent Labour Party (Statement 3 is Correct): Founded by Dr. Ambedkar in August 1936, the ILP was his first major political party. It aimed to protect the interests of the laboring classes, particularly the untouchables and the poor peasantry. The party contested the 1937 provincial elections and performed remarkably well in the Bombay Presidency.
- All India Scheduled Castes Federation (Statement 2 is Correct): Dr. Ambedkar established the AISCF in 1942. This was an all-India political party specifically focused on the upliftment and political representation of the Scheduled Castes. It was the precursor to the Republican Party of India (RPI), which Ambedkar laid the groundwork for before his death.
- The Peasants and Workers Party of India (Statement 1 is Incorrect): The PWPI (Shetkari Kamgar Paksha) was founded in 1947, primarily in Maharashtra, by leaders like Nana Patil, Keshavrao Jedhe, and Shankarrao More. While its ideology was influenced by Marxist and Ambedkarite thought, Dr. Ambedkar was not its founder.
Key Organizations/Parties founded by Dr. Ambedkar:
- Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924): For the welfare of the outcasts.
- Independent Labour Party (1936): To represent labor interests.
- Scheduled Castes Federation (1942): For the political rights of the Dalit community.
- Republican Party of India (Drafted 1956): Formed shortly after his demise to represent the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.