Raj Thackeray Pays Tribute To Ambedkar, Questions Current Development Model
Raj Thackeray questions development, invokes Ambedkar’s vision on anniversary.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday said that development in India must go beyond infrastructure projects such as roads and flyovers, stressing the need to adopt B. R. Ambedkar’s broader social and economic vision to ensure benefits reach the grassroots.
Speaking on the occasion of Ambedkar’s 135th birth anniversary, Thackeray criticised what he described as a “narrow” approach to development, arguing that a significant section of the population continues to see little tangible benefit from infrastructure-led growth. He said the absence of a leader with Ambedkar’s depth of understanding in both social and economic matters is strongly felt in contemporary times.
Paying tribute to Ambedkar, Thackeray said that merely building statues or celebrating anniversaries of great leaders is insufficient to honour their legacy. He referred to figures such as Shivaji Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, stating that their ideals risk being overshadowed by symbolic gestures and political appropriation.
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He also expressed concern over divisions along caste and religious lines, saying such practices undermine the true spirit of these leaders. According to Thackeray, commemorations marked by loud celebrations and processions fail to capture the essence of their contributions unless accompanied by meaningful efforts to implement their ideas in governance and society.
Highlighting Ambedkar’s intellectual contributions, Thackeray pointed to his work, The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution, noting that it demonstrated a deep understanding of economic issues, including currency devaluation under British rule. He said Ambedkar’s insights played a foundational role in shaping institutions like the Reserve Bank of India.
Thackeray concluded by stating that leaders of India’s freedom movement envisioned independence as a means to uplift every section of society, not just achieve political freedom. He reiterated that Ambedkar’s contributions as the architect of the Indian Constitution remain unparalleled and said future generations would continue to be indebted to his legacy.
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