Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s idea of citizenship was deeply rooted in liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice. As the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a lifelong campaigner for the rights of Dalits and other oppressed groups, Ambedkar understood that citizenship is not just a legal status, but a moral and social identity that defines the relationship between the individual and the state.
He believed that for a democracy to be successful, citizenship must be equal, inclusive, and participatory. He worked tirelessly to ensure that all Indians, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or economic status, would enjoy full and equal citizenship in the Indian Republic.
🔵 1. Citizenship as Legal and Moral Status
Ambedkar believed that citizenship was not just about legal recognition by the state (i.e., being a citizen on paper). It also implied:
- Access to fundamental rights
- Equal protection of laws
- Participation in political, social, and economic life
For him, citizenship must provide real empowerment, not just symbolic status.
“We must make political democracy a social democracy as well.”
🔵 2. Constitutional Provisions and Citizenship
Ambedkar played a key role in drafting Part II of the Indian Constitution, which deals with citizenship (Articles 5 to 11). He ensured that the definition of Indian citizenship was inclusive and non-discriminatory.
Key points he supported:
- Citizenship should be based on birth, domicile, or migration, not caste or religion.
- There should be a single citizenship for the whole country (unlike the USA which has state and federal citizenship).
- No second-class citizens should exist in a democratic India.
This was crucial in the post-partition context, when issues of religion and nationality were highly sensitive.
🔵 3. Opposition to Communal Citizenship
Ambedkar rejected the idea of communal citizenship, where different communities (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits) would have different rights or legal statuses.
- He opposed separate electorates for religious communities (though he initially demanded them for Dalits, he later gave up the demand after the Poona Pact).
- He believed that all citizens must be treated equally by the law and the state.
“There is no nation of Indians in real sense. We are yet to become a nation.”
This means that true citizenship requires equality and fraternity, not division based on identity.
🔵 4. Citizenship and Social Inclusion
Ambedkar emphasized that without social inclusion, the concept of citizenship would remain meaningless for the oppressed communities.
According to him:
- Dalits and backward castes were historically excluded from the rights of citizenship, such as access to education, temples, jobs, and land.
- Untouchability was a form of social non-citizenship—it denied people the dignity and equality essential to citizenship.
- He argued that the state must actively intervene to uplift oppressed groups through reservations, legal protections, and representation.
🔵 5. Economic Dimension of Citizenship
Ambedkar believed that citizenship must include economic justice. He warned that political democracy (i.e., one person, one vote) would be incomplete and fragile without economic equality.
He proposed:
- Nationalisation of land and key industries
- State-supported welfare policies
- Equal opportunities in employment and education
Thus, citizenship was linked not only to identity, but also to livelihood and dignity.
🔵 6. Citizenship and Constitutional Morality
Ambedkar introduced the concept of constitutional morality, which means that citizens should respect the values of the Constitution, including justice, liberty, and equality—not just follow laws blindly.
For him, a good citizen is not only someone who obeys laws, but someone who:
- Respects others’ rights
- Rejects discrimination
- Upholds democratic values
He feared that social traditions like caste hierarchy would undermine the spirit of citizenship unless people consciously adopt constitutional morality.
“Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated.”
🔵 7. Inclusive Nationalism and Indian Citizenship
Ambedkar supported the idea of a united Indian identity, based on shared constitutional values, rather than race, religion, or region.
- He believed that citizenship should foster national integration, not separatism.
- He was critical of Hindu majoritarianism as well as Muslim separatism—both of which threatened equal citizenship.
- He was also against linguistic or regional chauvinism, which could divide the Indian citizenry.
His vision was of one nation, one citizenship, with many cultures living in harmony.
🔵 8. Modern Relevance of Ambedkar’s Ideas on Citizenship
Ambedkar’s concept of inclusive and just citizenship remains deeply relevant today:
- As debates over religious identity and citizenship laws continue (e.g., CAA-NRC debates), Ambedkar’s emphasis on equality and secularism provides moral clarity.
- His demand for social and economic inclusion still resonates, especially in contexts of caste discrimination, poverty, and marginalisation.
- His idea of active citizenship encourages individuals to challenge injustice and uphold constitutional values.
✅ Conclusion
Dr. Ambedkar’s idea of citizenship is deep, inclusive, and transformative. It goes far beyond just having voting rights or a legal identity. For him, true citizenship means the full and equal participation of all individuals in the social, political, and economic life of the country.
He envisioned a society where:
- No one is untouchable
- Everyone has equal dignity
- The Constitution, not religion or tradition, is the foundation of identity
Ambedkar’s vision of citizenship remains a moral and political guide for India’s democracy, reminding us that citizenship must be rooted in justice, inclusion, and human dignity.