>RevelationDirect at 02:30, 23 June 2021

2021-06-23T02:30:01Z

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The '''Ambedkar cartoon'''<ref name=bloomberg>{{cite web|last=Choudhury |first=Chandrahas |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-30/textbook-cartoon-inflames-india-s-debate-over-caste.html |title=Textbook Cartoon Inflames India's Debate Over Caste |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2012-05-30 |accessdate=2013-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224210352/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-30/textbook-cartoon-inflames-india-s-debate-over-caste.html |archive-date=2013-12-24 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18031128 |title=BBC News - India parliament row over Dalit icon Ambedkar cartoon |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-05-11 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref><ref name=zee>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/uproar-in-parliament-over-ambedkar-cartoon_774655.html |title=NCERT asked to remove Ambedkar cartoon: Sibal |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date= 2012-05-11|accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> is an issue that rocked the [[Parliament of India]] on 11 May 2012.<ref name=indolink>{{cite web |url=http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=051312122946&clid= |title=India General News: Ambedkar Cartoon Rocks Parliament |publisher=INDOlink |date= |accessdate=2013-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203115048/http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=051312122946&clid= |archive-date=2016-02-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both the [[Rajya Sabha]] and [[Lok Sabha]] were adjourned on that day due to the ruckus created by the opposing parties.<ref name=Rajneeti>{{cite web|url=http://raajneeti.org/news/lok-sabha-adjourned-over-the-alleged-cartoon-of-br-ambedkar-in-the-ncert-book/ |accessdate=June 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614160609/http://raajneeti.org/news/lok-sabha-adjourned-over-the-alleged-cartoon-of-br-ambedkar-in-the-ncert-book |archivedate=June 14, 2012 }}</ref><ref name=ItsNotYellow>{{cite web |url=http://www.itsnotyellow.com/rajya-sabha-adjourned-thrice-over-ambedkar-nehru-cartoon-row-kapil-sibal-apologizes |title=Rajya Sabha adjourned thrice over Ambedkar-Nehru cartoon row; Kapil Sibal apologizes - itsnotyellow | It's Not Yellow |publisher=itsnotyellow |date=2012-05-11 |accessdate=2013-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028044512/http://itsnotyellow.com/rajya-sabha-adjourned-thrice-over-ambedkar-nehru-cartoon-row-kapil-sibal-apologizes |archive-date=2012-10-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=livemint>{{cite web|author =Appu Esthose Suresh |url=http://www.livemint.com/2012/05/11210001/Parliament-adjourned-briefly-o.html |title=Parliament adjourned briefly over Ambedkar cartoon row |publisher=Livemint |date=2012-05-11 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> The issue was taken up by [[Thirumavalavan]], an MP from the state of Tamil Nadu. He put the issue to parliament ([[Lok Sabha]]), but was at first denied permission to speak about it. He then showed a copy of the controversial cartoon that allegedly insulted the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

In the cartoon, the former Prime Minister of India (Congress), [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], holds a whip and along with Ambedkar is driving a snail, which represents the [[Indian Constitution]]. The Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes considered the cartoon to be insulting.<ref name=indiasawaal>{{cite web |url=http://indiansawaal.com/ambedkar-cartoon-an-attempt-to-discredit-ambedkar/ |title=Ambedkar cartoon : An Attempt TO Discredit Ambedkar? |publisher=Indian Sawaal |date=2012-05-11 |accessdate=2013-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912201120/http://indiansawaal.com/ambedkar-cartoon-an-attempt-to-discredit-ambedkar/ |archive-date=2014-09-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The book it appeared in was published by [[National Council of Educational Research and Training|NCERT]] under the guidance of the Ministry of Human Resources in 2006 under the UPA government headed by [[Sonia Gandhi]] ([[Indian National Congress]]). Later the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|HRD Minister]] [[Kapil Sibal]] apologised to the nation with regards to the cartoon.<ref name="ItsNotYellow"/> NCERT was also asked to remove the cartoon from their textbooks.<ref name="indiasawaal"/>

The cartoon was conceived and drawn by well-known artist [[K. Shankar Pillai]]. It was published in the textbook after getting the approval of the advisors of the textbook committee, Dr. Yogendra Yadav and Dr. Palshikar Kayasth.

== Aftermath ==
The issue created tensions across the country; a number of people raised their voices against the Congress Government, demanding the resignation of the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Minister of HRD]], [[Kapil Sibal]]. A group from Maharashtra went to Pune University and destroyed the office of Dr. Palshikar.<ref name=TOIPalshikar>{{cite web|author =Radheshyam Jadhav |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-13/pune/31689396_1_cartoon-ncert-suhas-palshikar |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103153901/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-13/pune/31689396_1_cartoon-ncert-suhas-palshikar |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-03 |title=Educationists deplore attack on Palshikar's office at university |date=2012-05-13 |work =[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> Many political leaders of the country, including [[Ramadoss]] ([[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]]), D.Raja ([[Communist Party of India|CPI]]), [[Mayawati]] ([[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]]), [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]] ([[Samajwadi Party|SP]]) and [[Sushma Swaraj]] ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]) condemned the ruling [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] coalition. Dr. Satyanarayan condemned the left liberal intellectuals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ambedkar cartoon dalit objection and Indian left liberals part 1|url=http://roundtableindia.co.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5203:ambedkar-cartoon-dalit-objections-and-indian-left-liberals-i&catid=119:feature&Itemid=132|work=Roundtableindia.co.in|publisher=Roundtableindia|accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref>
Dr. Yadav and Dr. Palshikar also resigned as advisors of NCERT text book council in the wake of the controversy.<ref name="TOIPalshikar"/><ref name=hyderabadisearch>{{cite web|url=http://www.hyderabadisearch.com/hyderabadi/TodayNews/1312/nehru-ambedkar-toon-quit-textbook-advisors-resign.html |accessdate=May 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071857/http://www.hyderabadisearch.com/hyderabadi/TodayNews/1312/nehru-ambedkar-toon-quit-textbook-advisors-resign.html |archivedate=March 4, 2016 }}</ref>
A civil court also ordered a probe against Dr. Palishkar, Dr. Vasudevan and Dr. Yadav for their role in the controversy<ref name=indiaexpress>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/court-orders-probe-against-palshikar-others/963229/ |title=Court orders probe against Palshikar, others |publisher=Indian Express |date=2012-06-18 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref>

The issue also gained widespread popularity in the Internet, where people condemned the politicians for focusing on less important issues like cartoons instead of more pertinent issues.<ref name="bloomberg"/><ref name=fakingnews>{{cite web|url=http://www.fakingnews.com/2012/05/parliament-to-find-out-if-the-caveman-drew-offensive-cartoons |title=Parliament to find out if the caveman drew offensive cartoons |publisher=Faking News |date=2012-05-11 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref><ref name=kafila>{{cite web|url=http://kafila.org/2012/05/25/violence-and-laughter-ajay-skaria-on-the-ambedkar-cartoon-controversy/ |title=Violence and Laughter: Ajay Skaria on the Ambedkar cartoon controversy |publisher=Kafila |date= |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> The controversial cartoon itself was drawn in 1949, over six decades ago.<ref name=storify>{{cite web|url=http://storify.com/outlooktweets/a-1949-ambedkar-cartoon-in-ncert-textbook |title=A 1949 Ambedkar Cartoon in NCERT Textbook Since 2006 (with image, tweets) · outlooktweets · Storify |publisher=Storify.com |date=2012-05-11 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref>

The Human Resource Minister constituted a committee (headed by Prof. Thorat forman Chairman of the University Grants Commission and belonging to Scheduled Castes) to review the matter, recommended removal of the cartoon among several others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?281504 |title=The Cartoon Committee Report |publisher=Outlookindia.com |date= |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> The manner of functioning of this committee drew criticism from its members <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cartoon-row-experts-say-thorat-panel-ignored-views/969902/0 |title=Cartoon row: Experts say Thorat panel ignored views |publisher=Indian Express |date=2012-07-03 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author =M.S.S. Pandian |url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/curious-ways-of-the-thorat-committee/article3731626.ece |title=Curious ways of the Thorat committee |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2012-08-06 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> and the recommendations were only accepted partially, after a storm of criticism from academics and historians. The actions of the political leaders and of the removal of the cartoon itself was considered populist, an affront to Freedom of expression and to Ambedkar himself by other historians, as well as Dalit groups.<ref>{{cite news|author =Sunny Sebastian |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mps-protest-against-cartoon-is-votebank-politics-dalit-activists/article3429801.ece |title=MPs' protest against cartoon is vote-bank politics: Dalit activists |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2012-05-18 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref><ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite news|author =G. Krishnakumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3426321.ece |title=Parliament's stand on Ambedkar cartoon disturbing: Panikkar |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2012-05-16 |accessdate=2013-10-20}}</ref> Not only was the cartoon neither insulting to Nehru nor Ambedkar (attempting only to criticize the sluggish pace of the constitution-writing), it was thought provoking and "these over-enthusiastic members seem to have overlooked that the cartoon was employed as a pedagogic device"<ref name="thehindu.com"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:2012 in India]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of B. R. Ambedkar|C]]

Ambedkar cartoon - Revision history

>RevelationDirect at 02:30, 23 June 2021