UP adds ‘Ramji’ to Ambedkar’s name

Tribune News Service

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Lucknow, March 29

Days before the 127th birth anniversary of the father of the Indian Constitution, Bhimrao Ambedkar, the UP Government has introduced “Ramji” as his middle name in all official correspondence and records in the state.

A government order to this effect was issued on Wednesday night by Principal Secretary (General Administration) Jitendra Kumar. The order points out that following the original copy of the Constitution’s Eight Schedule (Articles 344(1) and 351) in which Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s name is referred as Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, his name would be corrected to Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar in all official correspondence and government records.

The addition to the name was apparently suggested by Governor Ram Naik who had written to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister in 2017. His contention was that this was in line with the Maharashtrian tradition where people put their father’s name as the middle name. Ambedkar’s father was Ramji Maloji Sakpal. He claimed that Ambedkar had signed the Hindi copy of the original Constitution with the name Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.

However, the political significance of making such a change ahead of the 2019 elections is debatable. Dalit BJP MP from North West Delhi Udit Raj questioned the need to stir up the hornet’s nest at this juncture. He said, “Right now, I can say the government’s decision has not gone well with Dalits.”

BSP chief Mayawati accused the BJP of indulging in “cheap” tactics to win Dalit votes. “On one hand, the Modi and Yogi governments are humiliating and subjecting Dalits to atrocities. On the other, they are taking such measures to gain publicity,” she said.