Ambedkar explains the use of the term ‘Scheduled Tribes’ instead of ‘Adivasis’ or other suggested terms by asserting that “the word Adiwasi is really a general term, which has no specific legal dejure connotation, whereas the word ‘Scheduled Tribes’ has a fixed meaning, because it enumerates the tribes…”[i] his well-intentioned approach is clear from his rights-based negotiation for the tribals. But the problem lies in his way of perceiving the tribal existence. Ambedkar’s perception of tribals will qualify as racist and prejudiced as apparent from his arguments for “civilising the savages” and his impression of tribals leading the life of “hereditary animals”. Ambedkar’s ideas of ‘emancipation’ clearly had some roots in the Victorian morality or the attainment of it. He was also influenced by the western ideas of rationality and reason. Perceiving the tribals in such a manner, he was ignorant of the tribal genius of coexisting with nature. He was judging the tribal life with his prejudiced standards. While discussing the issue of proportional representation, Ambedkar says that “[T]he Aboriginal Tribes have not as yet developed any political sense to make the best use of their political opportunities and they may easily become mere instruments in the hands either of a majority or a minority and thereby disturb the balance without doing any good to themselves…”[ii] To some extent, Ambedkar, thus had a vision of incorporating the tribals in the rest of ‘India’. People have had disagreements with his vision as they argued for tribal autonomy, whereby the tribals would be at liberty to develop themselves according to their genius and culture. Moreover, he has viewed tribals as a potential instrument, thus demeaning the value of their identity as a group or even as a community. - Aditya Nayak [i] Madavi L. K., (marathi), swatantra bharatatil adivasinchi swaytate chi chalval, 1998, publ. Mul Nivasi Mukti Manch Nagpur [ii] Ambedkar B.R., “Annihilation of Caste” page-248; publisher- Navyana ; year-2014
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