DR. BABU JAGJIVAN RAM AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT: REASSESSING HIS VISION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA

social sciences

The concept of inclusive development has gained importance as a policy priority in the modern Indian context, given the requirement of economic development in conjunction with social justice, equality and institutional accountability. comparatively limited scholarly attention has been paid to the developmental dimensions of Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram's political thought. Jagjivan Ram was one of the leading figures of the Dalit movement in the new Indian republic, consistently championing the cause of equal citizenship, democratic political processes, improvements in agriculture, working class rights and good governance. This paper re-examines at his developmental vision, giving a critical synthesis of past and present literature. The social justice, inclusive economic development, democratic government and sustainable institutional change constitute the four interconnected dimensions of his developmental philosophy identified in the review. The results indicate that his ideas are still very relevant in today's India to tackle the persistent inequalities based on caste, rural distress, joblessness and participation in governance. In addition, the review identifies some current deficiencies in the existing scholarship, such as the relatively weak presence of Jagjivan Ram's concepts in current debates about sustainable development and how to develop an inclusive public policy. The paper concludes that reassessing his vision provides valuable insights for strengthening equitable governance and sustainable national development while encouraging future interdisciplinary research on his political and developmental legacy.

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