Justice Konda Madhava Reddy Memorial Lecture Held in Hyderabad
Narendra Damodar Jadhav, a former Rajya Sabha Member and an expert in economics, delivered the annual ‘Justice Konda Madhava Reddy Memorial Lecture’ in Hyderabad. The event was organised by the Justice Konda Madhava Reddy Foundation and took place at AV College, Domalguda. His lecture focused on the topic “55 Years of The Constitution Making and the Role of Dr BR Ambedkar.”
The event was presided over by Justice B Sudarshan Reddy, a former Supreme Court Judge. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament from the Chevella Constituency, was also present.
During his speech, Jadhav explained that many people believe the Indian Constitution was made between 1946 and 1950. However, he argued that the Constitution was actually the result of a 55-year-long process that began in 1895. He highlighted that two parallel efforts were made—one by British rulers and the other by Indian leaders. These efforts finally merged in 1946 when the Constituent Assembly was formed, leading to India becoming a democratic republic in 1950.
Jadhav also pointed out that there were 12 major attempts to draft the Indian Constitution before it was finalized. Among all the leaders involved, Dr BR Ambedkar played a crucial role in most of these efforts, even more than Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, or Sardar Patel.
Justice B Sudarshan Reddy expressed concern over how some officials, including Supreme Court judges, have compared welfare recipients to parasites. He criticized the idea of calling welfare schemes “freebies,” arguing that such statements dehumanize citizens and undermine their rights.
Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, praised Justice Konda Madhav Reddy for his contributions to the judiciary and education. He mentioned that the trust in Reddy’s name has been doing great work, including organizing free medical camps, improving sanitation in government schools, and promoting youth employment.
Dr K Laxman, a Rajya Sabha Member, emphasized that India has one of the best constitutions, thanks to Dr BR Ambedkar. He noted that Ambedkar was committed to empowering weaker sections of society. He also recalled how Ambedkar had differences with Jawaharlal Nehru on issues like Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir’s status. Despite challenges such as emergencies and the misuse of Article 356, India’s Constitution has remained strong over time.
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy highlighted the importance of national unity and integrity, especially in today’s global situation. He described the Constitution as a guiding light for India’s progress and called the memorial lecture a tribute to Justice Konda Madhav Reddy’s contributions to law and justice. He urged people to remember and honor Reddy’s remarkable achievements.
