DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR'S ECONOMIC WRITINGS AND THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN DISSEMINATING ECONOMIC KNOWLEDGE

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is predominantly recognized as the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a key figure in Dalit emancipation. Dr. Ambedkar's scholarship is characterized by its interdisciplinarity, encompassing areas such as law, education, sociology, religion, anthropology, linguistics, women's rights, and water and land conservation. His contributions to economic thought in both pre- and post-independence India are substantial, with his progressive ideas addressing the intersections of caste and the economy, land reform, labor rights, and critiques of capitalism. Nevertheless, despite the profundity of his economic theories, Ambedkar's contributions remain relatively marginalized within Indian academic discourse and have yet to be fully integrated into mainstream economic policies. This paper examines the relevance of Dr. Ambedkar's writings and underscores the critical role of academic libraries in collecting, preserving, promoting, and disseminating his work to foster inclusive social and academic scholarship.