DOI sparks a conversation about constitutionalism in India and SA

Yesterday, the Dullah Omar Institute and the Consul General of India in Cape Town hosted an event in remembrance Dr Ambedkar, the founding father of the Indian Constitution, and recognising the latter's impact on the South African constitution. The theme of this event was: Celebrating Constitutionalism in India and South Africa. The event was opened by the Prof Tyrone Pretorious, the Rector and Vice Chancellor of UWC.

The speakers were Mr Puneet Kundal, the Consul General of India in Cape Town, Justice Zak Yacoob, former Justice of Constitutional Court, Judge Siraj Desai from the Cape Town High Court as well as Prof Nico Steytler, the SARChI Chair in Multilevel Government Law and Policy from the Dullah Omar Institute.

Dr B R Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was a well-known politician and an eminent jurist. He was the chairman of the drafting committee of the Indian constitution. Ambedkar dedicated his life to eradicate social evils like untouchablity and caste restrictions and fought for the rights of the untouchables and other socially backward classes. Ambedkar was appointed as the nation's first Law Minister in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor in 1990.

The Dean of the Faculty of Law gave a vote of thanks at the event. More pictures could be found on our Facebook Page.