Justice Gavai represents a new chapter in Indian social democracy
(GURU PRAKASH)
India witnessed a historic and transformative moment in its democratic journey as Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, a proud Ambedkarite Buddhist and only the second Dalit in Indian history, took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). This event is not merely a milestone for judicial leadership but a powerful symbol of social inclusion and representation. Significantly, Justice Gavai’s swearing-in came just days after Buddha Purnima, adding spiritual resonance to an already iconic moment.
Representation that empowers
Justice Gavai’s journey, from Nagpur — near Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Chaityabhoomi — to the pinnacle of the Indian judiciary, is a lesson in grit, intellect, and conviction. Practicing law at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, serving as the government pleader and public prosecutor for the state of Maharashtra, becoming a permanent judge of the Bombay High Court, and then being elevated to the Supreme Court, his legal career reflects a quiet revolution in representation — where caste identity is not a limitation but a source of strength and clarity.
In his recent initiative, when the Chief Justice was unavailable, Justice Gavai led the Supreme Court in observing a two-minute silence to pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. His moving statement, “The Supreme Court cannot be aloof when the country is in danger,” reflects a rare blend of judicial dignity and patriotic commitment.
An era of inclusive optics and outcomes
Today, India is not only led by a Prime Minister who belongs to Other Backward Classes (OBC) but also boasts its first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu, who, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, oversaw Operation Sindoor. Her tribal identity delivers a significant message: The Indian state is now being shaped by hands once held back by history.
Similarly, the appointment of Arjun Ram Meghwal as India’s first Dalit Law Minister since Ambedkar re-emphasises the government’s consistent effort at inclusive empowerment. These are not token positions; they are levers of systemic transformation.
From assertion to empowerment
