Defending minority protection in the Constituent Assembly, Dr. B.R. A…

Defending minority protection in the Constituent Assembly, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar recalled negotiations between Redmond and Carson aimed at preventing the partition of:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Ireland

Option (1) Ceylon — Incorrect. Ceylon is the old name of Sri Lanka. The chapter links Sri Lanka to ethnic conflict over making Sinhalese the national language. Redmond and Carson were Irish leaders and had no part in it.

Option (2) Ireland — Correct. Ambedkar's example comes from the history of negotiations for preventing the partition of Ireland. Redmond offered the Protestant minority any safeguard in return for a United Ireland, and Carson refused.

Option (3) Bengal — Incorrect. Bengal was partitioned in British India, but Redmond and Carson had no part in it. They were Irish leaders, and their talks were about Ireland.

Option (4) Punjab — Incorrect. Punjab was divided at the Partition of India in 1947. Redmond and Carson were leaders in Ireland, so their talks were not about Punjab.

NCERT (2026-27): “Minority Rights and Nation Building …
To diehards who have developed a kind of fanaticism against minority protection I would like to say two things. One is that minorities are an explosive force which, if it erupts, can blow up the whole fabric of the state. The history of Europe bears ample and appalling testimony to this fact. The other is that the minorities in India have agreed to place their existence in the hands of the majority. In the history of negotiations for preventing the partition of Ireland, Redmond said to Carson “Ask for any safeguard you like for the Protestant minority but let us have a United Ireland.” Carson’s reply was “Damn your safeguards, we don’t want to be ruled by you.” No minority in India has taken this stand.”