movement. However, unlike Gaekwad and Shahu, Dr. Ambedkar cannot be considered a formal ally of the Arya Samaj movement. Nevertheless, he always remained sympathetic to its cause. For Dr. Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule held a more revered place than Swami Dayanand. He regarded Gautam Buddha, Sant Kabir, and Mahatma Phule as his spiritual guides. Due to the absence of work in Marathi— the regional language of Maharashtra— alongside Sanskrit and Hindi, the Arya Samaj movement could not flourish as effectively in Maharashtra as it did in North India. According to Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, it was the“ Brahmin bureaucracy” that prevented the Arya Samaj from gaining a stronghold in Maharashtra.
Dr. Ambedkar’ s educational journey was significantly supported by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda. After completing his intermediate education, Dr. Ambedkar earned prestigious degrees such as B. A., M. A., Ph. D., D. Sc.( London), LL. D., and Bar-at-Law. While this might not have been due to the Arya Samaj movement in a direct sense, it certainly had an indirect and unforgettable impact. Whether others recognize it or not, Dr. Ambedkar himself was fully aware of this. That is why a sympathetic tone towards the Arya Samaj movement is often evident in his writings.
Arya Samaj supporter Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad provided scholarships to Dr. Ambedkar between 1912 and 1915, enabling him to pursue higher education in America. Similarly, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj— who proudly identified as an Arya Samaji— offered full financial support to Ambedkar from
1919 to 1922 for his studies abroad.
Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj also financially supported Ambedkar’ s first newspaper, Mooknayak. In 1920, during the first Untouchability Conference held in Mangaon, the Arya Samaj-influenced
ruler of Kolhapur, Shahu Maharaj, made a powerful prediction:“ Dr. Ambedkar will become an all-India leader.” The generosity and foresight of these two monarchs of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency were deeply rooted in the values propagated by Swami Dayanand. Both these kings carried a distinct and undeniable imprint of the Arya Samaj movement on their hearts and minds.
Swami Shraddhanand( 1856 – 1926), a devout disciple of Maharishi Dayanand and a key implementer of his educational reforms, played an essential role in uplifting the Dalit community and eradicating caste-based discrimination. Dr. Ambedkar was fully aware of Swami Shraddhanand’ s work. In his book What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables, Dr. Ambedkar wrote,“ Swami Shraddhanand was one of the greatest helpers and supporters of the Dalits. If he had been given the opportunity to work with stability on the( Congress) committee for the abolition of untouchability, there would undoubtedly have been a remarkable plan in front of us today.”
Dr. Ambedkar even proposed Sanskrit as the national language of India. Based on his knowledge and experience, he advocated for a population exchange between Hindus and Muslims in India and Pakistan. After the formation of Pakistan, Muslims there forcibly retained Dalit Hindus to make them clean human waste— highlighting the horrors of caste and religious persecution.
Dr. Ambedkar also shared a warm and respectful relationship with Lala Lajpat Rai, one of the most prominent Arya Samaj leaders and followers of Maharishi Dayanand. After Lala Lajpat Rai’ s death due to brutal British lathi charges, Dr. Ambedkar paid him a heartfelt tribute.
In January 1913, Dr. Ambedkar arrived in Baroda, where he met Pandit Atmaram Amritsari, an Arya Samaj scholar actively working for Dalit upliftment. Until suitable accommodation was arranged, Pandit Amritsari brought Dr. Ambedkar to stay with him at the Arya Samaj premises in Baroda, where Ambedkar stayed for about a week. During this time, Dr. Ambedkar naturally had the opportunity to closely observe and understand the philosophy and practices of the Arya Samaj. He would have also witnessed their daily rituals such as Sandhya( Vedic prayers) and Agnihotra( fire offerings), and learned about their significance and benefits. �
April 2025 | Dalit Andolan Patrika 15