Personality
Dr. Ambedkar Gave the Message of Education to the Dalit Community
The entire life of Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was dedicated to reforming Indian society. He was considered a divine incarnation for the oppressed and Dalit communities. He provided a clear and honorable path for these longmarginalized sections of society to live with dignity. He empowered them to fight against the injustices, exploitation, and humiliation they had faced. According to Dr. Ambedkar, social persecution is more painful than punishment imposed by the state.
Through his deep study of ancient Indian texts, he attempted to show that the caste system, the varna system, and untouchability were not originally part of Indian society but rather developed over time as distortions. He not only opposed the injustice done to Dalits but also instilled in them a sense of selfrespect, self-reliance, confidence, selfimprovement, and the ability to selfanalyze. The efforts he made for Dalit upliftment cannot be forgotten in the context of modern India ' s formation. In the words of Nehru,“ Dr. Ambedkar was a symbol of the rebellion against the oppressive tendencies of Hindu society.”
The foundation of the Indian Aryan social organization was the four-fold varna system, which divided society into four categories based on work. Dr. Ambedkar criticized this system as unscientific, oppressive, narrowminded, and lacking dignity. He believed it was not based on the division of labor but rather on the division of laborers. According to him, the Indian varna system was very similar to the social system proposed by the Greek philosopher Plato, who divided society into three parts based on individual capabilities. Dr. Ambedkar strongly
criticized these systems and clarified that any division of individuals based purely on capacity is unscientific and inconsistent.
He asserted that the class conflict between the advanced and the weaker sections of Indian society is more intense than in any other country in the world. Dr. Ambedkar attempted to outline the main features and characteristics of the caste system in India, which include the following:
- The varna system is structured hierarchically.
- It is nearly impossible for individuals to change their caste-based classification.
- The system hampers efficiency, as professions are predetermined not by training or actual capability but by birth and the social status of one ' s parents.
- It leads to social stagnation, as individuals cannot voluntarily change
40 Dalit Andolan Patrika | April 2025