conclude that if the Hindu religion had granted Dalits the freedom to bear arms, India would never have been colonized.
impact on society and national unity, as well as its conflict with truth, nonviolence, and humanity. Dr. Ambedkar’ s vision for societal reconstruction in modern India is often misunderstood as just an opposition to the caste system and the upliftment of untouchables, which is an injustice to him. The opposition to the caste system and the rejection of caste-based animosity, untouchability, and social reformation was also advocated by saints and thinkers from medieval times to modern thinkers. However, most of them contributed to social reform through the perspective of the Vedas and Upanishads, whereas Baba Saheb was guided by the teachings and path of Buddhist Sangha.
Dr. Ambedkar translated the Buddhist saying " Be a light unto yourself " into his life and illuminated the path of morality, justice, and generosity for the entire society. Baba Saheb believed that when we live in a community or society, there should be equality in life’ s standards and ideals. If this equality is absent, it creates a sense of separation in morality, and group life is at risk. This thought led him to
It’ s not just about arms, but also the scriptures, the knowledge of which has been denied, leaving a large section of society deprived of both material and spiritual wealth, and this has become a major cause of social tension. Dr. Ambedkar wanted the root eradication of the caste system, as his sharp intellect saw that we had made the principle of karma, which should guide individual progress, into a belief in fate, idleness, and a system that supported exploitation. His vision for social justice demands that every class of society should have an equal and dignified right to live as human beings, and this cannot be achieved through political freedom and democracy alone. Economic and social democracy is also needed. Even with political equality through " one person, one vote," social and economic inequality corrupts the democratic process. Therefore, he emphasized commitment to democratic values devoid of economic disparity and social discrimination.
Dr. Ambedkar had an unwavering faith in democratic values. He believed that a system of governance that brings about revolutionary changes in people ' s economic and social lives without bloodshed is democracy. He did not accept that the end of human suffering could be achieved merely through the dominance of material and economic powers. Dr. Ambedkar wanted to build a knowledge-based society, which is why he emphasized the importance of the motto: " Educate, Organize, and Struggle." �
April 2025 | Dalit Andolan Patrika 9