Ambedkarism is called as the teaching, ideology or philosophy of
B.R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and political leader who headed the committee drafting the Constitution of India from the Constituent Assembly debates, served ...
, an Indian econonist, polymath, barrister, social reformer, human-rights advocate, and the architect of
Indian Constitution
The Constitution of India (IAST: ) is the supreme law of India. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental ri ...
. Ambedkarism includes the principles of
Navayana
Navayana (Devanagari: नवयान, IAST: ''Navayāna'') means "new vehicle" and refers to the re-interpretation of Buddhism by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar; it is also called Neo-Buddhism and Ambedkarite Buddhism. Ambedkar was a polymath, theol ...
and liberty, equality and fraternity along with democratic socialism and constitutionalism. An Ambedkarite is one who follows the
philosophy of Ambedkar.
Social philosophy
According to B. R. Ambedkar "Society is always composed of Classes". Their foundations could be different. A person in a society is always a member of a class, whether it is economic, intellectual, or social. This is a universal truth, and early
Hindu culture could not have been an exception to this rule, and we know it wasn't. So, which class was the first to transform into a caste, because class and caste are, in a sense, next-door neighbours, separated only by a chasm. "A caste is a closed social group."
He was a critic of both Hindu and Muslim and writes - ''In a “communal malaise”, both groups Hindus and Muslims, ignore the urgent claims of social justice''. His book Thoughts on Pakistan, contains critic of Muslim too and in his books - ''
Riddles in Hinduism'', Philosophy of Hinduism,
Annihilation of Caste
''Annihilation of Caste'' is an undelivered speech written in 1936 by B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian academic turned politician. He wrote ''Annihilation of Caste'' for the 1936 meeting of a group of liberal Hindu caste-reformers in Lahore. After revi ...
, Castes in India,
Who Were the Shudras?, The Decline and Fall of Buddhism in India and Against the Madness of Manu he directly criticises the caste-ridden Hindu society.
Untouchables were forced to not wear good clothes but for Ambedkar, the suit was a strategy for political resistance, an assertion of power, a means to break the caste barrier in a society that is caste ridden.
Ambedkar proposed
Separate Electorate for the untouchables to send their own representatives in assembly but it was opposed by Gandhi and resulted in his defeat after the
Poona Pact
The Poona Pact was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on behalf of Dalits, depressed classes, and upper caste Hindu leaders on the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes in the legislature of British ...
but later he advocated for the establishment of Settlement Commission that would provide separate villages for the Scheduled Castes.
See also
; Organizations
*
Buddhist Society of India
The Buddhist Society of India, known as the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha, is a national Buddhist organization in India. It was founded by B. R. Ambedkar on 4 May 1955 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Ambedkar was the father of the Indian Constituti ...
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Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam
Ambedkar Makkal Iyakkam (Ambedkar People Movement) is a political movement in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu working for the upliftment of Dalits. The founder of AMI was Dr. V. Balasundaram. Dr.Vai. Balasundaram formed 'Ambedkar People Movement ...
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The Casteless Collective
The Casteless Collective is an Indian indie band based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The band was formed in 2017, with support from the Neelam Panpaatu Maiyam started by filmmaker Pa. Ranjith and filmmaker and film composer Tenma, founder of the labe ...
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Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (; VCK) formerly known as the Dalit Panthers of India or the Dalit Panthers Iyyakkam (; DPI) is an Indian social movement and political party that seeks to combat caste based discrimination, active in the state o ...
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Dalit Film and Cultural Festival
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Dalit Panthers of India
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Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti
The Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti, abbreviated as DS-4 or DSSSS ( lit. "Dalit and other Exploited Groups Struggle Committee") was founded on 6 December 1981 by Kanshi Ram to organise dalits and other oppressed groups of India. It was related ...
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Bhim Army
The Bhim Army, alternatively Bheem Army ( lit."Ambedkar Army") or the Bheem Army Bharat Ekta Mission (translation: "Ambedkar Army Indian Unity Mission") is an Ambedkarite and Dalit rights organisation in India. It was founded by Satish Kumar, ...
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Bhim Sena
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BAMCEF
The All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation, abbreviated as BAMCEF, is an organisation for employees of oppressed communities that was established in 1971 by Kanshi Ram, D. K. Khaparde, and Dinabhana. The term got it ...
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Bahujan Samaj Students' Forum
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Ambedkar Students' Association
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Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association
References
Sources
* {{cite book , last1=Omvedt , first1=Gail , title=Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste , date=18 August 2003 , publisher=SAGE Publications , isbn=978-0-7619-9664-4 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSF8b5hbyP0C , language=en
B. R. Ambedkar