POLITICAL SCIENCE

SEMESTER II

POLITICAL SCIENCE

RESEARCH PAPER ON THE TOPIC

COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN B R AMBEDKAR AND

MAHATMA GANDHI’S IDEOLOGY

SUBMITTED TO

PROF. RAVI SAXENA

NMIMS KIRIT P. MEHTA SCHOOL OF LAW, MUMBAI

SUBMITTED BY

ANOUSHKAA N V

ROLL NO. – C043

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KIRIT P. MEHTA SCHOOL OF LAW, MUMBAI

 POLITICAL SCIENCE

BA LLB (HONS.)

Table of Contents

1.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................2

2. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................3

3. IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC...............................................................4

Caste System: A Present Evil in India..............................................................5

4. ANALYSIS....................................................................................................6

Ideological Difference Between Dr. B R Ambedkar And Mahatma Gandhi 6

5. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................8

6. REFERENCES.............................................................................................9

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1.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Objectives

 To understand the viewpoint of both Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar on the

lines of caste.
 The ideological difference between Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar.
 To understand the background of both the personalities that led to their ideological
stance.

Research Questions

 How is the Indian caste system treated by Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar?
 Was their any foundational ideological difference between Gandhi and Ambedkar?
 What is their influence on the present Indian caste system?

Methodology

The method of researching undertaken here is the doctrinal research. Various primary and
secondary sources like journals, books, articles, research works, reports and review has been
undertaken.

Mode of Citation

The sources analysed and interpreted in this research paper is cited using the MLA 7 th Edition
citation method.

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2. INTRODUCTION

Caste system has been a long pertaining social evil in the Indian society. Although the
practice of untouchability, a brainchild of caste system was abolished, the base still remains
strong in the society. Both Gandhiji and Ambedkar were ardent opposers of caste
discrimination and fought for equality for the community during the British Rule in India. Dr.
Ambedkar himself belonging to a Mahar family, one of the untouchable classes in India,
fought to bring reforms that were reflected in the social as well as legal system of the country.
Along with him, Mahatma Gandhi fought did his part of fasting and non-violent methods
against the caste based discriminating practices and inequality meted out to the depressed
class. Although both these personalities fought for the same cause, there were some
foundational differences between them.

Mahatma Gandhi came from a strict Vaishya household, at the age of 13 married off to
Kasturba. He didn’t decline the varna system. His stand on the caste system was quite
inconsistent and defined caste system as the base of Hindu society. 1 He was against the
discriminating practices that followed varna system and believed all castes should be treated
equally. This dubious stance of him was widely criticised by other inequality fighters. 2

While studying in the US, B R Ambedkar had drawn some parallels between the fourteenth
amendment of the United States Constitution, which had provisions regarding the Black
Americans. 3The situation of the lower caste section of the Indian society or the depressed
class was similar to the condition of the Afro-Americans of the US. Babasaheb Ambedkar
came to India to fight for the discriminated and oppressed class. He started newspapers such
as Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat and Samata. These became the exclusive outlets of the
oppressed class in India.

1
"Youth And Study In England | Mahatma Gandhi Biography." Mkgandhi.org. N.p., 2021. Web. 2 July 2021.
2
Nanda, B. R. Gandhi And His Critics. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print.
3
Venkataraman, R. Dr.B.R. Ambedkar. 4th ed. Karnataka: Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board,
2021. Web. 2 July 2021.
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3. IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC

Caste System: A Present Evil in India

Throughout history different saints and spiritual leaders such as Buddha have strived to bring
together the people of the Indian Subcontinent beyond caste classifications, but the superior
class which derived its power from the structure of caste system is deeply seated in the Indian
society. 4

Through the passing of time, progress has been made in providing equality of opportunities to
people belong to underprivileged and depressed classes. This was enabled due to the various
laws and reforms that has provided reservations and protections for these sections until they
are treated as equal and are loosened from the shackles of caste system. Reports of the
commissioner for scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes suggests that a great percentage of
law violations, crimes and discrimination is still practiced against the depressed classes. 5 Still
India follows a rigid caste system, marriages are preferred and sometimes forced to be done
within people of same caste and religion. Defying this led to honour killings, disowning by
family, non-acceptance by society etcetera. Still in certain parts of India, Dalits are made to
clean sewages. Dalit community is still victimised due to their caste and to a lesser extent
untouchability also exists.6

4
Venkataraman, R. Dr.B.R. Ambedkar. 4th ed. Karnataka: Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board,
2021. Web. 2 July 2021.
5
Annual Report 2016-17. National Commission for Scheduled Caste, 2021. Web. 2 July 2021. Annual Reports
of The NCSC.
6
"CASTE DISCRIMINATION:." Hrw.org. N.p., 2021. Web. 1 July 2021.
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4. ANALYSIS
Ideological Difference Between Dr. B R Ambedkar And Mahatma Gandhi

 Mahatma Gandhi treated the depressed class as children of God and hence called
them Harijans. He was of the opinion that caste system was a more social issue than a
religious issue. He was an ardent follower of Hindu Dharma, from which he derived
the concepts of tolerance and non-violence. He believed that untouchability was a
flaw in Hinduism and could be overcome. While Dr B R Ambedkar observes that the
caste system flows directly from Hinduism and more specifically for the benefit of
Brahmins. Later he went on to become a Buddhist. He recognises that caste system
cannot be separated from Hinduism. 7
 Mahatma Gandhi had made efforts into mix the issues of depressed class with the
other issues that the Indian National Congress was fighting against during the British
Rule. He wanted to bring to people’s notice this issue by combining it with the
freedom movement. Babasaheb Ambedkar on the other hand felt differently. He
developed a theory where there are two nations - one of Dalits and other of the
superior castes and the latter is in a dominant position to rule and oppress the former
one (Dalits). Unlike Mahatma Gandhi he sought to overcome these issues through
systematic changes such as policy reforms, legislations etc.
 While Mahatma Gandhi had often sought the methods of peaceful protest and political
struggle to coerce the authorities to bring in changes, Dr B R Ambedkar believed to
bring about changes and worked towards it through law and legal system. He was the
chairman of the committee fir drafting the Indian Constitution.
 Dr B R Ambedkar was of the stand that, the fight for justice and equality was
exclusively for depressed class due to his values like dignity and respect. While
Mahatma Gandhi urged people from all castes come and fight along for the depressed
classes, this was advocated as a compensation for the decades of injustice done by the
upper class to the lower caste community.
 Mahatma Gandhi believed that with certain reforms and test of time, the caste conflict
would perish in India, but the present is an example against this belief of Gandhiji.

7
Singh, Aakash. “Gandhi and Ambedkar: Irreconcilable Differences?” International Journal of Hindu Studies,
vol. 18, no. 3, 2014, pp. 413–449., www.jstor.org/stable/24713655. Accessed 5 July 2021.

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While B R Ambedkar made long term, well planned legislations for the depressed
classes in India.
 Mahatma Gandhi promoted a traditional village form of economy, because during that
time village was the backbone of India. This idea of Mahatma Gandhi was inspired
from Ramayana. Babasaheb Ambedkar opined that this form society could further
lead to discrimination and oppression due to the autonomy and biases of this small
group of people. Instead, he suggested a Central Government with federal
governments for better administration and regulation.
 Ambedkar supported the idea of separate electorates for lower castes but his was
opposed by Gandhiji and he went into fast for the same. Mahatma Gandhi believed
that separate electoral system was one of the strategies of the divide and rule of
British and would further increase the division.
Even though these differences existed their end cause was same, the abolition of
discrimination based on castes. Both believed in strength in unity. Mass mobilization
was a main characteristic of both of these reformer’s fight against injustice. Both of
them emphasised on social emancipation.

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5. CONCLUSION

Caste system is a social evil that still exists in India. Practiced till date by people, this system
founds its base on the Hindu Dharma. Throughout years many revolutionaries, visionaries
and leaders have fought and are still fighting to get rid of caste system. The caste division
unrefutably favours the upper caste people and negatively discriminated the lower or
depressed classes. This centuries long injustice was majorly recognised by Indian leaders
during the British rule. Thus followed several movements and protests to provide equality,
respect and freedom to these long oppressed class of human beings. Among the most notable
and staunch fighters of this social evil, are Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
Although both of them had varied approach and differed ideologies, the cause remained the
same and to a greater extent, they were successful in their fight. The stand of Mahatma
Gandhi against the caste system is dubious as sources suggest he believed that caste system
was a natural order of society. While some others suggest that the outlook of Gandhiji
towards caste changed from critical to radical with time. The issue that still pricks Indian
society is the caste system. In the early days, the varna system was to differentiate people
based on their occupation but this has outgrown into a system that has done colossal damage
to the society. These divisions are used by politicians to ask for votes by favouring a certain
caste. It is high time, as responsible citizens and human beings, we learn to respect and
protect each other. For this we have to look beyond the circle of caste, religion, race and
inculcate values such as respect for humanity, tolerance and acceptance. The implementation
of legislations should be given more importance rather than developing new ones. Social
protection and awareness against caste discrimination should be adopted as another solution.

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6. REFERENCES

Articles
 "Youth And Study In England | Mahatma Gandhi Biography." Mkgandhi.org. N.p.,
2021. Web. 2 July 2021.
 Bhaskar, Anurag. "This Leader Forced Mahatma Gandhi To Change His Views On
Caste." The Print. N.p., 2018. Web. 3 July 2021.
 Omvedt, Gail. Dalits and the democratic revolution: Dr Ambedkar and the Dalit
movement in colonial India. SAGE Publications India, 1994.

Reports
 Annual Report 2016-17. National Commission for Scheduled Caste, 2021. Web. 2
July 2021. Annual Reports of The NCSC.

Journals
 "CASTE DISCRIMINATION" Hrw.org. N.p., 2021. Web. 1 July 2021.
 Venkataraman, R. Dr.B.R. Ambedkar. 4th ed. Karnataka: Karnataka Secondary
Education Examination Board, 2021. Web. 2 July 2021.
 Biswas, Sujay. “Gandhi’s Approach to Caste and Untouchability: A
Reappraisal.” Social Scientist, vol. 46, no. 9–10 (544–545), 2018, pp. 71–90. JSTOR,
www.jstor.org/stable/26611325. Accessed 5 July 2021.
 Singh, Aakash. “Gandhi and Ambedkar: Irreconcilable Differences?” International
Journal of Hindu Studies, vol. 18, no. 3, 2014, pp. 413–449.,
www.jstor.org/stable/24713655. Accessed 5 July 2021.
 Sana, Arunoday. "The caste system in India and its consequences." International
Journal of Sociology and Social Policy (1993).

Books
 Nanda, B. R. Gandhi And His Critics. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Print.
 Vellanki, S. "Bhimayana": Caste, Ambedkar, Art, And Pedagogy. India: ERIC, 2015.
Print.

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 Roy, Arundhati. The Doctor and the Saint: Caste, Race, and Annihilation of Caste:
The Debate between BR Ambedkar and MK Gandhi. Haymarket Books+ ORM, 2017.
PLAGIARISM REPORT

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