Q2. Discuss Ambedkar's views on democracy and social justice.
Similar Question:
1. Discuss political thoughts of Ambedkar.
Introduction:
Ambedkarji was fim believer of democracy. But his thought on democracy was
tempered by his inclination towards socialism and social justice. To him, the democracy
should work towards socialism but have its bases in a regime of individual rights. Thus,
he mixed democracy with socialism. Therefore, he seems to support democratic
socialism. This is the type of democracy, called social democracy, currently followed
in Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark) and in some of the
countries in mainland Europe. In the social democracy of Ambedkar, the form of
government would be parliamentary cabinet based, representative democratic
government, but the state instead of adopting laissez-faire approach, will actively
intervene to bring about social Justice.
He also differentiated between democracy in political and social life. To him political
democracy denotes the institutionalized structure of power whereas democracy in social
life is following the spirit of liberty, equality, and fraternity and adopting democracy as
a way of life. To him democracy is a mode of social living which enables individual to
unfold his/ her limitless potentialities to the maximum possible extent without harming
the equality, interest, and aspirations of others.
Ambedkarji is considered as champion of Social Justice. To him, Social Justice is
concerned with ensuring liberty in positive sense, providing fair equality of
opportunity, justice as fairness, and rights to each individual to let him develop his
potentials to the maximum possible without any hindrance. To him, trinity of liberty,
equality, and fraternity may ensure Social Justice with active support of the state/govt.
In Indian context, he was certain that for ensuring social justice, abolition of caste
system was necessary.
In the next section of the answer, I will try to briefly explain Ambedkarji's views on democracy,
his concept of democratic socialism, and his thoughts on Social Justice.
His views on Democracy:
Democracy in political vs Democracy in social life:
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" Political Democracy: as the institutionalized structure of power to manage the
political affairs of the society
Social Democracy: Democracy in family, work place, school, and other social
institution. Democracy as way of life.
To him, democracy is a mode of social living which enables each individual to
unfold his/her limitless potentialities to the maximum possible extent without
harming the equality, interest, and aspirations of others.
Influenced by Athenian democracy, that is. Direct democracy or self-governance. He
was also influenced by Lincoln's definition of democracy as the government of the
people for the people and by the people.
" However, in view of large size of modern states, he felt that representative Democracy
is better suited for India.
" He supported parliamentary democracy because it gave chance even to smaller political
parties to join the Govt. Also, India could learn many things about the parliamentary
Democracy under the British rule, could built some useful democratic institutions,
hence, adopting parliamentary Democracy would be better for India.
But he was against decentralisation and Panchayati Raj system. He supported strong
central Govt. This may be because of his distrust in the caste system which was deeply
entrenched in villages and rural areas. He saw better chance of social reforms by a
strong central Govt.
In his view Indian society was not democratic:
This was because of the caste system which maintained graded inequality. The
Caste System is not compatible to the spirit of liberty, equality, fraternity. Indian
society suffers from ghettoization (people living separately in small isolated
blocs), conformism (instead of applying reason, people just follow the
customs/traditions), authoritarianism, which is in built into the caste system.
Strategy to promote democracy:
Negative strategies: Anti Brhamanism agitation, questioning traditions,
customs, adopting Buddhism, opposing modern forms of
authoritarianism, such as blindly following the dictate of the leaders.
Positive strategies: one man- one vote principle; constitutional
protection to minorities, education, inculcating democratic values in
families and social institution.
^tote and )Demo cxaycy
emo cxa ’ Dx Anmbed kar
Bhimao Ronii Ambadkor fopuledy knesn
Baba aaheb Ambedkas One the main aschikcts
of Tndian Cona thtuton.
He Uey well knon
poliical leades, philsiophe
(ontey, economiAt a chola and Soaal xefome
oho dedicated hia i e to
eradiatng on touchalbility
and otheg
Rocial ineuality in Tndia
State
O BhimTao Ram
Ramij Ambedlear believed
believed that the
Rtate UReful in atituhon that oul d hp
entabligh Rocio - eConomic Ay Atem. He hoad
Aevexl ideas albout the of Qtote
including'?
State Sodeim
Ambe dkas belleved that Stote gocialígmn would bring
about
euolutionasy chonge Rocio an d eonomic
Re people oithaut blood Ahed.
Hia SAate Soclaim had three peinta:
State nev ahip ot aqncu lhoal land.
Maintenance Regousces fos producton
produchon by
State
Jugt digtibution of theee telouTce to loul atiom
Ponliamentaay demo chacy :
Ambed Rox bedieved that State Socialism shol d
be etalblished
though Ronliament ory democra cy )
hot dicta tor Ahip.
Parhamentay democnacy TeRta
Rullowing pmieA
(0 The n dii dual an end in him ael.
The individual ha cestain malienable qhtA
that muet be quatante ed by Con Rhtution.
The Atate shal not
deleqate powerA to
povate pekona to govem othes8.
Anbe dkars believed in Reciety baied
libeoty equality and fyatmity ohich iA anothex
nome doy demo ctacy, will See hia idea o
Demo Cacy now
Democrocy
Ambe dka toue democrat and aduocoted
democsattc Aodety based principlea of
natusa Juatic e equity and claski ieation
accov dinq to apitude ,ability and porfea Riom.
Syatem a
sbatacle?
> The soot of
democsa cy hie
lie not in the
of
Qovemment but Social relatomehipe.
He Con aideed Caate Sy atem as Beioua
obatace in Ahe path
path of democta(y .
’ Ab Ambedkas Aaid The at ondiion
poece dent os AucceAR tul
onting st democtary
iRthat these must be no On
qaing
nequalitesA Sodety.
Provi ion8 to
Secomdly thee mut be
atatutoy
vnitiq ate the
Rafeguard the inteea+
SufReing
the
amd
Auppe Aed
and
oppeased people.
Demo cxacy Changea in Sodal an d
Economic ife.
Mccossng
fundomental
to Ambedhar
changes
democa cy
Aocial and
mean
ECononic life.
of feople and acceptance thole chamges
by people oithout eloting to diapute and
blood ahed
’ He anted to ertabliah
the
One man
pinciple
One Vote and One value not only
in polittcal Iife of Tndia but algo in
and eConomic kle.
He babd
poliical democtacy to be cCompained
by Rocia
democracy.
Ambedkoax paid grcateg attentin to Sodal
lantage among pcople than
Reperation pouesA an d
Conattutonal
Ratequarda os
democzacy an d
politcal
Powes.
Ambed kar Said We muat make
Political democs o(y aocol democO cy al well.
Political democracy Cannot laat onleea there
lies the leae of Social demo coacy
(onduato
Tn Conclution, BR Amedkar &
Araought
State and demo cacy ond eracCoTe his Umw avezing
Commitment to So ciol juatce, equality
equality and
empowesment nas qinalized Gmmniiea. He
ehuigioned democ ocy not iuAt a politcal
raneovk but a
coay life that enlue
dignity hbesty and
and ratemi ty all Citi2en 8.
