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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online:https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 926
DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR AND HIS PHILOSOPHY ON
INDIAN DEMOCRACY
SATISH KUMAR
Research Scholar, Department of Political Science
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
ABSTRACT
Ideas of great men change the course of the development of a nation. Their ideas lay the
foundation on which the edifice of whole system of governance is erected. India has produced
many a social and political thinker and philosopher in the course of her long and chequred
history. Among the galaxy of thinkers and philosophers of India, Bharat Ratna Dr. Baba Saheb
Ambedkar occupies undoubtedly the most important place. Baba Saheb Ambedkar was one of
the most illustrious sons of India. His varied contributions as a scholar, educationist, journalist,
authority on comparative religion and, as a great social reformer and a champion of human rights
for the downtrodden masses in India are widely recognized. His personal bitter experience,
progressive and liberal western education, extensive reading and research, wide mass contacts
provided him the required perspective, theoretical frame, the depth and dimension for
understanding and analyzing any problem, be it social, political or economic. This research
article is an attempt to analyse the views of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on Democracy and to study its
refection in Indian Constitution and judicial decisions.
Keywords: Democracy, Constitution, Judicial Decisions
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INTRODUCTION
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956), ‘a symbol of revolt’ (as mentioned by Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India), was one of the front-ranking
nation-builders of modern India. He is popularly known as the ‘pioneer’ who initiated the
‘liberation movement’ of roughly sixty-five million untouchables of India. Yet, Dr. Ambedkar,
the chief architect of Indian Constitution, notwithstanding all handicaps of birth, has made, by
pursuit of knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, politics and law, an indelible imprint on
the body politic of the country. A glance of his copious writings would evidently show that
despite his preoccupations with the problems of the dalits (Untouchables), Ambedkar has in his
own way, made significant contributions to the contemporary political ideas.
According to Dr. Ambedkar the most accepted form of government of the world is democracy.
There is, however, no unanimity as to what constitutes democracy. When one examines the
question one finds that there are two views regarding the democracy. One view is that democracy
is a form of government where the government is chosen by the people-where government is a
representative government. According to this view democracy is just synonymous with
representative government which means adult suffrage and periodical elections. According to
another view a democracy is more than a form of government –a form of organisation of society.
Dr. Ambedkar analyzed the concept of democracy keeping in mind the prevailing social situation
in India. The study of Indian society shaped his conception of the democratic system, and
persistently he specified the link between ancient India and basic democracy not as something
casual, but exactly as the relationship between two friends. He points out that India had
democracy in ancient times, but the caste system swallowed it and established the rule of social
authoritarianism. He hopes that 266 India could reveal the true image of basic democracy, if it
follows the path of social revolution. Generally, Democracy has been defined, as you know, by
various people, writers of political science and philosophers, sociologists and so on. The
definitions of democracy given by Walter Bagehot or Abraham Lincoln were also not
satisfactory to Ambedkar. But Dr. Ambedkar defined democracy in a different and in a much
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European Journal of Business &
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Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
Available online:https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 928
more concrete way. By “Democracy” Ambedkar mean, “A form and method of government
whereby revolutionary changes in the economic and social life of the people are brought about
without bloodshed”. The principle of self-government expresses the desire of the people to rule
itself rather than be ruled by others whether the rulers are absolute monarchs, dictators or
privileged classes. It is called “democracy”.
He further said that “Democracy was a state of policy where, the governing class failed to
capture powers to govern others and where the majority takes the reign of the instrumentalities of
the state”. For Ambedkar, “Democracy is not merely a form of government. It is primarily a
mode of associated living of conjoint communicated experience and to be searched in the social
relationship. It is essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards fellowmen”. He
believed democracy means no slavery, no caste, and no coercion. Freedom of thoughts, choice
and capacity to live and let other live, which according to his conscience, would be the right path
to democracy. Democracy is not a gift of nature. It is a habit of social living and can be acquired
by the people themselves for their emancipation and well being. Ambedkar said:
“It is necessary to remember that in a democracy, the ultimate principle is after all self- government and that means that final decision on all matters must be made by popularly
elected persons and not by experts.”
Ambedkar’s conception of democracy does not focus any class structure in society, because in
class structure breeds tyranny, vanity, pride, arrogance, greed, selfishness, insecurity, poverty,
degradation, loss of liberty, self-reliance, independence, dignity and self-respect. He was a
political realist; therefore, he regarded democracy in its practical aspect as the social organisation
of the people in the sense that the people included all members of society. Thus he remarked, “A
democratic society must assure a life of leisure and culture to each one of its citizens”. Man
occupies the highest place in the scheme of animal existence because of his cultivated mind and
it is culture that divides the brute from man. Therefore the aim of a democratic society must be to
enable every person to lead a life of culture which means the cultivation of mind as distinguished
from the satisfaction of mere physical wants.
Dr. Ambedkar realized that the democracy in India was a product of the historical situation and a
unique national experience. The course of democratic development must protect the values of
