Ambedkar Versus Gandhi

Both Gandhi and Ambedkar were great social reformers and political leaders of India in 20th century. Both strove for the improvement of the cause of depressed classes. Both broadened the future vision of India beyond the formal independence of the country. However, both had fundamental differences on different political and social issues.

Firstly, Gandhi perceived depressed classes to be an integral part of Hindu society, whereas Ambedkar somewhat tried to advance a kind of two-nation theory-one is the ruling nation of high castes and another is the subject nation of untouchable classes. While Ambedkar was in favour of annihilation of caste system as it was beyond reforms; Gandhi wanted to reform it by changing the hearts and minds of high Castes. Gandhi did not support the abolition of caste system or Varnashrma order. Secondly,  Ambedkar held a very poor view of Hinduism and equated it with Brahmanism and claimed that he was born as Hindu but would not die as Hindu. On the other hand, Gandhi had great appreciation of Hindu Dharma particularly its qualities of toleration and adjustment. Thirdly, Gandhi believed in peaceful political struggles like non-cooperation and civil disobedience and other forms of Satyagrah, but Ambedkar had developed deep faith in the constitutional means of change and improvement. Fourthly, Ambedkar believed that the movement for the amelioration of the cause of depressed classes cannot be launched by high castes. It should be led by depressed classes only. Gandhi believed that such movement may be launched by any person. Fifthly, Gandhi’s vision for future India was more broad-based as it considered the accommodation of all castes and communities. Ambedkar vision was confined to improvement and empowerment of depressed classes. Gandhi argued that caste conflict is not the permanent feature of Indian society. Sixthly, Gandhi and Ambedkar have different opinion with respect to Gram Swarajya. While Gandhi gave a central place to village autonomy and self-sufficiency in his vision of future India, Ambedkar was highly critical of the village as a unit of local administration. He claimed that the village in India is a den of localism, communalism and narrow interests. The empowerment of village Panchayats would thus lead to erosion of individual liberty. Ambedkar criticised Gandhism in the following words, “Gandhism is the philosophy of well to do and the leisure class.” It deluded people into accepting their misfortunes by presenting them as best of good fortunes. Gandhism seeks to perpetuate the system of scavenging as the noblest service to society. But these are the evils that are deliberately imposed by one class over another.