| Subject: | Political Science / Philosophy |
| Title: | Ambedkar vs Gandhi: A Study of Justice and Democracy |
| Author(s): | Siddharth Pandey |
| Published on: | 30th April 2026 |
| Published by: | Lyceum India |
| Name of the Journal: | Lyceum India Journal of Social Sciences |
| ISSN/E-ISSN: | 3048-6513 |
| Volume & Issue: | Volume: 3, Issue: 5 |
| Pages: | 1-9 |
| Original DOI (if any): | 10.5281/zenodo.19689684 |
| Repository DOI: | |
| Abstract: | Intellectual engagement between Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar can be seen as the classic debate in contemporary Indian politics about social justice issues and democracy. This paper will look at their conflicting and overlapping visions, in their conceptualizations of equality, caste and democratic governance. Gandhi focused on moral reform, non-violence and decentralized self-rule and promoted the reform of the society by ethical actions and unity of the community. Conversely, Ambedkar prefigured structural inequality and posited annihilation of caste as advancement based on legal, constitutional, and institutional means. The study examines primary texts and the important historical developments to see points of disagreement and agreement between the two thinkers based on a comparative historical approach. It also points to the way in which their differences, especially regarding caste and political representation influenced such historic times as Poona Pact, and how their devotion to justice and upliftment made India become a democratic country. The paper will also assess their long-term significance and relevance today in their contribution to solving caste discrimination, affirmative action, and democratic participation issues. It posits that a Gandhian ethics & Ambedkarite constitutionalism synthesis is a more holistic way of bringing social justice to contemporary India. |
| Keywords: | Social Justice, Democracy, Caste System, Reservation, Constitutionalism, Non-violence, Dalit Movements, Equality, Political Thought |
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