Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and his thought on socialism in India-A critical evaluation

Authors

  • Sarba Priya Ray Assistant Professor, Dept. of commerce, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya, University of Calcutta , West Bengal , India
  • Ishita Aditya Ray Assistant Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Bejoy Narayan Mahavidyalaya, Burdwan University, West Bengal , India.

Keywords:

Ambedkar, socialism, India

Abstract

In establishing an egalitarian society in India which is based on liberty , equality and fraternity and social justice,Ambedkar, the great Indian Constitution maker, struggled to find out avenues and means – intellectual, organizational and in terms of programmes throughout his life. This study attempts to throw light on Ambedkar’s quest for socialism in India with special reference to Marxism and Buddhism. He accepted the concept of class struggle but he felt that in the Indian set up, it had to be substantially redefined and ascribed a similar agenda to the Buddha and agreed that one of the major contradictions of capitalism was the social basis of its production in contrast to private appropriation. He criticized Marxism for subscribing to economic determinism, for its inadequate grasp of liberal democracy, for its inability to adequately understand the realm of ideologies and for considering moral values as historically conditioned. Though Ambedkar described his scheme of economic organization of the Indian society as state socialism, in view of its other features, we believe it appropriate to identify it democratic socialism. Moreover, collective farming , one of the major features of his model of democratic socialism, needs to be thoroughly reconsidered as it lacked viability. It is somewhat inconceivable how he could achieve socialism by eliminating socio-economic inequality without undermining the basic economic foundation of society on which the system of inequality was founded. The inability to resolve this contradiction ultimately led Ambedkar to find solace in Buddhism, with an attempt to present its teachings ‘in a new light to suit modern class realities’. In fact, Ambedkar‘s conversion to Buddhism was a ‘self-deception’ and channeled the whole movement of workers and peasants led by him into ‘reactionary and metaphysical conceptions’.

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Author Biographies

Sarba Priya Ray, Assistant Professor, Dept. of commerce, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya, University of Calcutta , West Bengal , India

Dr. Sarbapriya Ray: Dr. Ray is an Assistant professor in commerce at Shyampur Siddheswari College, Howrah, West Bengal, India under Calcutta University. He received his undergraduate and master degree from Calcutta University. He stood third in the First class in M.com (Accounting and finance). After obtaining M.Phil and PhD degree from Calcutta university and Vidyasagar University respectively, he is now further doing his research job in the field of social science and Biographical studies.Prof. Ray has been teaching Economics, financial management, Accounting, international relations etc since 2001 in the college. He has published several articles in reputed national as well as international journal and presented papers in national and international conference.He feels immense interest in the field of politics and international relations.

Ishita Aditya Ray, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Bejoy Narayan Mahavidyalaya, Burdwan University, West Bengal , India.

Biographical notes about authors:

Prof Ishita Aditya Ray:

Ishita Aditya Ray is an Assistant professor in Political Science &International Relation at Bejoy Narayan Mahavidyalaya, West Bengal, India. He received his undergraduate training and Masters degree from University of Calcutta. After obtaining M.Phil degree from Calcutta University, he is doing her Ph.D degree from Vidyasagar University on International Relation . Prof. Aditya Ray has been teaching International Relations, Indian Economics and computers in the dept since 2001. He has published many articles in reputed Journal and presented papers in national and international conference. Currently, he is involved in teaching and research in the field of Political thought of B.R. Ambedkar and other eminent scholars in Indian political arena.

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Published

2012-07-14

How to Cite

Ray, S. P., & Aditya Ray, I. (2012). Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and his thought on socialism in India-A critical evaluation. Journal of Human Sciences, 9(2), 236–252. Retrieved from https://www.j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/2055

Issue

Section

Political Science