48 Quotes by B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar, was an extraordinary Indian politician, social reformer, and jurist. Born in 1891 in a socially marginalized community, Ambedkar faced immense discrimination and inequality throughout his life. However, he persevered and emerged as a towering figure in the fight against caste-based discrimination and for the rights of marginalized communities in India.
Ambedkar played a pivotal role in drafting the Indian Constitution, ensuring that it enshrined the principles of equality, social justice, and fundamental rights for all citizens. His relentless advocacy for the rights of Dalits, also known as untouchables, and other oppressed groups challenged the deeply entrenched social hierarchy in Indian society.
Ambedkar's contributions extended beyond politics and law; he was a prolific writer and speaker who tirelessly addressed issues of social inequality, education, and human rights. His emphasis on education as a means of empowerment continues to inspire countless individuals. Ambedkar's relentless pursuit of justice and equality has made an enduring impact on Indian society and has earned him immense respect and reverence. His legacy as a champion of social justice and a visionary leader remains an inspiration for marginalized communities and advocates for equality around the world.
B. R. Ambedkar Quotes
Caste is a state of mind. It is a disease of mind. The teachings of the Hindu religion are the root cause of this disease. We practice casteism and we observe Untouchability because we are enjoined to do so by the Hindu religion. A bitter thing cannot be made sweet. The taste of anything can be changed. But poison cannot be changed into nectar.
I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.
I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality and fraternity.
A bitter thing cannot be made sweet. The taste of anything can be changed. But poison cannot be changed into nectar
Indians today are governed by two different ideologies. Their political ideal set in the preamble of the Constitution affirms a life of liberty, equality and fraternity. Their social ideal embodied in their religion denies them.
Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence.
The relationship between husband and wife should be one of closest friends. (Meaning)
Learn to live in this world with self-respect.
We are Indians, firstly and lastly.
What are we having this liberty for? We are having this liberty in order to reform our social system, which is full of inequality, discrimination and other things, which conflict with our fundamental rights.
Freedom of mind is the real freedom. A person whose mind is not free though he may not be in chains, is a slave, not a free man. One whose mind is not free, though he may not be in prison, is a prisoner and not a free man. One whose mind is not free though alive, is no better than dead. Freedom of mind is the proof of one's existence.
My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality.
Religion is for man and not man for religion
Constitution is not a mere lawyers document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age.
Life should be great rather than long.
I want all people to be Indians first, Indian last and nothing else but Indians.
It is disgraceful to live at the cost of one's self-respect. Self-respect is the most vital factor in life. Without it, man is a cipher. To live worthily with self-respect, one has to overcome difficulties. It is out of hard and ceaseless struggle alone that one derives strength, confidence and recognition.
The sovereignty of scriptures of all religions must come to an end if we want to have a united integrated modern India.
A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society.
If you study carefully, you will see that Buddhism is based on reason. There is an element of flexibility inherent in it, which is not found in any other religion.
We must begin by acknowledging that there is a complete absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the social plane we have an India based on the principles of graded inequality, which means elevation for some and degradation for others. On the economic plane we have a society in which there are some who have immense wealth as against many who live in abject poverty.
Caste is not just a division of labour, it is a division of labourers.
Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man's life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.
If I find the constitution being misused, I shall be the first to burn it.
Freedom of mind is the proof of one's existence.
Equality may be a fiction but nonetheless one must accept it as a governing principle.
History shows that where ethics and economics come in conflict, victory is always with economics.
Democracy is not a form of government, but a form of social organisation.
If you believe in living a respectable life, you believe in self-help which is the best help!
I prefer Buddhism because it gives three principles in combination, which no other religion does. This is what man wants for a good and happy life. Neither god nor soul can save society.
I feel that the constitution is workable, it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peacetime and in wartime. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is that Man was vile.
Everyone has to die some day or the other. But one must resolve to lay down one's life in enriching the noble ideals of self-respect and in bettering one's human life. We are not slaves. Nothing is more disgraceful for a brave man than to live life devoid of self-respect.
Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise both will wither and die.
In Hinduism, conscience, reason and independent thinking have no scope for development.
My definition of democracy is - A form and a method of Government whereby revolutionary changes in the social life are brought about without bloodshed. That is the real test. It is perhaps the severest test. But when you are judging the quality of the material you must put it to the severest test.
Justice has always evoked ideas of Equality, of proportion of compensation. In short, Justice is another name of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.
For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice, necessity and importance of political and social rights.
A people and their religion must be judged by social standards based on social ethics. No other standard would have any meaning if religion is held to be necessary good for the well-being of the people.
For an individual as well as for a society, there is a gulf between merely living and living worthily.
"Democracy is not merely a form of Government.
It is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience.
It is essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards our fellow men."
Law and Order are the medicine of the body politic and when the body politic gets sick, medicine must be administered.
Every man who repeats the dogma of Mill that one country is no fit to rule another country must admit that one class is not fit to rule another class.
For an individual as well as a society, there is a gulf between merely living and living worthily. To fight in a battle and live in glory is one mode. To beat a retreat, to surrender and to live the life of a captive is also a mode of survival.
The Hindu civilisation is a diabolical contrivance to enslave humanity. Its proper name would be infamy.
Lost rights are never regained by appeals to the conscience of the usurpers, but by relentless struggle....goa ts are used for sacrificial offerings and not lions.
The basic idea underlying religion is to create an atmosphere for the spiritual development of the individual. This being the situation, it is clear that you cannot develop your personality at all in Hinduism.
Political tyranny is nothing compared to the social tyranny and a reformer who defies society is a more courageous man than a politician who defies Government.
― B. R. Ambedkar Quotes
B. R. Ambedkar (Politician) Life Highlights
- Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar, was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Central Provinces, British India (now in Madhya Pradesh, India).
- He belonged to the Dalit community, formerly known as "Untouchables," who were oppressed and discriminated against under the caste system in India.
- B. R. Ambedkar's quest for education and equality led him to become the first person from the Dalit community to obtain a college degree and a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University in the United States.
- He was a prominent jurist, economist, and social reformer, but is best known for his role as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
- As the chairman of the drafting committee, Ambedkar played a pivotal role in framing the Constitution of India, which was adopted on January 26, 1950, marking India's transition to a republic.
- He vehemently advocated for the abolition of the caste system and fought against social discrimination, seeking to empower the oppressed and marginalized communities in India.
- B. R. Ambedkar was a vocal critic of untouchability and spearheaded various movements to secure civil rights for Dalits, promoting their social and political inclusion.
- He also campaigned for women's rights and supported gender equality, working towards eradicating social practices that oppressed women in Indian society.
- Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956, along with thousands of his followers, as a symbolic rejection of the hierarchical caste system of Hinduism.
- In addition to his political endeavors, Ambedkar was an erudite scholar and prolific writer. He authored several influential books, including "Annihilation of Caste" and "The Buddha and His Dhamma."
- His contributions to India's social and political landscape earned him immense respect and admiration, particularly among Dalits, who regard him as the "Father of the Indian Constitution" and "Babasaheb."
- B. R. Ambedkar passed away on December 6, 1956, but his legacy and vision for an inclusive and just society continue to inspire social movements and political activism in India and beyond.
* The editor of this curated page made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any sayings, quotes, facts, dates, or key life events.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
