Reappraising B. R. Ambedkar’s Thoughts of Inclusive Indian Nation

B. R. Ambedkar’s ideas – caste
annihilation, securing rights to the depressed class, representation of different oppressed
sections in political affairs, egalitarian economic arrangement, education, women rights, and
democracy – all have the potentiality to be linked with his ideas of a nation which is inclusive
in nature. His idea of social equality and cultural unity was path breaking in his period, even
relevant in recent times too. Ambedkar’s endeavour of annihilation of caste was no longer
contradictory to his idea of nation-building. His major concern was how India would become
a nation without a large number of people who seemed untouchables and thus socially
excluded. He was aware of that the social solidarity is the key for struggle against
colonialism. The struggle against colonialism would not be rewarding unless realizing social
solidarity among different religious groups, castes, and communities. It was undeniably a
great challenge to Ambedkar to make a link between his efforts to annihilation of caste and to
build India as an inclusive nation which is discussed throughout this paper by integrating
apparently diverse thoughts of B. R. Ambedkar.