Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar has turned into one of the most noteworthy element of Indian politics. The Left, centrist Congress and the far-right – all have made their claims towards the legacy of B R Ambedkar. While the Dalit icon was a critic of all of them, the political parties across the spectrum want to appropriate Ambedkar with themselves, in order to strike a chord with the Dalits. Moreover, it is not Ambedkar, but his followers who constitute a large electoral bloc, is the target of all political parties.
Irony is that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parental body of BJP has went ahead to even label Ambedkar as a ‘Hindu nationalist’. RSS’ sarkaryavah Bhaiyyaji Joshi claims that Ambedkar was an enemy of Islamic aggression and wanted to safeguard the interest of Hinduism by adopting another religion of this land, Buddhism. While, it is true that Ambedkar left no stone unturned to expose the dogma within the Islamic world and Muslim society, he was far more critical of the tenants of Hinduism, which RSS to this day holds true to its core ideology. (ALSO READ: B. R. Ambedkar v/s Muhammad Ali Jinnah: When Dalit messiah was betrayed by Muslim icon)
Here are the five quotes of Ambedkar which shows the amount of disdain he had towards puritanical Hinduism, the kind of which is still being advocated by RSS and its affiliated organizations.
“Slavery will not be tolerated in the name of religion. This Manusmriti, in the very first chapter says that Brahmans are created from Brahma’s (creator’s) head, Kshatriya from his hands, Vaishyas from his thighs and Shudras from his feet. By burning this Manusmriti, we launch a mission to uproot casteism from its roots. But getting rid of caste alone is not our goal, this is the beginning of social revolution which would end Brahman hegemony.”
(Clip from the movie ‘Bhimrao Ambedkar’)
It is noteworthy to know that to this day RSS considers this same Manusmriti as the ‘natural code of law’. The burning of Manusmriti to this day leads to major caste violence in several regions across India. Most recently, members of India’s ruling dispensation demanded action against JNU students who burnt down copies of Manusmriti.
“A bitter thing cannot be made sweet. The taste of anything can be changed. But poison cannot be changed into nectar.”
This was quoted by Ambedkar in response to the various campaigns of Mahatma Gandhi to reclaim Dalits back into the Hindu fold. Taking cognizance of the mass appeal of Ambedkar among Dalits, Gandhi had himself opened up his ashrams for members of untouchable community and called them harijans.
“…no one can doubt that there was a time when Hindus, both Brahmins and non-Brahmins, ate not only flesh but also beef.”
While the Hindutva organizations have threatened to take lives of those consuming beef, Dr Ambedkar, in remarkable essay ‘Did Hindus eat beef?’ articulated various historical and theological facts to prove that both Brahmin and non-Brahmin Hindus ate beef for a long period of time.
“Though, I was born a Hindu, I solemnly assure you that I will not die as a Hindu.”
This negates the argument that Dr B R Ambedkar converted to Buddhism to safeguard the philosophy of Hinduism. According to Dalit scholar Charu Kartikeya, there is no real difference between the Hindu conduct and Hindu philosophy, which the RSS is attempting to establish.
“I will not believe in Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Neither would I worship them.”
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