Neeraj Madke
Dr. B R Ambedkar, a pioneering social reformer and the architect of the Indian Constitution, has contributed to Indian society beyond legal and political reforms. They are also deeply rooted in his psychological insights into Indian social behaviour and his life. Ambedkar was a scholar of multiple disciplines, including political science, law, economics, and education. His education in the West, particularly at Columbia University, where he was introduced to his mentor, John Dewey, whose principles of pragmatism significantly influenced him in emphasizing education as a means of liberation and social transformation. His philosophy was also greatly influenced by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule whom he considered his guru. Phule’s pioneering work on establishing schools for oppressed castes and women laid the foundation for Ambedkar’s commitment to using education as a powerful weapon to challenge Brahmanical dominance. For Ambedkar, education was not just a means for economic mobility but also a revolutionary act in reshaping minds and dismantling centuries of oppression.
Caste as Psychological Condition
One of Ambedkar’s core psychological insights was his recognition of caste as a social system with a deeply internalized mental condition, affecting both the oppressor and the oppressed. In his seminal 1936 speech, Annihilation of Caste, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stated, “Caste is not a physical object like a wall of bricks or a line of barbed wire which prevents the Hindus from commingling and which has, therefore, to be pulled down. Caste is a notion, it is a state of the mind. The destruction of Caste does not therefore mean the destruction of a physical barrier. It means a notional change.” He critiques how caste becomes a psychological barrier that conditions behaviour, restricts social mobility, and reinforces social hierarchies. He argued that caste is not just a division of labour but a division of labourers, where individuals are conditioned to accept their social status. This conditioning creates a sense of inferiority among the oppressed and a false sense of superiority among the privileged, reinforcing the cycle of discrimination and inequality.
Psychological Denial of Dignity and Self-Respect
His insights on caste showed how the caste system not only denied Dalits economic opportunities and political power but also systematically stripped them of dignity and self-worth. His call for Dalits to assert self-respect and dignity was a psychological revolution conveyed through his message—Educate, Organize and Agitate. The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927, where the oppressed demanded the right to drink water from public tanks, was not just about physical access to water but also about reclaiming human dignity. He argued that religious scriptures and social customs reinforce caste identity from a young age, making it difficult for individuals to break free from their psychological grip. His decision to get rid of the mental slavery of the caste practices and convert to Buddhism in 1956 was a strategic psychological move, providing an alternative belief system that emphasized equality and rationality over hierarchy and dogma.
Breaking the Chains of Mental Slavery through Education
Ambedkar emphasized the role of education in breaking the cycle of psychological submission, famously declaring that “education is the milk of a lioness, whoever drinks it will roar,” and due to the lack of education, the oppressed develop mechanisms of coping with subjugation. This is similar to what modern psychology describes as Stockholm Syndrome, where victims of oppression develop an attachment to their oppressors. Ambedkar sought to disrupt this psychological dependency by advocating for political self-representation, economic self-sufficiency and cultural assertion.
A Life as a Model of Psychological Liberation
Most importantly, a significant dimension of Dr. Ambedkar’s psychological revolution can be seen through his daily discipline and carefully curated public persona, as captured in Devi Dayal’s book Daily Routine of Dr. Ambedkar. Ambedkar’s lifestyle is a tool for reshaping the consciousness of the oppressed. He maintained a strict daily schedule reflecting the immense intellectual commitment and an ethic of self-respect and dignity. His choice of attire—immaculately tailored suits, polished shoes and a commanding presence- was not mere aesthetics but a psychological statement. He wanted the oppressed to see themselves not as victims but as equals, deserving of the same dignity and refinement that society reserved for the privileged castes. His mastery of English, use of legal and philosophical vocabulary, and his relentless pursuit of education were all symbolic acts aimed at dismantling the stereotype of Dalit inferiority.
Living the Message
By embodying excellence, discipline, and assertiveness, Dr. Ambedkar communicated to the oppressed the message of the Buddha — Atta Deepa Bhava — “be your own light,” urging them to become their own guiding force, to seek enlightenment through self-knowledge, and to reclaim their dignity through inner strength and self-reliance. His uncompromising character–fiercely rational and morally upright- was evident in his response to the Jat Pat Todak Mandal, who requested that he alter portions of his speech Annihilation of Caste before delivering it at their event. Ambedkar firmly refused, declaring, “I would not alter a single comma,” a powerful assertion of his intellectual integrity and refusal to dilute truth for social approval. Ambedkar did not merely theorize about psychological liberation—he lived it, demonstrating that reclaiming one’s dignity began with how one walked, spoke, dressed and thought.
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Neeraj Madke is a qualitative researcher specializing in Caste Studies and a postgraduate in Development Studies from IIT Mandi. He is currently working as a Teaching Assistant at FLAME University. You can reach out to him at @neerajmadke98@gmail.com
