Differences Between Gandhi And Ambedkar

Gandhi and Ambedkar both of them were prominent figures of Indian freedom struggle as well as nation building. Both of them wanted to build an India not only free from colonial exploitation, but also free from political, economic and social discrimination. Although they had similarities, they also had many dissimilarities and differences between their views on socio- economic- political freedom and state building of India. As a mass leader, Gandhi was more concerned about all the people of India irrespective of their class, caste or sex. But on the other hand, as a representative of depressed classes and ‘untouchables’ of India, Ambedkar was mainly concerned about the huge lower caste people of India. Although it is true that Gandhi had immense …show more content…
Let us discuss the differences between Gandhi and Ambedkar on political, economic and social concepts-

Political Differences- As a self proclaimed ‘philosophical anarchist’, Gandhi was in fever of a stateless society governed by morality, truth and non violence. According to him state represents violence in an organized form but on the other hand society represents morality and truth. So an ideal state should be controlled by the society and subordinate to it. The state should base upon self sufficient small villages, enlightened and self regulated individuals. Authority should be decentralized which is essential for individual liberty. Individual should be selfless and must give more emphasis on performing duties than to enjoy rights. This state would not be a western type of constitutional democracy but a spiritual democracy or Swaraj base upon morality and non violence which should …show more content…
For him India’s economic future lay in charkha and khadi. He urges that large scale machine oriented industries are evil and create unemployment. Industrialization would destroy the foundation of Indian rural economy and increase the exploitation of poor people because of its dehumanizing nature. So Gandhi supported the traditional Indian crafts and simple life which was a Utopian alternative of Western modern civilization. On the other hand, Ambedkar was in fever of city life, agricultural and industrial development. According to him, modern machines and industries will create employment for the lower castes and also give them leisure. Unlike Gandhi, Ambedkar urges that caste system is more exploitative than machines. State socialism, heavy industries owned by state will create employment and economic opportunity for the minorities of and eradicate the degradation of labour based on caste system from Indian