Speeches
60 major speeches — at conferences, in legislatures, in the Constituent Assembly and at great public gatherings — with the key idea of each and a link to the full text.
Evidence before the Southborough (Franchise) Committee
Oral examination by the Reforms Committee (Franchise) planning the Montagu–Chelmsford reforms.
The 27-year-old professor explained to a British committee that "touchable" and "untouchable" Hindus were separate social groups and asked for separate representation for the untouchables.
Key idea: People who are kept apart socially need their own representatives to be heard.
Great Fight
New Year meeting of the Depressed Classes at the Koregaon War Memorial.
He told the audience that hundreds of fighters from their community had fought on the British side, yet the British later called them a non-military community, and that caste Hindus still treated them as untouchables.
Key idea: The community's record of courage disproves the label of inferiority.
On Budget (maiden speech)
Budget debate, a week after he was sworn in as a nominated member (18 February 1927).
His first speech in a legislature criticised a tax system that hit poor farmers hardest and argued for spending on education, health and prohibition.
Key idea: A state that beggars its people ends by beggaring itself; progress has to be paid for.
Mahad (Kolaba District Depressed Classes) Conference and march to the Chavdar Tank
Two-day conference after which the delegates walked to the public Chavdar Tank and drank its water (20 March 1927).
At this conference Ambedkar asked the depressed classes to give up eating carrion and to root out ideas of high and low among themselves; the march to the tank that followed began the Mahad Satyagraha.
Key idea: Using a public water source is a basic human right, not a favour.
Address at the Mahad Satyagraha Conference
Satyagraha Conference, during which the Manu Smriti was publicly burnt.
BAWS prints a summary of his presidential address. He compared the conference to the French National Assembly of 1789 and said the movement aimed to remove social inequality, not just to win access to water; the Manu Smriti was burnt the same day.
Key idea: The fight is for equality and human dignity, not only for water.
On the Maternity Benefit Bill
First reading of a bill to give maternity benefit to women factory workers.
He supported paid maternity leave and argued that the government should share the cost because the nation benefits from healthy mothers and children.
Key idea: Protecting working mothers is a duty of the whole society.
Evidence before the Indian Statutory (Simon) Commission
Oral evidence on behalf of the Bahishkrita Hitakarini Sabha.
Questioned on the two memoranda of the Bahishkrita Hitakarini Sabha, he argued for special representation and adult suffrage for the depressed classes.
Key idea: The depressed classes must be treated as a distinct minority with political safeguards.
We Are a Warrior Clan
Second session of the Ratnagiri District Bahishkrit Parishad.
He told the conference that they must abolish their slavery themselves and that it was disgraceful to live at the cost of one's self-respect.
Key idea: Without self-respect a person is a mere cipher.
Speech at the Kalaram Temple Entry Satyagraha conference
Conference held on the eve of the satyagraha to enter the Kalaram temple, which began on 3 March 1930.
BAWS reprints the account of the conference, at which Ambedkar launched the temple-entry satyagraha at Nasik.
Key idea: The untouchables must assert their equal right to enter public temples.
Presidential address, All-India Depressed Classes Congress
First session of the All-India Depressed Classes Congress, before the first Round Table Conference.
He supported self-government for India but warned that unless social realities were recognised, political power would pass into the hands of the upper castes.
Key idea: Freedom for India must include political power for the depressed classes.
Speech at the Plenary Session, first Round Table Conference
Fifth sitting of the plenary session.
Speaking for the depressed classes, he said British rule had not removed their grievances and that they also wanted a responsible government in which they had a share of power.
Key idea: Nobody can remove our grievances as well as we can, and we need political power to do it.
In Sub-Committee No. III (Minorities), first Round Table Conference
Second sitting of the Minorities Sub-Committee.
He set out the conditions on which the depressed classes would accept majority rule in a self-governing India.
Key idea: Minorities need written guarantees in the constitution.
I Have No Homeland (meeting with Gandhi)
First meeting with Gandhi before the second Round Table Conference.
In this conversation, reconstructed in BAWS from Marathi sources, Ambedkar told Gandhi that he had no homeland: he asked how he could call a land his own where his people were treated worse than cats and dogs and could not get water to drink.
Key idea: Patriotism means little to people denied basic human dignity.
In the Federal Structure Committee, second Round Table Conference
Speeches in the Federal Structure Committee, 16 September – 16 November 1931.
He discussed the shape of an Indian federation, the princely states and the powers of the centre.
Key idea: A federation must be built on responsible, democratic government.
In the Minorities Committee, second Round Table Conference
Seventh to ninth sittings of the Minorities Committee (28 September – 8 October 1931).
He pressed the depressed classes' claim to special representation; in the same committee Gandhi declared that he would oppose separate electorates for the untouchables.
Key idea: The depressed classes must be recognised as a separate minority.
Questions to Winston Churchill before the Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform
Examination of witnesses by the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament.
Ambedkar questioned Churchill and other witnesses about the safeguards in the proposed constitution.
Key idea: Indian voices must be heard on India's constitution.
Unfortunately I Was Born a Hindu Untouchable, but I Will Not Die a Hindu
Conference of the Depressed Classes of the Bombay Presidency.
After ten years of struggle for equal treatment within Hinduism, he announced that he would leave the Hindu religion. BAWS gives a reported account (from Keer's biography), not a full verbatim text.
Key idea: He was born a Hindu untouchable but would not die a Hindu (the conference title in BAWS).
What Path to Salvation? (Mukti Kon Pathe)
Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference, 30–31 May 1936.
A long speech in Marathi explaining why conversion was needed for both material and spiritual reasons, and why the untouchables would never get equality inside Hinduism.
Key idea: Religion is for man, not man for religion.
On a Bill to Abolish the Khoti System
Introduction of his private bill.
He explained how the khoti landlord system in the Konkan exploited tenant farmers and asked the House to abolish it.
Key idea: Land tenure should not make farmers into serfs.
Trade Unions Must Enter Politics to Protect Their Interests
Conference of untouchable workers of the G.I.P. Railway, 12–13 February 1938.
He told the workers that their two enemies were Brahmanism and capitalism, and that trade unions had to take part in politics.
Key idea: Workers must organise politically, not only economically.
On the Industrial Disputes Bill
First reading of the Bombay Industrial Disputes Bill.
He opposed the bill because it penalised strikes, arguing that to punish a strike is to force a man to serve against his will.
Key idea: To penalise a strike is nothing short of making the worker a slave.
Federation versus Freedom (Kale Memorial Lecture)
Annual function of the Gokhale Institute.
A long lecture analysing the federal scheme of the Government of India Act, 1935, which he argued would not bring real freedom.
Key idea: A badly designed federation can block freedom instead of advancing it.
On Participation in the War
Debate on the Congress ministry's resolution about India's involvement in the Second World War (25–27 October 1939).
He spoke on the war resolution and asked the House to consider what position the untouchables would have in a future Indian democracy, living in separate quarters on the edge of every village.
Key idea: Indian self-government must include protections for minorities.
Why Indian Labour Is Determined to Win the War
Radio broadcast as Labour Member (printed in "Indian Information", 1 January 1943).
He explained why workers should back the war against Nazism and said the war must bring a new order of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Key idea: Victory must bring a new social order, not a return to the old one.
If Democracy Dies It Will Be Our Doom
All-India Depressed Classes Conference, third session, 18–20 July 1942, at which the All India Scheduled Castes Federation was founded.
BAWS reprints the report of the conference, which drew huge crowds (over fifty thousand people met him at the railway station, according to the report), and his address on why the depressed classes must defend democracy.
Key idea: The depressed classes must defend democracy, because its death would be their doom.
Educate, Agitate, Organize; Have Faith and Lose No Hope
Reply to the address presented by the Reception Committee of the Depressed Classes Conference.
He summed up his message to his followers in a three-part motto and urged them not to lose hope.
Key idea: Educate, agitate, organise (the title of this speech in BAWS).
Progress of the Community Is Measured by Progress of Women
Second session of the All-India Depressed Classes Women's Conference.
Speaking to a crowd that included some 20,000–25,000 women, he told them to keep clean, educate their children, remove their sense of inferiority and not hurry into marriage.
Key idea: He measured the progress of a community by the progress its women had made.
Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah
101st birth anniversary of Mahadev Govind Ranade, organised by the Deccan Sabha.
He honoured Ranade as a social reformer and criticised blind hero-worship in Indian politics.
Key idea: Hero-worship is dangerous for democracy.
Labour and Parliamentary Democracy
Concluding session of the All-India Trade Union Workers' Study Camp (8–17 September 1943).
He told trade unionists what real democracy should mean for workers and why labour needed its own political party.
Key idea: Democracy must deliver social and economic justice, not just elections.
Indian History Is Nothing but a Struggle between Buddhism and Brahminism ("Rationalism in India")
Lecture arranged by the Madras Rational Society.
He described Indian history as a long conflict between Buddhism and Brahmanism.
Key idea: Indian history is a struggle between Buddhism and Brahmanism (title in BAWS).
Newspaper in a Modern Democratic System Is the Fundamental Basis of Good Government
Inauguration of the "People's Herald", weekly organ of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation.
He spoke about the role of newspapers in a democracy and about the future of the Indian National Congress.
Key idea: Without its own press, a community cannot be heard.
Communal Deadlock and a Way to Solve It
Session of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation.
He proposed a way of sharing seats among communities in which no single community would have an absolute majority.
Key idea: Majority rule by one community is untenable; a majority may have a relative majority only.
Speech on the Objectives Resolution
Debate on Jawaharlal Nehru's "Aims and Objects" resolution.
He supported the ideals of the resolution but urged the Assembly to wait for the Muslim League and the princely states, and declared his faith that India would one day be united.
Key idea: Given time and circumstances, nothing would prevent India from becoming one.
The Minority Must Always Be Won Over; It Must Never Be Dictated To
Inauguration of the Siddharth College Parliament.
He spoke to students about the political losses suffered by the Scheduled Castes and about how majorities should treat minorities.
Key idea: A majority must win over a minority, not dictate to it.
Organise under One Leader, One Party, One Programme
Fifth United Provinces Scheduled Castes Federation conference, 24–25 April 1948.
He urged the Scheduled Castes to unite politically under one organisation.
Key idea: Political unity is the source of strength.
Introducing the Draft Constitution
Motion to take the Draft Constitution into consideration.
He explained the main features of the Draft Constitution, defended its choices (such as a strong centre and detailed provisions) and spoke of the need for "constitutional morality".
Key idea: Democracy needs constitutional morality to be cultivated among the people.
On Draft Article 25 (Right to Constitutional Remedies, now Article 32)
Clause-by-clause debate on the Draft Constitution.
He called the article giving citizens the right to go to the Supreme Court to protect their fundamental rights the most important in the Constitution.
Key idea: He described this article as "the very soul of the Constitution and the very heart of it".
Final speech before the adoption of the Constitution
Third reading of the Constitution.
He reviewed the work of the Assembly and gave three warnings: use constitutional methods rather than the "grammar of anarchy", do not lay liberties at the feet of a great man, and turn political democracy into social democracy.
Key idea: Political democracy cannot last unless there is social democracy, recognising liberty, equality and fraternity.
Non-Believers Should Be Converted to the Eight-Fold Path
Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, attended by representatives of 27 countries (BAWS).
He spoke to the Buddhist delegates about spreading the Buddha's teaching.
Key idea: Buddhism should actively spread its message (title in BAWS).
Buddhism Paved Way for Democracy and Socialistic Pattern of Society
Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (25 May – 6 June 1950).
He told an international Buddhist gathering that he wanted to understand why Buddhism rose so high and then disappeared in India, and spoke of its democratic spirit.
Key idea: Buddhism carries the values of democracy and equality.
The Bill Was Aimed at the Social Advancement of Women
Rally of about 50,000 people organised by the Belgaum District branch of the Scheduled Castes Federation (as reported in BAWS).
He explained that the Hindu Code Bill was meant to improve the social position of women.
Key idea: Law reform should give women equal rights in the family.
Statement in explanation of his resignation from the Cabinet
Resignation as Law Minister; he was not allowed to read the statement in the House and released it to the press.
He listed his reasons for leaving: the fate of the Hindu Code Bill, neglect of the Scheduled Castes, disagreement on foreign policy and Kashmir, and the way the Cabinet worked.
Key idea: He would not stay in a government that let the Hindu Code Bill die.
Failure of Parliamentary Democracy Will Result in Rebellion, Anarchy and Communism
Address to the students' parliament during the 1951–52 election campaign.
He explained how parliamentary democracy works and warned of what would happen if it failed to deliver social and economic justice.
Key idea: Parliamentary democracy must solve real problems or people will turn away from it.
Conditions Precedent for the Successful Working of Democracy
Unveiling of a portrait and opening of a book collection at the Poona District Law Library.
He listed the conditions democracy needs: no glaring inequalities, a real opposition, equality in law and administration, constitutional morality, no tyranny of the majority, a moral order in society and public conscience.
Key idea: There must be no glaring inequalities and no oppressed class if democracy is to work.
Filmed interview on the prospects of democracy in India
Short on-camera interview with a Western interviewer; dated 1953 by Frances Pritchett's timeline.
A short filmed interview in which he talks about the prospects for democracy in India. It is not printed in BAWS.
Key idea: A rare filmed record of him answering questions on Indian democracy.
Osmania University Honoured Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Special convocation conferring the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.), 12 January 1953.
Speech on receiving the honorary degree, recognising his work on the Constitution.
Key idea: Recognition of the Constitution-maker by an Indian university.
On the Andhra State Bill
Debate on creating Andhra State.
Speaking about protecting minorities in multi-lingual states, he proposed special powers for governors and made his famous remarks that he had been "a hack" and would be "the first person to burn" the Constitution.
Key idea: A constitution that does not protect minorities is not worth keeping.
On the International Situation (foreign policy)
Debate on foreign policy.
He discussed the principles on which the government's foreign policy was based.
Key idea: Foreign policy must rest on clear principles.
On the Report of the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Tribes for 1953
Debate on the annual report.
He criticised the government's record on the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Key idea: Constitutional safeguards mean little without real action.
On the Untouchability (Offences) Bill
Debate on the bill to punish the practice of untouchability.
He spoke on how the law against untouchability should work in practice.
Key idea: Laws against untouchability must be strong enough to be enforced.
My Philosophy of Life
Radio talk.
He rejected the social philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita and said his own philosophy rested on liberty, equality and fraternity, which he had derived from the teachings of the Buddha and not from the French Revolution.
Key idea: His philosophy had roots in religion, not in political science.
Buddhist Movement in India: A Blue Print
Third conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.
He set out a plan for spreading Buddhism in India, warning Buddhist organisations not to repeat the mistakes of Christian missionaries who first tried to convert the Brahmins.
Key idea: Buddhism needs organised effort to revive in India.
BBC radio interview
Interview recorded for the BBC; the interviewer is not named in the published version.
In this 21-minute audio interview he discusses, among other things, his differences with Gandhi. It is not printed in BAWS.
Key idea: His own account, in his own voice, of his disagreements with Gandhi.
On the Constitution (Fourth Amendment) Bill
Debate on amending the right to property.
Answering a taunt about his earlier remark on burning the Constitution, he explained it with the image of a temple taken over by a devil before the god could be installed.
Key idea: A good constitution can be spoiled by those who work it.
On the States Reorganisation Bill
Debate on redrawing state boundaries.
He said the storm centre of the debate was the position given to the City of Bombay, and discussed the problems of linguistic states.
Key idea: States should be organised so that no community can dominate others.
Why I Like Buddhism
Talk for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), London, dated 12 May 1956 (BAWS note), answering two questions: why he preferred Buddhism and how useful it was to the world.
He said Buddhism alone combined three principles – prajna (understanding as against superstition), karuna (love) and samata (equality).
Key idea: Understanding, love and equality together make Buddhism suited to the modern world.
Prospects of Democracy in India
Broadcast talk for the Voice of America.
He argued that India's caste system, which divided society into exclusive groups, was a standing denial of the ideals that democracy needs.
Key idea: The caste system is a standing denial of democracy.
The Tide of Buddhism Would Never Recede in India
Meeting for the 2500th Buddha Jayanti.
After speaking on the life of the Buddha, he declared that he would embrace Buddhism in October 1956.
Key idea: Buddhism, once revived, will not disappear from India again.
Speech after the conversion to Buddhism (Diksha)
The day after the mass conversion ceremony of 14 October 1956; spoken in Marathi.
He explained why the ceremony was held at Nagpur (land of the Naga people who spread Buddhism), why he chose Buddhism, and what the new Buddhists must do.
Key idea: Conversion means a new life of equality and self-respect.
Buddha or Karl Marx
Address at the end of the fourth conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (BAWS says it was delivered in the palace of the King of Nepal).
He compared the Buddha and Marx and argued that the Buddha's non-violent way can achieve equality without dictatorship.
Key idea: The Buddha's path achieves justice without violence.