2025, Vol. 7, Issue 7, Part A

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar both are renowned figures in India’s freedom struggle and social reform movement. While both sought to uplift the oppressed and combat caste-based discrimination, their methods and philosophies diverged significantly. Gandhi emphasized spiritual reform, nonviolence, and transformation within Hindu tradition, advocating unity and harmony through moral persuasion. In contrast, Ambedkar prioritized rationalism, constitutionalism, and legal safeguards, arguing for structural change and the complete annihilation of caste. Their clash over the Poona Pact, differing views on religion and conversion, economic thought, and democratic governance highlight the fundamental rift in their visions for India. Gandhi’s model was rooted in village-based moral society, whereas Ambedkar imagined a modern, industrial, secular state ensuring equality through law and education. This comparative study underlines how their legacies continue to influence contemporary debates on justice, democracy, and social reform in India.