An Insight into B.R Ambedkar's Idea of Nationalism in the Context of India's Freedom Movement

Abstract

B.R. Ambedkar's notion of nationalism and his understanding of the Indian national movement have rarely received adequate academic consideration either from the liberal or radical scholars and the historians in India. This study attempts to analyze Ambedkar's self generated vision of nationalism and also evaluate why he and dalits did not participate directly in the Indian national movement as directed by the congress which is a question that needs to be analyzed along with current debate raised by Arun Shourie criticizing the Ambedkar's feeling of nationalism. It is true that Ambedkar never keenly participated in India's national movement, rather he opposed the mainstream national movement, but this kind of attitude indirectly contributed much by laying the broad social foundation on which the present Indian nation state stands.