DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR AND HIS WORKS: EDUCATION, LAW, LABOUR, AND THE ETHICS OF EQUALITY

Abstract: Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891–1956)—jurist, economist, social philosopher, and principal architect of the Indian Constitution—developed a programmatic vision of democracy grounded in social justice, dignity, and human development. This paper synthesizes Ambedkar’s thematic contributions across five interlocking domains: (1) education as emancipation, (2) the legal abolition of caste and rights-based constitutionalism, (3) democratic representation and political safeguards, (4) labour and social-security reforms, and (5) religious-ethical reconstruction through Navayāna Buddhism. Using historical sources and official statistics, we trace outcomes such as literacy growth among Scheduled Castes (SCs), rising participation in higher education, and institutionalization of social protection. We argue that Ambedkar’s thought is best understood as an integrated ethics of equality, in which political democracy must be underwritten by social and economic democracy.