B. R. Ambedkar

It was not enough that India should get Swaraj. It was more important in whose hands the Swaraj would be.

2010

A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be servant of the society.

2010

History shows that where ethics and economics come in conflict, victory is always with economics. Vs vested interests have never been be known to have willingly divested themselves unless there was sufficient force to compel them.

2010

I was born a Hindu but will not die one.

As quoted in "The bogey of forced conversions", in The Hindu (26 October 2008), 2008

I prefer Buddhism because it gives three principles in combination, which no other religion does. Buddhism teaches prajna (understanding as against superstition and supernaturalism), karuna (love), and samara (equality). This is what man wants for a good and happy life. Neither god nor soul can save society.

"Why I like Buddhism and how it is useful to the world in its present circumstances", BBC (May 1956). As quoted in "Why Dr. Ambedkar renounced Hinduism?", 1956

Like the Christians and Muslims in the Turkish Empire, the Hindus and Muslims of India have met as enemies on many fields, and the result of the struggle has often brought them into the relation of conquerors and conquered.

1946

In the first place, it should be admitted that every possible attempt to bring about union between Hindus and Muslims has been made and that all of them have failed.

1946

The realist must take note of the fact that the Musalmans look upon the Hindus as Kaffirs, who deserves more to be exterminated than protected. The realist must take note of the fact that while the Musalman accepts the European as his superior, he looks upon the Hindu as his inferior.

1946

The theory of invasion is an invention. This invention is necessary because of a gratuitous assumption which underlies the Western theory. The assumption is that the Indo-Germanic people are the purest of the modem representatives of the original Aryan race.

1946

So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.

Speech delivered to the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference (31 May 1936), 1936

Religion must mainly be a matter of principles only. It cannot be a matter of rules. The moment it degenerates into rules, it ceases to be a religion, as it kills responsibility which is an essence of the true religious act.

Radical Equality: Ambedkar, Gandhi, and the Risk of Democracy

Every progress has its bill of costs and only those who pay for it will have that progress.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Bombay Legislature

Caste is not just a division of labour, it is a division of labourers.

As quoted in The Annihilation of Caste

Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man's life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.

As quoted in Book Of Happiness, by Jagdish Gupta

There is no place for an individual in Hindu society. The Hindu religion is constituted on the class concept. The Hindu religion does not teach as to how an individual should behave with another individual.

As quoted in What Path to Salvation?