Dr Ambedkar’s Views on Buddhism and Marxism

Dr Ambedkar Views on Buddhism and Marxism: December 6 is observed as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas, or the death anniversary, of Dr BR Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution.

Table of Contents

Parinirvan can be translated as ‘nirvana’ after death, or freedom from the cycles of life and death.

As per the Buddhist texts, the death of Lord Buddha is considered to be Mahaparinirvan – the Sanskrit term which means ‘nirvana after death.

Background of Ambedkar’s Views on Buddhism and Marxism

In 1954, B.R. Ambedkar published an essay title “Buddha or Karl Marx”, in which he compared Buddhism with Marxism.
Though Karl Marx and Buddha are divided by 2381 years, the essay establishes a comparison and a contrast between their philosophies and their means to achieve their goals.

Similarities Between Buddhism and Marxism:

Buddhism

Marxism

End goal: Buddhism aims for a happy and fair society.
Function of religion: Buddha contended that the function of Religion is to reconstruct the world and to make it happy and not to explain its origin or its end.
On private ownership of property: As per Buddhism, private ownership of property brings power to one class and sorrow to another; that it is necessary for the good of society that this sorrow be removed by removing its cause; and All human beings are equal.

End goal: Marxism also strives for a happy and fair society.
Function of philosophy: Marx contended that the function of philosophy is to reconstruct the world and not to waste its time in explaining the origin of the world.
On private ownership of property: As per Marxism, private ownership of property brings power to one class and sorrow to another through exploitation; that it is necessary for the good of society that the sorrow be removed by the abolition of private property.

Differences between Buddhism and Marxism

Means to establish a happy and fair society

Buddhism:

To achieve the goal of a happy and fair society, Buddha had laid down a path for believers.
Means adopted by the Buddha were to convert a man by changing his moral disposition to follow the path voluntarily, without the use of force or compulsion.
Buddhism’s commitment to abolishment of private property is apparent in how its ‘Bhikshus’ give up all worldly goods.
Buddha was born a democrat and he died a democrat.

Marxism:

The means adopted by the communists are equally clear, short and swift.
They are Violence and Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

Importance of religion

Buddhism:

The only thing which could sustain the state is Religion.

Marxism:

For Marxism, Religion is anathema(something intensely disliked).

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Criticism of Marxism

The Communists believe that the state will inevitably However, they do not address what would replace the state.

Communists admit that their conception of the state as a permanent dictatorship is a flaw in their political ideology.

Conclusion

Dr Ambedkar asserted that while both strive for the same end of a just and happy society, the means propounded by Buddha are superior to those of Marx.

Buddha established Communism so far as the Sangh was concerned without dictatorship. It may be that it was a communism on a very small scale but it was communism without dictatorship a miracle which Lenin failed to do.

About Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one of the main architects of the Indian Constitution.

Important Contsributions:

He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India’s first Law Minister.
He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution.
He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against upper-caste Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board.
He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
In 1932, Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).