Ambedkarism is called as the teaching, ideology or philosophy of B.R. Ambedkar, an Indian economist, barrister, social reformer, and the first of Minister of Law and Justice in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. Ambedkarism includes special focus on subjects such as fraternity, democracy, communal electorates, conversion out of Hinduism, political power, rule of law, Navayana, among others. An Ambedkarite is one who follows the philosophy of Ambedkar. Icons of Ambedkarite ideology also include Periyar, Jyotirao Phule and others.[1]
According to B. R. Ambedkar "Society is always composed of Classes." Their foundations could be different. A person in a society is always a member of a class, whether it is economic, intellectual, or social. This is a universal truth, and early Hindu culture could not have been an exception to this rule, and we know it wasn't. So, which class was the first to transform into a caste, because class and caste are, in a sense, next-door neighbours, separated only by a chasm. "A caste is a closed social group."[2]
Showing a balanced approach, he was critical of both Hindus and Muslims. He wrote: "In a communal malaise both groups, Hindus and Muslims, ignore the urgent claims of social justice." His book Thoughts on Pakistan, also contains a critique on Islam and in his books - Riddles in Hinduism, Philosophy of Hinduism, Annihilation of Caste, Castes in India, Who Were the Shudras?, The Decline and Fall of Buddhism in India and Against the Madness of Manu he directly criticises the caste-ridden Hindu society.
Untouchables were forced to not wear good clothes but for Ambedkar, the suit was a strategy for political resistance, an assertion of power, a means to break the caste barrier in a society that is caste ridden.[3]
Ambedkar proposed a Separate Electorate for the untouchables to send their own representatives in assembly but it was opposed by Gandhi and resulted in his defeat after the Poona Pact but later he advocated for the establishment of Settlement Commission that would provide separate villages for the Scheduled Castes.[4][5]