
International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research
E-ISSN: 2582-2160
•
Impact Factor: 9.24
A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal
Home
Research Paper
Submit Research Paper
Publication Guidelines
Publication Charges
Upload Documents
Track Status / Pay Fees / Download Publication Certi.
Editors & Reviewers
View All
Join as a Reviewer
Get Membership Certificate
Current Issue
Publication Archive
Conference
Publishing Conf. with IJFMR
Upcoming Conference(s) ↓
WSMCDD-2025
GSMCDD-2025
AIMAR-2025
Conferences Published ↓
ICCE (2025)
RBS:RH-COVID-19 (2023)
ICMRS'23
PIPRDA-2023
Contact Us
Plagiarism is checked by the leading plagiarism checker
Call for Paper
Volume 7 Issue 4
July-August 2025
Indexing Partners



















Buddhism in Ambedkar’s Philosophy: A Critical Analysis
Author(s) | Mr. MD SAJID RAZA |
---|---|
Country | India |
Abstract | This paper critically examines Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s reinterpretation of Buddhism and the socio-philosophical motivations behind his conversion. Unlike conventional religious conversions driven by spiritual concerns, Ambedkar’s embrace of Buddhism was a strategic and ethical act of resistance against the caste system deeply embedded in Hinduism. He rejected Hinduism for its sanction of caste-based inequality and sought a religion aligned with justice, rationality, and human dignity. Among various alternatives, Buddhism appealed to him for its egalitarian ethos, rational principles, and compatibility with democratic values. Ambedkar, however, did not accept traditional Buddhism uncritically. He questioned metaphysical elements such as karma, rebirth, and nirvana, offering revised, socially meaningful interpretations. His redefined version, called Navayana or the “New Way,” emphasized morality, social justice, and the empowerment of the marginalized. Dukkha (suffering) was interpreted not as a personal psychological state, but as a consequence of systemic social and economic injustice. Similarly, Dhamma was seen not as religious ritual but as a moral and ethical path rooted in compassion and justice. The paper also explores the mixed reception of Ambedkar’s reinterpretation. While traditional Buddhists criticize Navayana as a deviation from canonical teachings, many modern scholars and activists view it as a timely and necessary reform that aligns Buddhism with contemporary social realities. Ambedkar’s rational and ethical interpretation transforms Buddhism into a dynamic force for social change. Ultimately, this study argues that Navayana is a legitimate and philosophically grounded development in Buddhist thought, offering a powerful framework for combating caste, inequality, and injustice in modern India. |
Keywords | Ambedkar, Navayana Buddhism, Social Justice, Caste System, Rational Religion, Dhamma, Buddhist Reinterpretation. |
Field | Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion |
Published In | Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025 |
Published On | 2025-07-24 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.51801 |
Short DOI | https://doi.org/g9vpj7 |
Share this

E-ISSN 2582-2160

CrossRef DOI is assigned to each research paper published in our journal.
IJFMR DOI prefix is
10.36948/ijfmr
Downloads
All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.
