IGNOU FREE BABG-171 Understanding B.R. Ambedkar Solved Guess Paper 2025

Q1. Explain Ambedkar’s critique of caste and his idea of Annihilation of Caste.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar considered caste the greatest obstacle to India’s social, economic and political progress. According to him, caste is not merely a division of labour, but a division of labourers. It is a system that enforces hierarchy, inequality and graded social status. Ambedkar argued that caste destroys individuality, freedom and human dignity.

In his famous text Annihilation of Caste (1936), Ambedkar exposed how caste is rooted in Hindu scriptures and justified in the name of religion. He emphasized that caste is a rigid system that assigns people to birth-based occupations, prohibits social mobility and enforces endogamy (marriage within caste), which keeps caste alive. For Ambedkar, caste is anti-democratic because democracy requires equality, liberty and fraternity, which caste denies.

Ambedkar believed that social reform was essential for political reform. Destroying caste required discarding the religious foundations that support it. He argued that reformers must challenge the authority of Shastras. Without annihilation of caste, India cannot achieve true nationhood or social justice.

Thus, Ambedkar’s critique of caste was bold, rational and rooted in human values of equality and dignity.

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Q2. Why did Ambedkar call Indian villages “a sink of localism and a den of ignorance”?

Ambedkar disagreed with the romantic idea that Indian villages represented harmony, simplicity and unity. For him, villages were centres of caste-based oppression, exclusion and social discrimination. He famously said: “What is a village but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism.”

Ambedkar observed that rural India was dominated by caste hierarchy. Untouchables suffered violence, segregation, denial of basic rights, and economic exploitation. They were forced to live on the outskirts, were denied access to wells, temples, schools and land. Village society was not based on equality but on caste-based domination.

He argued that economic backwardness in villages was directly connected to social inequality. Because Dalits and lower castes lacked land and education, they remained dependent on upper castes. The village economy kept them trapped in servitude.

Ambedkar insisted that modernization, education, urbanization and industrialization were essential for breaking rural caste structures. He believed cities offered better opportunities for equality and mobility.

Thus, Ambedkar’s critique shows that rural India needs structural and social reform, not idealization.

Q3. Describe Ambedkar’s concept of an Ideal Society.

Ambedkar imagined an ideal society based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. For him, these were not abstract ideas but practical foundations of social life. An ideal society must ensure dignity and opportunities for all individuals regardless of caste, class, religion or gender.

Ambedkar rejected the caste-based social order because it destroyed unity and fraternity. In an ideal society, there should be no graded inequality or birth-based privilege. Ambedkar believed that relationships among individuals must be governed by mutual respect and moral responsibility.

Education was central to his vision. An enlightened society could only be built through widespread education that promotes scientific thinking and social awareness. Ambedkar also emphasized economic justice. Land redistribution, state support for the poor, labour rights, and equal opportunities were essential for building a just society.

Political democracy alone was insufficient unless social democracy existed. Social democracy, according to Ambedkar, means a way of life based on equality and respect for human dignity.

Thus, Ambedkar’s ideal society is democratic, egalitarian, modern and rooted in fraternity.

Q4. Explain Ambedkar’s strategies for the emancipation of untouchables.

Ambedkar dedicated his life to securing justice, dignity and rights for the untouchable community. His strategies for emancipation were multidimensional—social, political, educational and religious.

First, Ambedkar emphasized education. He believed that education was the most powerful tool for breaking caste oppression. Educated individuals could resist discrimination and demand their rights.

Second, Ambedkar promoted political empowerment. He demanded separate electorates and later reserved seats for Scheduled Castes to ensure adequate representation. He believed political power was essential for social justice.

Third, he fought for legal rights. As chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, he ensured constitutional safeguards such as abolition of untouchability (Article 17), equality before law, and affirmative action.

Fourth, Ambedkar encouraged social reform movements—such as temple entry movements and struggles for access to water, public roads and education. These movements challenged caste oppression at the grassroots.

Fifth, Ambedkar realized that Hinduism could not reform caste. Thus, he embraced Buddhism in 1956 and encouraged Dalits to convert to escape caste slavery. Buddhism offered equality and spiritual liberation.

Through these strategies, Ambedkar created a foundation for Dalit empowerment in modern India.

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Q5. Discuss Ambedkar’s contribution to gender equality and women empowerment.

Ambedkar was one of India’s strongest champions of women’s rights. He believed that no society can progress unless women enjoy full equality. His contributions impacted social reform, legal rights and constitutional protections for women.

Ambedkar criticized the caste system for controlling women through endogamy and restrictions on freedom. He argued that women’s subordination was not natural but socially constructed. Education, employment and legal reform were essential for their liberation.

As the Law Minister, Ambedkar introduced the Hindu Code Bill, which proposed equal property rights, divorce rights, and adoption rights for women. Although the bill faced opposition, it laid the foundation for later reforms such as the Hindu Succession Act.

Ambedkar ensured that the Indian Constitution guaranteed equality, non-discrimination, and fundamental rights for women. Articles 14, 15 and 16 prohibit gender discrimination, while special provisions safeguard women’s interests.

Ambedkar emphasized women’s education, participation in public life, and economic independence. He encouraged women to join political movements and Dalit organizations.

Thus, Ambedkar was a pioneer feminist thinker who envisioned a society based on gender justice and equality.

Q6. Explain Ambedkar’s idea of Constitutional Methods and their role in achieving Social Justice.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar strongly believed that social transformation must happen through constitutional means and not through violence or unlawful methods. For him, the Constitution was the most powerful tool for ensuring justice, equality and dignity for all citizens, especially oppressed communities. Ambedkar argued that in a democratic society, change should come through legal processes, public discussion, and parliamentary action.

According to Ambedkar, constitutional methods include appeal to reason, legal remedies, public representation, and democratic participation. He warned against unconstitutional methods such as civil disobedience, non-cooperation or sabotage, because they weaken democratic institutions. Ambedkar emphasized that in a nation governed by law, grievances must be solved through the judiciary, elections, and debate.

In terms of social justice, Ambedkar incorporated several revolutionary principles through the Constitution:

1. Equality before Law (Article 14)

2. Prohibition of discrimination (Article 15)

3. Reservation in education and jobs (Article 16)

4. Abolition of Untouchability (Article 17)

5. Protection of minorities and weaker sections

Ambedkar understood that social justice cannot be achieved by mere moral appeal. Structural inequalities required State intervention, legal safeguards, and affirmative action. He viewed the Constitution as a vehicle for peaceful social revolution.

Thus, Ambedkar’s commitment to constitutionalism ensured that India’s transformation remained democratic, rational and inclusive.

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Q7. Discuss Ambedkar’s views on Financial Management and the Problem of Rupee.

Ambedkar was one of India’s earliest economists and wrote deeply on currency, public finance and monetary policy. His doctoral thesis “The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution” (1923) is considered a foundational work in Indian economics.

Ambedkar argued that India’s monetary problems were the result of colonial exploitation and mismanagement. The British introduced a silver-based currency that caused instability because silver prices fluctuated globally. As a result, the value of the Rupee kept changing unpredictably, which harmed trade, wages, and savings.

Ambedkar recommended shifting India’s currency to a gold standard or a managed currency system controlled by an independent authority. He opposed automatic currency systems and insisted that monetary policy must be governed by scientific principles, not colonial interests.

Ambedkar also emphasized the importance of central banking. His ideas influenced the creation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1935. The RBI Act was largely based on the recommendations Ambedkar provided to the Hilton Young Commission.

From a broader perspective, Ambedkar believed that stable currency is essential for economic development, price stability, labour welfare and poverty reduction. He argued that without sound financial management, social justice could not be achieved.

Thus, Ambedkar’s economic analysis remains visionary and continues to influence India’s financial system today.

Q8. Explain Ambedkar’s critique of the Colonial Economy.

Ambedkar was a sharp critic of the British colonial economic system. He argued that colonial rule was not designed for India’s development but for the exploitation of its resources. According to Ambedkar, colonial policies created poverty, unemployment, landlessness and social inequality.

First, Ambedkar criticized the drain of wealth, where raw materials were taken from India cheaply and sold back as expensive finished goods. This destroyed India’s indigenous industries, particularly handloom and handicrafts.

Second, he condemned British land revenue policies. Systems like Zamindari concentrated land ownership in the hands of a few elites while peasants suffered from debt, high taxes and insecurity. Ambedkar believed that land reforms were essential for rural justice.

Third, Ambedkar highlighted the destruction of village industries. Colonial administration promoted foreign imports and discouraged local production, causing widespread rural unemployment.

Fourth, he criticized the colonial government for neglecting education, labour protection, and social welfare. He believed that economic inequality was deeply connected to caste oppression.

Ambedkar argued that true economic freedom could only come through industrialization, labour rights, land reforms and State intervention. His critique exposed the exploitative nature of colonial capitalism and helped shape post-independence economic policy.

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Q9. Discuss Ambedkar’s views on Capitalism and State Socialism.

Ambedkar viewed capitalism with caution because it concentrates wealth in the hands of a few and reproduces social inequality. For him, economic power must not be allowed to dominate political democracy. Capitalism creates exploitation of labour, low wages and denial of basic rights, especially for marginalized communities.

To counter capitalism, Ambedkar advocated State Socialism—a system where key industries, land and resources should be controlled by the State for the welfare of all citizens. But Ambedkar’s socialism was different from Marxism. He believed in democracy, constitutionalism and peaceful reform, not violent revolution.

Ambedkar proposed State Socialism through:

1. Nationalization of key industries

2. Collective farming

3. State ownership of land with tenancy rights to cultivators

4. Social welfare laws

5. Protection of labour rights

He argued that political democracy cannot survive without economic democracy. Social justice required redistribution of resources and equal economic opportunity.

Ambedkar’s model balanced socialism with individual rights. He did not want to abolish private property entirely but wanted to prevent monopoly and exploitation.

Thus, Ambedkar envisioned a democratic, welfare-oriented economy that ensures equality, dignity and opportunity for all.

Q10. Explain Ambedkar’s analysis of Land, Small Holdings and Agricultural Problems in India.

Ambedkar believed that India’s agricultural crisis was rooted in fragmented landholdings, lack of technology, and caste-based inequality. Most rural families owned very small pieces of land, which made farming unproductive and inefficient.

Ambedkar argued that small holdings could not sustain modern agriculture because they limited investment in irrigation, machinery and improved seeds. Fragmentation of land also caused low productivity and high labour costs.

He proposed consolidation of land and collective farming to solve the problem. Under collective farming, land would remain State-owned but cultivators would work cooperatively. This would enable large-scale farming, use of technology, and fair distribution of produce.

Ambedkar also stressed that caste inequality deepened agricultural poverty. Dalits and lower castes were denied land ownership for centuries. Without land reforms, rural inequality would never end.

He proposed:

1. Nationalization of land

2. Equal distribution of agricultural resources

3. Abolition of intermediaries (zamindars)

4. State support for irrigation and technology

Ambedkar believed agriculture could progress only if structural reforms and social justice were implemented together. His ideas remain relevant in today’s debates on land reforms and rural development.

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