John Dewey’s Influence on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Ambedkar studied under Dewey at Columbia University from 1913–1916, during Dewey’s peak as America’s leading philosopher of democracy and education.
Later in life, Ambedkar said:
“I owe my whole intellectual development to Prof. John Dewey.”
Here’s how Dewey shaped him:
Democracy as a Way of Life
Dewey taught that democracy is not just a political structure but a moral and ethical way of living — grounded in equality, participation, and mutual respect.
Ambedkar absorbed this deeply. It shaped:
His approach to drafting the Indian Constitution
His fight against caste as a violation of democratic ethics
His famous statement:
“Democracy is more than a form of government. It is primarily a mode of associated living.”
This sentence is almost a direct echo of Dewey.
Pragmatism — Truth Must Serve Human Welfare
Dewey’s philosophy of pragmatism argued that ideas should be judged by their consequences for human well-being, not by scripture or tradition.
Ambedkar:
Rejected the metaphysical parts of Hinduism
Reinterpreted Buddhism in social and ethical terms (Navayāna)
Believed that religion must improve society, not explain the universe
Used reason, evidence, and reform as tools to fight caste
This is Dewey’s method transplanted into Indian social struggle.
Education as the Foundation of Freedom
For Dewey, education was:
A tool of self-development
The basis of democracy
The means by which the oppressed gain dignity
Ambedkar built this directly into Dalit liberation:
“Educate, Agitate, Organize” is pure Deweyan philosophy
He argued that literacy and critical thinking break caste chains
He founded colleges and schools following Dewey’s principles
Ambedkar’s entire movement rests on Dewey’s vision of education.
Social Ethics over Religious Doctrine
Dewey believed religion should be evaluated by its ethical value, not its supernatural claims.
Ambedkar embraced this fully:
He rejected karma, rebirth, priesthood
He saw the Buddha as a social ethicist, not a divine figure
His Navayāna Buddhism is essentially ethical humanism + compassion
Ambedkar’s idea that Buddhism is primarily a moral-social philosophy comes straight from Dewey.
Reforming Society Through Collective Action
Dewey taught Ambedkar that:
Societies are not fixed
Injustice is man-made, not divinely ordained
Reform is a rational, democratic, collective process
Ambedkar applied this:
He attacked caste as a man-made system
He believed inequality must be ended by deliberate political action
He built coalitions (with workers, Dalits, women, minorities)
Caste is a social problem, not a metaphysical one — this is a Deweyan idea.
Economic Democracy
Dewey rejected capitalism’s inequalities.
Ambedkar carried this forward into:
His advocacy for state socialism
Land redistribution
Worker protections
Reservations and affirmative action
Ambedkar’s economic thought is often misunderstood — but Dewey’s critique of economic inequality is embedded in it.
Summary: Dewey and Ambedkar
John Dewey gave Ambedkar:
A scientific, rational framework
A democratic ethic
A social interpretation of religion
A belief in education as liberation
A philosophy of social reform through collective action
A method for transforming society through reason
Navayāna Buddhism itself is deeply Deweyan
— rational, ethical, democratic, socially engaged.