AMBEDKAR: VISION OF CONVERSION AND MISSION OF EMANCIPATION by Dr. Sebastian Alackapally

AMBEDKAR: VISION OF CONVERSION AND MISSION OF EMANCIPATION 

Abstract
Ambedkar fought against social discrimination of lower classes in India known today as Dalits, which he achieved through a number of radical ‘conversions.’ Conversion is not only a change of religion; rather it involves a number of conversions in various ways from the conventional patterns of an oppressive society. Ambedkar wanted his people to convert from the social, economic, political, and religious struggles. Ambedkar initiated the Dalits to make a new beginning, a radical conversion from all that was decaying and dead in tradition, which aimed at the welfare of the Dalits in achieving equality, dignity, political and religious rights, freedom and liberation. In fact, it is the philosophy of these conversions that led Ambedkar and his people to the heights of enlightenment and final emancipation.

Sebastian Alackapally, “Ambedkar: Vision of Conversion and Mission of Emancipation” in Tradition and Innovation: Philosophy of Rootedness and Openness, ed. Saju Chackalackal, 329-354, Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2011.