BUDDHA AND HIS DHAMMA

The book opens with an account of Buddha’s life tracing his journey from Siddhartha a prince shielded from suffering to a seeker of truth who renounced worldly life to attain enlightenment. Ambedkar portrays the Buddha as a rational thinker who questioned the prevailing religious orthodoxy rejected rituals and sacrifices and sought to alleviate human suffering through practical ethical teachings. Central to the text is Ambedkar's interpretation of Buddha’s Dhamma (doctrine) which he frames as a path of morality wisdom and compassion. He explains key concepts such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path emphasizing their relevance to fostering equality and social justice. Ambedkar reimagines Buddhism as a philosophy rooted in rationalism and ethics contrasting it with the hierarchical and ritualistic practices of Hinduism. In the final sections Ambedkar explores the social implications of Buddhism arguing that the Buddha's teachings provide a framework for eradicating caste discrimination and promoting human dignity. He presents Buddhism as a tool for personal and societal transformation advocating its adoption as a means to achieve equality and freedom for all. The book remains a seminal text offering both a spiritual and political vision for a just society.