Cost of Education

*Dr. Ambedkar in the Bombay Legislature:*
ON GRANTS FOR EDUCATION, 12th March 1927

"Going over the figures which give us information as to the manner by which we finance education in this presidency, I find that out of the total expenditure which we incur on arts colleges, something like 36% is financed from fees; out of the expenditure that we incur on high schools something like 31% is financed from fees; out of the expenditure that we incur on middle schools, something like 26% is derived from fees. Now, Sir, I submit that this is commercialisation of education. Education is something which ought to be brought within the reach of everyone. The education department is not a department which can be treated on the basis of 'quid pro quo'. Education ought to be cheapened in all possible ways and to the greatest possible extent. I urge this plea because I feel that we are arriving at a stage when the lower orders of society are just getting into the high schools, middle schools and colleges, and the policy of this department therefore ought to be to make higher education as cheap to the lower classes as it can possibly be made." ~Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

DBAWS, Vol. 2

I must do my duty

From the PREFACE of "RANADE, GANDHI AND JINNAH" written by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar which is his address delivered on the 101st Birthday Celebration of Mahadeo Govind Ranade, held on 18th Jan. 1943

"However strong and however filthy be the abuses which the Congress Press chooses to shower on me I must do my duty. I am no worshipper of idols. I believe in breaking them. I insist that if I hate Mr Gandhi and Mr Jinnah-- I dislike them, I do not hate them-- it is because I love India more. That is the true faith of a nationalist. I have hopes that my countrymen will some day learn that the country is greater than the men, that the worship of Mr. Gandhi or Mr. Jinnah and Service to India are two very different things and may even be contradictory of each other."~ Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, 15th March 1943

DBAWS, Vol. 1

Class system (open door) and the closed door Caste system

DBAWS Vol. 1
Castes in India, 1916.
"This sub-division of a society is quite natural. But the unnatural thing about this sub-division is that they have lost the open door character of the class system and have become self-enclosed units called castes. The question is: were they compelled to close their doors and become endogamous, or did they close them on their own accord? I submit that there is a double line of answer: some closed the door : others found it closed against them. The one is a psychological interpretation and the other is mechanistic, but they are complementary and both are necessary to explain the phenomena of caste-formation in its entirety." ~Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, (lines from "Castes in India," 1916, The paper presented in Columbia University.)

Struggle and Sacrifice: The message

"My message to the downtrodden is, Struggle and more struggle. Sacrifice and more sacrifice. It is struggle and struggle alone without counting the sacrifices or sufferings that will bring their emancipation. Nothing else will."

~Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar 

April 13, 1947

(DBAWS, Vol. 17, Part Two)

The Path of Social Reform

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in "Annihilation of Caste"

    ~"The path of social reform like the path to heaven at any rate in India, is strewn with many difficulties. Social reform in India has few friends and many critics." ~Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Intellectual class from each strata of Society

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in 'Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Ancient India':

     ~A purely intellectual class, free to consider general good and having no interest of a class to consider, such as the one contemplated by Buddha is not to be had anywhere. For the limitations resulting from property on the freedom of intellect of the elite have not been generally realized until very recently. But this want of an intellectual class has been made good in other countries by the fact that in those countries each Strata of Society has its educated class. There is safety, if no definite guidance, in the multiplicity of views expressed by different educated classes drawn from different strata of society. In such a multiplicity of views there is no danger of society being misguided or misdirected by the views of one single educated class drawn from one single strata of society and which is naturally bound to place the interest of its class before the interests of the country.

Be Watchful, Strong, Well Educated, Self Respecting

"Remember that it is not enough that people are numerically in majority. They must be always watchful, strong, well-educated and self-respecting to attain and maintain success."

~Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, 1933

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(Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches; Vol. 17, Part 3)

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Ambition- They alone rise who strive

"You should always cherish some ambition to do something in this world. They alone rise who strive." ~Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

DBAWS, Vol. 17, Part I

Believe in your strength

"Do not believe in fate. Believe in your strength." ~Dr. B. R. Ambedkar 

(Janata Dt. 25 Feb 1933)

DBAWS, Vol. 17, Part III

Hope from Younger Generation

"I am not hopeful of the younger generation which seems to be more pre-disposed to pleasure seeking and not possessing much of idealism and is not likely to produce men of ideals." ~Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

DBAWS, Vol. 17, Part III

Value of the Library

"It is unfortunate that we have not yet realised the value of the library as an institution in the growth and advancement of a society." ~(Dr. B. R. Ambedkar)

DBAWS, Vol. 17, Part I (Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, in a letter sent for publication while he was a student of Columbia University in 1916- Bombay Chronicle, 28th March 1916)

We are a Warrior Clan

"Man is mortal. Everyone is to die someday or other. But one must resolve to lay down one's life in enriching the noble ideals of self-respect and in bettering human life. We are not slaves. We are a warrior clan. Nothing is more disgraceful for a brave man than to live a life devoid of self-respect without love for the country." ~ Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Education is a Serious matter and Not a Tea Time Enjoyment

DBAWS, Vol. 17, Part III (2nd Jan 1945, Calcutta, address to students of Scheduled Castes)

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar advised the students not only to get degree but to see that the degree carried with it some positive knowledge or attainment, that they had qualifications which they called 'sterling.'

They must regard education as a serious matter and not a tea-time enjoyment.

Advice on Economic Inequalities

"The attention of the Anti- Untouchability League and workers in the same cause should be directed more to the economic, educational and social improvement of the untouchables rather than to temple entry and inter-dining. Public opinion should be mobilised by them to throw open wells and to admit Untouchable children to Public Schools."

-Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

(The Times of India, 19.10.1932)

The Work of Buddhism is to lessen the suffering of the poor

The work of Buddhism is to lessen the suffering of the poor:

"What is the original foundation of Buddhism? Other religions and the Buddhist religion are different. In other religions, the change will not occur, because those religions tell of a relationship between man and God. Other religions say that God created the world. God created the sky, wind, moon, everything. God did not leave anything left over for us to do. So we should worship God. According to the Christian religion, there is, after death, a Day of Judgment, and all depends on that judgment. There is no place for God and the soul in the Buddhist religion. The Buddha said there is suffering everywhere in the world. Ninety percent of mankind is distressed by sorrow. Suffering mankind should be freed from sorrow-- this is the basic work of Buddhism."    ~Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Self-respect is most vital

"You must abolish your slavery yourselves. It is disgraceful to live at the cost of one's self-respect. Self-respect is the most vital factor in life. Without it, man is a mere cipher. To live worthily with self-respect one has to overcome difficulties. It is out of hard and ceaseless struggle alone that one derives strength, confidence, and recognition."

- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
(13th April 1929)