Gandhi and Ambedkar Together: The Jan Suraaj Path to a New Bihar

Editor's Note:
"This article was originally written on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, 2025) during my association with the Jan Suraaj movement. Though no longer associated with Jan suraaj, I am republishing it today because the core question it raises—whether India’s politics can reconcile the moral vision of Gandhi with the constitutional clarity of Ambedkar—remains deeply relevant. While the political context may have evolved, the underlying ideas deserve continued reflection."

October 2, 2025 carries a dual significance for Bihar and the Jan Suraaj movement. It is both Gandhi Jayanti, honoring the birth of the Father of the Nation, and the foundation day of Jan Suraaj Party. On this day, the party reaffirms its unique identity with a historic emblem – a logo that boldly features Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar together. This was not a casual design choice but a statement of courage and vision.
For decades, Indian politics has been imprisoned in an either/or framework. One set of parties idolized Gandhi’s moral leadership while ignoring Ambedkar’s quest for justice. Another revered Ambedkar’s fight for equality while sidelining Gandhi’s universal message of non-violence and compassion. Rarely, if ever, have these two icons been celebrated together. Critics often argue that Gandhi and Ambedkar clashed, their approaches diverged, and their legacies remain irreconcilable.
Yet Jan Suraaj believes otherwise. It believes that despite differences of method, Gandhi and Ambedkar shared a common dream of dignity, justice, and empowerment for all. More importantly, Jan Suraaj asserts that Bihar – scarred by caste divisions, mass migration, and entrenched corruption – needs this union of ideals more than ever to script a new chapter of transformation.

Divergent Paths, Shared Dreams

Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar stand as two of the most towering figures of modern India. Both devoted their lives to the upliftment of the oppressed, but their strategies reflected their unique backgrounds and experiences. Gandhi’s way was rooted in moral persuasion, simplicity, and spiritual reform. Coming from relative privilege, Gandhi sought to awaken the conscience of caste Hindus. He denounced untouchability as a “blot on Hinduism” and urged repentance, compassion, and self-purification. His ideals of ahimsa (non-violence), Sarvodaya (uplift of all), and Gram Swaraj (village self-rule) embodied his faith that change must begin with the human heart. For Gandhi, true freedom was not merely political independence, but the upliftment of “the poorest and weakest man.”

Ambedkar’s approach, by contrast, was born out of lived oppression. As a member of a community branded “untouchable,” he faced daily exclusion and humiliation. His conclusion was clear: goodwill and moral appeals could never dismantle caste. Only law, rights, and political power could secure dignity for the oppressed. As the chief architect of the Constitution, Ambedkar enshrined liberty, equality, and fraternity as the foundations of Indian democracy. His stirring call to “Educate, Agitate, Organize” was a demand for structural transformation, not just reform.

Their sharpest clash came in 1932 during the debate on separate electorates for Dalits. Gandhi, fearing a fragmentation of Hindu society, opposed it through a fast-unto-death. Ambedkar defended it as essential for Dalit political voice. The compromise – the Poona Pact – avoided a rupture but left both dissatisfied. Ambedkar later declared, “Gandhi was never a Mahatma to me,” a remark that captured the depth of their disagreements.

And yet, beneath these battles lay a convergence of dreams. Gandhi declared, “Hinduism dies if untouchability lives, and untouchability has to die if Hinduism is to live.” Ambedkar dedicated his life to annihilating caste, convinced that democracy without social democracy was a sham. Both envisioned an India where the weakest was uplifted and dignity was universal. Ambedkar’s words – “We are Indians, firstly and lastly” – harmonize with Gandhi’s vision of national unity through compassion.

For Jan Suraaj, this is the deeper truth: Gandhi’s moral force and Ambedkar’s constitutional justice are not contradictions but complements. Bihar today needs both.

From Gandhi Alone to Gandhi and Ambedkar Together

When Jan Suraaj Abhiyaan began in 2022, its logo bore only Gandhi’s image. But during his two-year-long padyatra across Bihar, Prashant Kishor realized something crucial: without uniting the followers of Gandhi and Ambedkar, Bihar’s political system could never be transformed.
In village after village, he saw Gandhi’s adherents and Ambedkar’s adherents fighting the same battle – against inequality, injustice, and the entrenched power of the BJP and RSS – but doing so from separate camps. The division weakened the people’s collective strength.
To break this, Prashant Kishor initiated over 1,000 meetings with senior leaders, grassroots workers, and ordinary citizens. Out of this unprecedented consultation emerged a historic decision: for the first time in India’s history, a political party would frame its constitution and design its logo not in closed rooms, but in dialogue with its people. The result was profound – Gandhi and Ambedkar, side by side, in the Jan Suraaj logo. This change was not just cosmetic. It symbolized Jan Suraaj’s resolve to unite moral leadership with social justice, compassion with rights, Gandhi’s conscience with Ambedkar’s conviction.

Building Bridges, Not Binaries

Skeptics dismissed the symbolism, sneering that it was like “mixing oil and water.” But Jan Suraaj sees it differently. Gandhi’s compassion without Ambedkar’s justice risks becoming paternalistic. Ambedkar’s rights without Gandhi’s ethics risk becoming mechanical. Together, they create a synergy – moral and constitutional, spiritual and structural.
Bihar is uniquely positioned to carry this experiment forward. Champaran was the land of Gandhi’s first satyagraha. Bihar’s villages still bear the wounds of caste discrimination that Ambedkar fought against. Jan Suraaj draws from both sources: Gandhi’s tradition of grassroots mobilization (the party itself was born out of a padyatra from Champaran) and Ambedkar’s insistence on representation for the marginalized (its first state president is a Dalit IIT graduate).
This synthesis is not about erasing differences but about affirming that Bihar’s future requires both charkha and Constitution, both ahimsa and assertion.

A New Bihar: Where Gandhi Meets Ambedkar

Jan Suraaj’s vision is not confined to emblems or speeches. It is aimed at tackling Bihar’s deepest problems – caste barriers, migration, and corruption – with the combined strength of Gandhian and Ambedkarite ideals.

Breaking Caste Barriers

Bihar’s politics has long been trapped by caste arithmetic. Ambedkar provides the structural safeguards – laws, representation, and affirmative measures. Gandhi provides the ethical compass – empathy, unity, and brotherhood. Together, these ideals promise a Bihar where caste no longer dictates destiny and untouchability becomes unthinkable.

Stopping Distress Migration

Every year, lakhs of Bihari youths leave their homes, not for ambition but for survival. Gandhi envisioned Gram Swaraj with self-reliant villages and local industries. Ambedkar emphasized modern education and economic empowerment. Jan Suraaj unites both: reviving traditional industries while ensuring skill training and opportunities that guarantee a minimum income of ₹12,000 per month for youths at home. Migration must become a choice, not a compulsion.

Fighting Corruption with Courage

Perhaps the gravest challenge lies in governance corroded by corruption. Gandhi stood for ethical politics and service. Ambedkar created constitutional mechanisms of accountability. Jan Suraaj takes both seriously. Recently, Prashant Kishor held a press conference accusing five senior leaders of the BJP and JD(U) of corruption, presenting documentary evidence to support his claims. This bold act was not mere rhetoric; it was proof that Jan Suraaj is willing to confront corruption at the highest levels. Alongside this, the party advocates reforms like the right to recall legislators and candidate selection by the people, ensuring that politics remains accountable to citizens. Its internal system of rotating leadership among Dalits, OBCs, women, and youth further reflects Ambedkar’s principle of representation and Gandhi’s ideal of Sarvajan hitaya – welfare of all.

Bihar Satyagraha Ashram: Training for Transformation

In January 2025, under Prashant Kishor’s guidance, Jan Suraaj established the Bihar Satyagraha Ashram at L.C.T. Ghat, Patna. This Ashram has become a beacon of hope for Bihar’s youth. Inspired by Gandhi and Ambedkar, it provides a serene yet disciplined environment for cultivating responsibility and service.
Many individuals have already been trained here, molded into citizens ready to embrace their duties. Guided by Gandhi’s principle “Be the change you want to see” and Ambedkar’s insistence on education and rights, the Ashram nurtures leaders who are at once selfless and assertive. It is a living embodiment of Jan Suraaj’s promise: Gandhian mobilization fused with Ambedkarite empowerment.

Celebrating a Visionary Union

As Jan Suraaj celebrates its foundation day on Gandhi Jayanti, it is not just marking the birth of a party. It is celebrating the rebirth of a unified idealism in Bihar’s politics. Gandhi reminded us, “Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man... and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.” Ambedkar warned us that “Democracy is not merely a form of government; it is essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards fellowmen.”
Together, these lines are the guiding philosophy of Jan Suraaj. The image of Gandhi and Ambedkar side by side is more than a logo – it is a pledge. A pledge to heal old wounds, empower the weak, and create a Bihar where truth and justice walk together.
In villages, a Dalit child should feel Ambedkar’s justice in the classroom and Gandhi’s compassion in her neighbor’s heart. A farmer should see Gandhian service in his officials and Ambedkarite accountability in his leaders. That is the Bihar Jan Suraaj envisions – a Bihar of dignity, equality, and prosperity for all.


Jai Bihar; Jai Jai Bihar

दुविधा

अजीब मनोस्थिति है
कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ ।
हाथों में लेखनी है
कुछ लिखना चाहता हूँ ।
शब्द नहीं हैं, फिर भी
कुछ बयाँ करना चाहता हूँ ।
विचारों के भँवर से
बाहर निकलना चाहता हूँ ।
या फिर इसमें डूबकर
अन्दर समाना चाहता हूँ ।
अजीब मनोस्थिति है
कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ ।


थक गया मैं लड़ते - लड़ते, अब बस
हार मानना चाहता हूँ ।
मगर क्या यूँही बैठकर
सपने बुनना चाहता हूँ ।
पत्थरों के रास्ते अब
नहीं गुजरना चाहता हूँ ।
या घिस घिस कर अपनी
लीक छोड़ना चाहता हूँ ।
अजीब मनोस्थिति है
कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ ।


ख़म ठोंक ठेलकर, दम से अपने
पर्वत उखाड़ना चाहता हूँ ।
या उसकी तराई में बैठकर
दिग्भ्रमित होना चाहता हूँ ।
लक्ष्य की तलाश में, धूमकेतु बन
भ्रमण करना चाहता हूँ ।
या किसी कंचन रमणी संग
विस्मृत होना चाहता हूँ ।
अजीब मनोस्थिति है
कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ ।

INDIAN ECONOMY: FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND?

[Caution! Readers are strongly advised not to become judgmental about current economic situation based on this article, as I have deliberately avoided Buddha's middle path approach and relied on criticism.]

Tragedy of a liar is not that no one believes him/her, but the fact that the liar starts to believe his/her own words. This statement seems to be correct in the case of Indian government while dealing with the current economic situation. The number of times these politicians have talked about fundamentals of economy remaining strong that they actually have started to believe as a true fact. Are fundamentals of our economy really sound or is it an eyewash to boost the confidence of fellow Indians and investors outside? This is the question looming large at this juncture.

Indian economy is in shamble. GDP growth is at all time low (post 1991) ( first quarter of FY 2013-14 reported only 4.4% growth). Growth is sluggish but our PM is optimistic to achieve a growth rate of 5.5% to 6% by the end of this financial year. Reason being: "Fundamentals of Indian economy remains strong."

Another problem the country is facing right now is the Current Account Deficit (CAD). It is behaving like "SURSA OF RAMAYANA" ( who had the capability to expand her jaw/mouth, each time Hanuman expanded it's body). Whenever government intervenes to rein it, it further gets widened. Isn't the situation demanding policymakers to act like Hanuman ( who countered SURSA by shrinking his volume)?

Here comes the real issue. It is the falling value of rupee. Rupee seems to be enjoying the free ride under gravity. It is about to cross yet another psychological barrier of 70 ( currently hovering around 65- 68). Someone, out of sarcasm, tweeted "PROBLEM WITH RUPEE IS THAT IT IS NATIONAL CURRENCY. LOOK! WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR NATIONAL ANIMAL TIGER". I would further like to add in this about the fate of our national sport ( contrary to the fact that we had learned in our schools and G.K books, Ministry of Youth Affairs And Sports in a reply to an RTI query mentioned that India has not notified any national game). This crisis situation could have been turned into an advantageous one, had our export flourished ( although software industries are gaining a lot at this moment, stable currency is all that everyone wants). And they say our fundamentals remain strong.

Out of many solutions, the one on which our policymakers seem to have relied upon heavily is to liberalize the norms to bring more FDI, FIIs along with increased External Commercial Borrowings. In other word government is arming itself with tools to borrow more from different markets. And if this is true then shouldn't we conclude that government is following an old adage of Sanskrit which says "Rinam kritva ghritam peebet" ( eat butter, even if you have to borrow). All this is happening because of the illusion that our Fundamentals Remain Strong. Some critics call it POLICY PARALYSIS. I would rather call it "FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR" by which one blames the external factors overlooking the internal ones.

Inflation is another challenge which is presenting catch 22 situation in front of RBI. Whether to go for growth or to go for reining inflation is the million dollar question. So far RBI has done a commendable job (at least in maintaining it's independence); nevertheless, it has not been successful to achieve rupee stability.

Newly appointed RBI governer Mr. Rajan has said that "Our task today is to build a bridge to the future over the stormy waves produced by global financial markets." I would like to urge Mr. Rajan that the foundation of this bridge must not be laid upon wrong premises. It has rightly been said that crisis presents an opportunity. We must take a look at our fundamentals and address the concerns in an unbiased manner.

Sports and the Politics

Thousands of people have gathered inside a stadium of Rome to witness a thrilling fight. The fight is scheduled between two gladiators whose masters are well known for their rivalry. As the fight progresses, spectators start enjoying. Finally, one of the gladiators gets defeated and as per the tradition the winner waits for his master’s command. People in the stands are demanding clemency but the master orders to behead the defeated gladiator and thus he loses his life.
Again, thousands of people have gathered inside a stadium in India. But this time the mass assembled to witness a nail biting cricket match to be played between India and Pakistan. Among the viewers are the Prime ministers of both the countries. Match progresses and excitement reaches the peak and finally Pakistan gets defeated. After the match both the Prime ministers stated that it is the spirit of game which won and thanked to the players as well as people of both the countries.
Though above incidents are separated by hundreds of years on the time scale, there is a stark similarity between them. In both the events the politics had their role to play in sports, nevertheless, in a different manner. In one event politics made the defeated gladiator to lose his life, while in other it brought the people of two nations together.
Sports and politics are two different words but they are often intermingled. Since the era of early civilization politics has its say in the sports. The use of politics in sports is so frequent that it has evolved into a new word known as sports diplomacy.
Sports diplomacy is being used as a potent tool by which country’s national interests are promoted. Sentiments of people are attached to the sports. These sentiments are used as a strategic reaction by sports diplomacy. Sports, like war, are used as a tool to achieve political objectives. Due to this one is tempted to raise the question “how far is it justified?”
Those who support the idea of using politics in sports often claim that sports are not above the law. National interests are supreme and the sporting spirit should be kept within the ambit of national interests. Based upon this argument they justify the sacking of the coach of Iranian football team as he had wished a happy new year to his Israeli counterpart. Besides they also contend to change the law, as children are torn away from their environment and culture to join the business and glamour provided by sports.
But, during all these arguments they seem to have lost the meaning of the word “international integration”. In this globalised era where trade and commerce are being used to increase the people to people contact, to sort out differences and to achieve the spirit of “Vashudhaiva Kutumbakam” (whole earth is a family). In the prevailing scenario why one should not use the sports? Sports, if played in its true spirit, without the interference of politics, has an inherent capability to bridge the gap between nations and to arouse the sentiments in a positive manner.
By sacking the coach or not allowing the two countries to play against each other is against the spirit of the game. We are setting the bad precedents in which the people of the involved countries are the ultimate losers. They are missing a chance to feel the thrilling excitement that would have arisen, had the two nation played against each other. And who knows, in long run this sporting event may lead to a friendly nation.
We do not need a law to keep children away from the sports on the above mentioned ground. What we need is to let children learn the lessons of self esteem, harmony etc. which sports teaches to everyone.
Hence we need sports for the sports’ sake, where the people feel rejuvenated, where the determination to never give in and the team spirit are so palpable that the viewers are forced to learn these ideologies. This can be achieved only when politics has been kept out of sports. let us keep our debate alive, but separate. There is no need to entangle both.

FDI in Multi Brand Retail

The government of India is all set to give it's node to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in Multi Brand Retail. Proposal is to allow a 51% FDI in this sector. This was at the center of discussion from past few years due to deteriorating condition of farmers and also due problem being faced by consumers.
Before i proceed further I must mention the perspective scenario of FDI in this sector. The present FDI regime allows 51% foreign investment in single brand retail and 100% in wholesale cash and carry. ( source - The Hindu).

When i saw this news i kept on pondering over the term Multi brand retail. I asked one of my friend (who had completed his studies frm IIT Madras and did MBA from FMS and now preparing for civil services after amassing a huge assets.. dnt knw wat forcd him to go for civil services... of course i m talking bot u D.K.. Loser.. lol) and then i got the clarity of this term.

Multi Brand - Whenever a market is fragmented into different brands, a supplier/firm launches new brands of the same product which give strong competition to it's own existing brand.. The idea is to have greater overall share in the market by that firm/supplier. Rationale behind this is a fact that a firm having 5 brands out of 15 brands available in the market will capitalise more compared to the situation when it has only 1 brand out of 11 brands available. We can see this in so may cases.. In case of tooth paste one can see number of products launched by the same firm giving tough competition to it's own product.

Now getting back to 51% FDI in this sector....

Who all are the stakeholders in this... Of course itzz not that hard to answer.. Government , Foreign player who will invest, Domestic retailers, Farmers and ultimately consumers will be the stakeholder for this.( I will be focussing mainly on farmers..To tell the truth i cud think of only this much.. watever i read and was able to relate i jotted down here..)
Govt. has supported this by mentioning that it will help in providing dynamism and efficiency to the agricultural marketing system as there will be no dearth of money with foreign players and they will create post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure nearer to the farmers' field.. These players will buy the agricultural produce at the door step and that will give benefit to farmers as it will weed out the intermediaries involved.Farmers will get good price for their produce. Perishable goods could be sold at time.. Once the infrastructure reaches at the door step of farmers, out of shear competition productivity will increase..Consumers will also get benefit as price will come down and quality available will be good.Quality of the perishables will improve due to better storage and handling..
Domestic retail sector will also reap the benefit as it will be more organised and with the collaboration of foreign players they will know the new technology involved and will be able to know the best global practises..

If left unregulated, in no time the entire economy will start felling the ill effect of this step. Some of which may be:
. Possible suffering of small family owned outlets
. With the money in hand the retail houses will have greater bargaining power and the farmers may not get good amount for their produce
. Farmers could be treated as their employees by the retail house and hence chance of exploitation.......

So govt. will have to keep an eye on this policy as this affects the entire agriculture sector which happens to be the backbone of Indian economy and it's ill effect can take us back to the era of colonialism.....

"You Can Take Charge Of Your Life"

Last night i was going through verses of "Bhagwad Gita",and suddenly i became philosophical.I slept early but my mind was refusing to take rest and was thinking continuously of something which i decided to post on my blog....

Whenever things do not happen according to the way we wanted,there is a temptation to name it as a destiny. We can always hear people saying - I am not destined to this, may be i am not so lucky to get this etc.But this is the way how we deal with failure, we are consoling ourselves. Whatever situation we are living in,to be human means that we can mould the situation in our own ways. Human beings are the one who can mould the every situation they are living in, but this is not happening today. Most people in the world are moulded by the situation around them. That is simply because they exist in the reaction to the situation they are placed in. They end up with questions only "why i was placed in this situation" ?

Everything that we know as "ourselves" is the accumulation. Body is accumulation of food. What we call "our mind" is an accumulation of impressions that we have gathered through five senses.....

What we accumulate can be ours it will never become we. What is "we" is yet to come into our experience, it is an unconscious state. we are not even 100% conscious of what we have accumulated. We are trying to live our life through what we have gathered, not through who we are.
Remember,
"All of us have the same inner capabilities, unfortunately never explored, never accessed"
(Ideas in last paragraph were from "The Times Of India" )

India in financial turmoil

The declining value of rupees, the losing points of Sensex, high inflation rate, slowdown in GDP, these all seem to bode evil to the entire Indian economy. In the current scenario the whole world is suffering from the so called “recession". Indian government has repeatedly announced that Indian economy has got very strong fundamentals and it will not be affected at large scale by this global downturn. But a deep sense of disparity is prevailing everyday and this is being reflected as Sensex is losing points day by day. AT the time i am writing this, Sensex is at 8701.07 , a level last seen in -------(In fact I don’t know , as this field has lured me very recently so i don’t have the records) .
Markets do fail often, but the governments intervene and try to solve the problem. Indian government is also trying hard to stabilize the market but still there is no sigh of relief in the market. The question is why?????

[Before i proceed i should tell you that i am not an economist. I am final yr. Btech student and these are not my original thoughts. These ideas are taken from the column written by Dr. Sengupta . i thought it would be better to know all these things those who missed that column]

The fault lies in the conventional approach of our government. But this time a different approach to the problem is required.

The RBI is trying hard to provide enough liquidity in the market. It has reduced the CRR rate and thus has released a huge amount of money which it had withdrawn few months ago to control the inflation rate. But injecting money alone will not increase bank lending unless borrower have the confidence in our economy to induce them to invest more. Also the bank lending money do not have confidence that borrower would be able to return it. So Overall the missing element is "Confidence". Investors do not have confidence in the sustainability of economy, as a result they have become skeptical and they are stopping investment in our economy. On the other hand lenders do not have confidence that they will get their money back. As a result liquidity provided by the RBI is trapped. It is not being used in investment expenditure and result is in front of us.
In such situation, the government has to take steps to increase the confidence in the system, and provide a stimulus to private investors. When private investors are reluctant government should initiate the public investment for stimulation. We have a large number of PSU's functioning well. If the public sector will start in infrastructure it will give a stimulus to private investors.
The money required for this can be provided by the government either by cutting some expenditure on other less important side or it can be generated openly by the government borrowing directly from reserve bank. The effect will be increase in liquidity along with the confidence.
Our fundamentals may be strong but the confidence is grossly eroded. So government should take strong measures to instill confidence among investors. This should be done quickly before the situation deteriorates further and gets out of hand.......

[Again I should remind you that these are not my ideas. ]