Social Justice for women: An overview of Ambedkar’s perspective

Dr. Ambedkar was a strong critic of social inequality on the basis of caste, sex, colour, race etc. He outrightly criticised Karma theory and its divine explanation. He gave primacy to human being and his/her righteous action. He advocates that a good society should be based on the principle of liberty, equality and fraternity. He was anxious about the secondary position of women in society. Dr. Ambedkar tirelessly worked hard to ensure justice to women in Indian society. Dr. Ambedkar took up the cause of women empowerment as an academician; a legislator; a social reformer and an erudite constitutionalist. He comes with a different explanation of widowhood system in Hindu society than contemporary thinkers. He states that problem of widowhood has been preserved to maintain endogamy in Hindu society. He criticised veil system and polygamy among Muslim women. He asked to provide equal status to women in every field of life. He supports her liberty to choose her profession, life partner etc. He legislated Maternity benefit bill etc. and also wanted to legislate Hindu code bill to avail justice to women. As a constitution framer, Dr. Ambedkar provided different rights to women in Indian constitution. He also participated and supported different social movements for the rights of women. This paper is an assessment of Ambedkar’s perspective to ensure justice to women in Indian society. It uses analytical method for its assessment.