Social Equality through Economic and Labour Reforms: Reassessing Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Political Economy of Social Justice

Abstract

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was not only a social reformer and the chief architect of the Indian Constitution but also a trained economist whose ideas significantly influenced India’s economic and labor policies. His vision extended beyond the workplace, emphasizing equal opportunity, dignified working conditions, and fair wages as essential components of a just society. Ambedkar viewed labor not merely as economic participation but as a means to achieve social dignity and break the chains of oppression. He is widely recognised as the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a leading advocate of social justice. However, his contributions as an economist and labour policymaker remain comparatively underexplored in contemporary scholarship. This review paper examines the interrelationship between Ambedkar's economic thought, labour reforms, and vision of social equality. Drawing upon his major writings, including States and Minorities, Annihilation of Caste, and his policy interventions as Labour Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, the paper argues that Ambedkar viewed economic democracy as a necessary foundation for social democracy. Labour rights, fair wages, social security, and state intervention were regarded not merely as economic measures but as instruments for dismantling caste-based inequalities and expanding substantive citizenship. Through a critical review of primary texts and contemporary scholarship, the study demonstrates that Ambedkar's political economy offers a comprehensive framework linking labour welfare, distributive justice, and social transformation. The paper further evaluates the contemporary relevance of Ambedkar's ideas in addressing challenges associated with labour informalisation, gig work, social protection, and persistent socio-economic inequalities in India. It concludes that Ambedkar's labour and economic philosophy remains an important intellectual resource for constructing an inclusive and equitable development model in the twenty-first century.