Buddha ‘or’/‘and’ Karl Marx Controversy: Ambedkar,Texts and Clarifications

Abstract

Ambedkar has been a desired figure in Indian space with figurations that are varied. In spite of his overwhelming recognition, there have been many misunderstandings about him. One such misunderstanding is about the question of Marxism and Buddhism in his writings. Importantly, this aspect has been found predominantly on the reading and reception of Ambedkar’s text, supposedly titled Buddha or Karl Marx. The misunderstanding has incubated an ‘or’/‘and’ controversy, the ‘or’ Ambedkarites pitted against the ‘and’ Ambedkarites. This article first traces a possible origin of the ‘or’/‘and’ controversy. It then clarifies the naming of the titles of the text and argues that there are four texts (and not one) in Ambedkar’s writings on the question. The article also clarifies that the case is not about the binary positions (as has been portrayed). Instead, Ambedkar retains both ‘or’ and ‘and’, in which spiritual elements of Buddhism suture with the secular aims of Marxism.