Ambedkar’s distaste for ‘bhakti’ in politics extended to his mistrust of any and all leaders: ‘Over regard for leaders saps self-confidence of the masses, leaving them helpless when left leaderless in the hour of trial or when led by unscrupulous leaders.’22 Equally it emerged from his understanding of Hindu religious practice:
forces which do not believe in the ideals of the Constitution forming the administration. In an atmosphere of growing contempt towards cherished values and foundational principles of the Constitution, including secularism, freedom of expression, and equality, Ambedkar’s writings and body of thought could not be more relevant to our times.
