A democratic doctrinal basis may be drawn from the Upanishads but requires remoulding.

Evidence

I am no authority on the subject. But I am told that for such religious principles as will be in consonance with liberty, equality and fraternity, it may not be necessary for you to borrow from foreign sources, and that you could draw for such principles on the Upanishads. Whether you could do so without a complete remoulding, a considerable scraping and chipping off from the ore they contain, is more than I can say. This means a complete change in the fundamental notions of life. It means a complete change in the values of life. It means a complete change in outlook and in attitude towards men and things. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 1009

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• QUESTION: Worth chasing what Ambedkar thought the Upanishads had to offer as a democratic foundation.

Broader Connections

• Real change requires discarding rather than reforming the old religion #complicates (0.50) — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 1010