Was Ambedkar against all religion?
This is a common misconception. I was not against religion per se, but against religion that sanctifies inequality. I rejected Hinduism because it is founded on the *Chaturvarna* and the *Manusmriti*, which justify caste hierarchy. However, I embraced Buddhism in 1956, as I saw it as a rational, ethical religion that rejects caste, promotes equality, and emphasizes *prajna* (wisdom) and *karuna* (compassion). In *The Buddha and His Dhamma*, I reinterpreted Buddhism as a social philosophy focused on ending suffering through moral conduct and social justice. I distinguished between religion as a personal moral guide and religion as a tool of social oppression—the former I upheld, the latter I fought.
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