Right to Change Religious Vehicle, Dr. Ambedkar Did It

Religion, at its core, is just a vehicle. It is supposed to deliver the goods of spirituality, ethics, and morality to its followers. But what happens when this vehicle starts sputtering, or worse, gets loaded with junk by its operators? If it breaks down on the road to righteousness or is piled high with unethical and immoral baggage, the recipient has every right to refuse delivery. They can rightfully seek another vehicle that delivers only the good stuff—no hidden charges, no spiritual scams.

This is exactly what Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the social reformist and anti-caste crusader, did in his apostasy. He realized that the religion he was born into had become a faulty vehicle, weighed down by centuries of discrimination and caste-based oppression. It wasn’t delivering spirituality, ethics, or morality but was perpetuating inequality. Ambedkar exercised his fundamental right to change his religious vehicle and embraced Buddhism, a path he found more aligned with his values of equality, justice, and human dignity.

Ambedkar’s choice wasn’t just personal; it was a bold statement that religion should serve humanity, not the other way around. He demonstrated that faith is not a one-way street, where once you get on, you are stuck forever. Instead, it’s more like a public bus service—if the route no longer works for you, you’re free to get off and find another that better suits your destination.

In making this choice, Ambedkar affirmed a universal right: the right to choose and, if necessary, to change one’s spiritual path in pursuit of a more ethical, just, and fulfilling life.

by Promod Puri with input from ChatGPT