In the struggle for dignity – redesigning humanism

The denial of basic human rights to human beings because of the skin colour and the accident of birth was, according to Malcolm and Ambedkar, contrary to the foundational values of humanism. Such a discrimination was constructed to deprive a large contingent of humanity of what was legitimately due to them. Several ideational visions were designed accordingly to justify discrimination of humanity. A scan of Malcolm’s writings reveals that, despite being opposed to the state because of its failure to combat racism, he never accepted violent revolution to replace the existing system of governance, which, by implication, meant that he was favourably disposed towards constitutional-liberalism. In view of his challenge to the state, Malcolm attracted jail sentences, unlike Ambedkar, whose battle was against the well-entrenched socio-cultural prejudices and not against the British state. Moreover, he also believed that continuity of the alien governance was preferred to a Hindu-dominated government, which was likely to avoid promulgating stringent rules and regulations to stop these customary prejudicial socio-cultural practices. Not only was he associated with the colonial government, he, unlike Malcolm, supported the prevalent authority given his belief that it was well equipped to address his politico-ideological concerns.