The debate between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar on caste discrimination represents a profound ideological clash regarding the nature of Indian society and the path to liberation for the marginalized. Both were committed to eradicating untouchability, but their understandings of caste and strategies for change diverged fundamentally.

Gandhi's Perspective:
Gandhi vehemently condemned untouchability, calling the untouchables 'Harijans' (Children of God). However, he believed the caste system, particularly its original ideal of Varna dharma (division of labor based on aptitude, not birth), had a spiritual and functional basis. He sought to reform Hinduism from within, arguing that untouchability was a perversion, not the essence, of a noble system. His approach emphasized a change of heart among upper castes through moral persuasion, social reform (like inter-caste dining), and self-purification. He viewed the village as the ideal social unit and strongly opposed separate electorates for untouchables, fearing it would permanently divide the Hindu community and undermine national unity.

Ambedkar's Perspective:
Ambedkar, himself a Dalit, held a radically different view. He saw caste not as a perversion but as an inherent, oppressive, and immutable feature of Hinduism, deeply rooted in its scriptures and social practices. For him, untouchability was merely a symptom of a deeper, systemic hierarchy. He believed the caste system needed to be annihilated entirely, not reformed, as it fundamentally denied human dignity and perpetuated injustice. Ambedkar advocated for legal, political, and structural remedies for Dalits, emphasizing constitutional safeguards, reservations in education and employment, and political power through separate electorates to ensure genuine representation and self-determination. He famously rejected Hinduism, converting to Buddhism.

Core of the Debate:
The central tension lay in their understanding of caste's nature and the means of its eradication. Gandhi sought gradual, moral transformation within existing religious frameworks, prioritizing national unity. Ambedkar demanded radical, structural revolution, emphasizing political rights and social justice for Dalits, even at the cost of communal separation. The Poona Pact of 1932, where Ambedkar reluctantly conceded joint electorates with reserved seats, symbolized this ideological struggle, highlighting the difficult compromises on the path to an independent, just India.