“I believe the Mandal could easily have found someone better qualified than myself to preside on the occasion. I have criticised the Hindus. I have questioned the authority of the Mahatma whom they revere. They hate me. To them I am a snake in their garden.”

Expressing genuine humility at the public choice that the Mandal has made in picking him for the job of leading the conference, Ambedkar admits that there is real reason for them not to have selected him. Even though the conference and Ambedkar later parted ways on account of the conference’s desire to tone down his more inflammatory rhetoric, the initial point stands that they had in fact originally selected someone who could have done some real good in advocating for change among their own members and for all those who might have attended such a talk, or who may have heard tell of it second hand.

”History bears out the proposition that political revolutions have always been preceded by social and religious revolutions.”

Ambedkar points out the need for all manner of reform but highlights the reality of social reform as a catalyst. Political and economic revolution may occur, and may be very necessary, but they are practically always preceded by a revolution at the social level. Very often they are in concert with some kind of change in the religious status quo.

“Religion, social status, and property are all sources of power and authority, which one man has, to control the liberty of another. One is predominant at one stage; the other is predominant at another stage.”

All societies deal with power structures, so the question becomes much more about the source and use of that power, rather than if there is any power to be used (or abused).