Chapter 5: Who can be called a Great Man? — Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Description: This post contains comprehensive questions and answers based on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's essay "Who can be called a Great Man?", adapted from his 1943 address on Mahadev Govind Ranade. It is divided into Short, Medium, and Long Answer sections for study and revision.
Table of Contents
Part A: Short Answer Questions & Answers (1-2 Sentences)
Q1. What is the source of the essay "Who can be called a Great Man?"
Answer: The essay is an extract from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's address delivered on the 101st birth anniversary of Mahadev Govind Ranade in 1943.
Q2. Who is the 'eminent' person Ambedkar compares other leaders to in this speech?
Answer: He compares other leaders to Mahadev Govind Ranade, a prominent Indian social reformer and judge.
Q3. What is Thomas Carlyle's test of greatness?
Answer: Thomas Carlyle's test of greatness is the 'test of sincerity,' which states that a great man must be deeply earnest and sincere.
Q4. According to Carlyle, what must a great man be first of all?
Answer: According to Carlyle, a great man must first of all be a 'right earnest man' who cannot help being sincere.
Q5. What is Lord Rosebery's definition of a great man?
Answer: Lord Rosebery defines greatness as a combination of sincerity and intellect, where a great man possesses a brilliant mind directed by a sincere heart.
Q6. How does Ambedkar define an "eminent individual" as opposed to a "great man"?
Answer: An eminent individual possesses intellect and capacity, but a great man must have these qualities directed by a noble social purpose.
Q7. What is Dr. Ambedkar's own progressive test of a great man?
Answer: Ambedkar's test is that a great man must be motivated by a dynamic social purpose and must act to reform and rebuild society.
Q8. What colorful terms does Ambedkar use to describe the social role of a great man?
Answer: He states that a great man must act as the 'scourge' and the 'scavenger' of society, whipping social evils and cleaning up injustices.
Q9. What does Ambedkar warn against in democratic politics?
Answer: He warns against 'Hero Worship' (Bhakti), which leads to the eventual surrender of people's rights and the ruin of democracy.
Q10. What quality must a great man possess to help a society in crisis?
Answer: He must possess the courage and vision to guide his society along the correct, progressive path during times of major crisis.
Q11. Who were Napoleon and Alexander in the context of Ambedkar's discussion?
Answer: They were military heroes who made huge epochs but did not leave a permanent, positive moral mark on the character of their societies.
Q12. Why does Ambedkar reject pure military heroism as a measure of greatness?
Answer: He rejects it because military conquests only dazzle temporarily and do not transform or elevate the moral fabric of society.
Q13. What is the difference between intellect and social purpose?
Answer: Intellect is the capacity to think and solve complex problems, while social purpose is the commitment to use that capacity for the welfare and reform of society.
Q14. How does a great man distinguish himself from a common politician?
Answer: A great man focuses on long-term social reformation and justice, whereas a common politician is driven by short-term power and personal gain.
Q15. What is the final message of Ambedkar's essay on leadership?
Answer: The final message is that true greatness must be measured by a leader's dedication to social justice, equality, and the elimination of caste and social evils.
Part B: Medium Answer Questions & Answers (80-100 Words)
Q1. Explain Thomas Carlyle's "test of sincerity" as discussed by Dr. Ambedkar.
Answer: Dr. Ambedkar analyzes Thomas Carlyle’s famous 'test of sincerity' for defining a great man. Carlyle, the apostle of Hero Worship, argued that sincerity is the fundamental quality of a great man. A great man must not be a shallow, boastful, or self-conceited person. Instead, he must possess a deep, genuine, and earnest sincerity that guides his actions. For Carlyle, sincerity is the primary foundation of any heroic character, and without it, no man can achieve true greatness, regardless of his intellect or achievements.
Q2. Describe Lord Rosebery's criteria for defining a great man.
Answer: Lord Rosebery proposed a more comprehensive test than Carlyle, adding intellect to the definition of greatness. Rosebery argued that a great man must possess an extraordinary combination of high intellect and deep sincerity. Sincerity alone is not enough; it must be guided by a brilliant, analytical mind capable of understanding complex human situations. Rosebery used the example of Napoleon Bonaparte to illustrate his point, showing how a great leader must possess a divine spark of genius combined with an unbreakable, focused will.
Q3. How does Dr. Ambedkar distinguish a "Great Man" from an "Eminent Individual"?
Answer: Ambedkar makes a sharp, critical distinction between an eminent individual and a great man. An eminent individual is someone who has achieved high social standing, wealth, or power through their outstanding intellect or professional capacity. However, they may remain entirely selfish and indifferent to social problems. A great man, conversely, must use their intellect, capacity, and standing for a noble public cause. Sincerity and intellect are partial; they must be motivated by a dynamic social purpose to constitute true greatness.
Q4. Explain Ambedkar's concept of a great man as a "scourge" of society.
Answer: Ambedkar uses the striking metaphor of a 'scourge' (a whip used for punishment) to describe a great man's social duty. A great man cannot be a passive observer of social evils. He must act as a scourge, aggressively attacking, criticizing, and whipping the corrupt customs, superstitions, and unequal systems of his society, such as the caste system. He must have the courage to make enemies and face public anger in his fight to establish truth and justice, serving as a powerful force for social destruction and rebuilding.
Q5. What does Ambedkar mean by describing a great man as a "scavenger" of society?
Answer: In addition to being a scourge, Ambedkar argues that a great man must perform the humble, dirty, and essential work of a 'scavenger.' A scavenger cleans up waste and dirt from the streets. Similarly, a great social scavenger must identify, clean up, and eliminate the deep-seated 'social filth' of his community, which includes untouchability, caste discrimination, and religious superstitions. This role requires immense humility and dedication, showing that true greatness lies in serving and purifying the lowest sections of society.
Q6. Why does Ambedkar warn against "Hero Worship" or "Bhakti" in politics?
Answer: Ambedkar delivers a prophetic warning against Hero Worship, which he calls the path to dictatorship. While 'Bhakti' or devotion may be acceptable in religion as a path to the salvation of the soul, in politics, Bhakti or Hero Worship is a certain road to degradation and eventual dictatorship. When people blindly worship a leader, they surrender their critical thinking, their constitutional rights, and their democratic freedoms. A democracy cannot survive if citizens treat a political leader as an infallible, god-like figure.
Q7. How does Ambedkar view the historical impact of military conquerors like Alexander and Caesar?
Answer: Ambedkar views military conquerors like Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Tamerlane as 'eminent' but not truly 'great' men. He admits that they made huge historical epochs, won resounding victories, and dazzled their contemporaries. However, their influence was temporary and physical rather than moral. They did not transform the moral character or social structure of the societies they conquered. When viewed from a distance, their conquests appear like fleeting storms that left no permanent, positive leaven in the moral progress of humanity.
Q8. Explain the role of "Social Purpose" in Ambedkar's theory of leadership.
Answer: For Ambedkar, 'Social Purpose' is the ultimate and non-negotiable test of a great man. Sincerity and intellect are empty tools if they are not driven by a desire to bring about positive social change. A great leader must be motivated by the dynamics of social reconstruction and justice. His primary goal must be to uplift the marginalized, establish equality, and eliminate discrimination. Social purpose transforms a brilliant intellectual or a powerful politician into a true champion of humanity who lives on in history.
Q9. How did Mahadev Govind Ranade exemplify Ambedkar's criteria of greatness?
Answer: Mahadev Govind Ranade served as a living example of Ambedkar’s definition of greatness. Ranade was not just a brilliant judge and intellectual (intellect), nor was he merely an earnest reformer (sincerity). He dedicated his entire life, career, and social standing to the progressive reformation of Indian society. He fought against child marriage, worked for widow remarriage, and strove to clean up the social evils of his community (social purpose). He acted as both a scourge and a scavenger of his society, earning his place as a truly great man.
Q10. What is the relationship between sincerity, intellect, and social reform according to Ambedkar?
Answer: Ambedkar argues that sincerity, intellect, and social reform are interconnected. Sincerity provides the moral foundation and earnestness required to stand for truth. Intellect provides the analytical capacity to understand social problems and design effective solutions. However, these two qualities are incomplete and can be dangerous if they are not channeled into social reform. Social reform is the practical application of sincerity and intellect, turning personal virtue into public good and creating a more just and equal society.
Q11. How does Ambedkar's definition of greatness challenge traditional, elitist views?
Answer: Traditional views often define greatness in terms of high birth, royal status, military conquest, or dry academic intelligence. Ambedkar’s definition radically challenges this elitist framework by shifting the focus to social service and the empowerment of the marginalized. He argues that no one can be called great unless they stand up for the poor, fight against social inequality, and dedicate their lives to cleansing social evils. He redefines greatness as a democratic, service-oriented, and revolutionary concept available to those who serve humanity.
Q12. Analyze the rhetorical style of Ambedkar's speech "Who can be called a Great Man?".
Answer: The rhetorical style of Ambedkar's speech is exceptionally logical, academic, and powerful. He begins by citing and dissecting the philosophical arguments of Western thinkers like Carlyle and Rosebery, showing his deep intellectual training. He then introduces his own definitions with precision and clarity. His use of vivid, provocative metaphors like 'scourge' and 'scavenger' makes his arguments highly memorable and impactful. The tone is serious, urgent, and deeply committed to social justice, reflecting his role as the architect of modern Indian social reform.
Part C: Long Answer Questions & Answers (200 Words)
Q1. Critically analyze Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's threefold metric for defining a "Great Man." How does his definition challenge contemporary political leadership?
Answer: In his address on Mahadev Govind Ranade, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar formulates a highly rigorous, threefold metric to define a truly "Great Man." He begins by evaluating Thomas Carlyle's "test of sincerity" and Lord Rosebery's "test of intellect." While acknowledging that sincerity and intellect are essential, Ambedkar argues that they are incomplete. Sincerity can exist in a fanatic, and intellect can be used for selfish, oppressive ends. Therefore, Ambedkar introduces his third, progressive test: "Social Purpose."
According to Ambedkar, a great man must be motivated by a dynamic social purpose. He must use his intellect and sincerity to bring about social reconstruction, fight inequality, and uplift the marginalized. He must have the courage to act as the "scourge" and "scavenger" of his society, aggressively attacking social evils like the caste system and cleaning up social filth. This definition directly challenges contemporary political leadership, which is often driven by shallow image-making, populist slogans, and the pursuit of raw power. Ambedkar shifts the focus of leadership from personal charisma and electoral victory to structural social reform and moral integrity, providing a timeless standard for evaluating political greatness in a democracy.
Q2. Discuss Ambedkar's warnings against "Hero Worship" or "Bhakti" in politics. Why is this concept highly relevant to modern democratic societies?
Answer: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's warnings against "Hero Worship" or "Bhakti" in politics are among his most significant contributions to democratic theory, and they remain highly relevant in the modern era. Ambedkar draws a sharp distinction between Bhakti in religion and Bhakti in politics. In religion, devotion to a deity may lead to the salvation of the individual soul. However, in politics, Bhakti or Hero Worship is a direct path to the degradation of public institutions and eventual dictatorship.
When a society indulges in hero worship, citizens surrender their critical thinking and treat their leaders as infallible gods who can solve all problems. This blind faith undermines the constitutional principles of checks and balances, free debate, and accountability. Modern democracies, with their highly sophisticated media, PR machines, and social media algorithms, are particularly vulnerable to the creation of personality cults. Leaders are often packaged as saviors, encouraging people to value loyalty to an individual over loyalty to democratic values. Ambedkar warns that no democracy can survive if its people are willing to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man, emphasizing that a healthy democracy requires alert, critical, and self-reliant citizens rather than blind worshippers.
Q3. Explain the metaphorical significance of describing a great man as the "scourge" and "scavenger" of his society.
Answer: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar uses the highly evocative and provocative metaphors of a "scourge" and a "scavenger" to describe the social duties of a great man, transforming our understanding of leadership. A "scourge" is a whip used to punish or drive out evil. By describing a great leader as a scourge, Ambedkar emphasizes that true social reform requires aggressive, uncompromising confrontation with injustice. The leader must use his voice and actions to whip the conscience of the powerful, exposing and attacking the corrupt customs, superstitions, and unequal systems—such as caste discrimination—that exploit the weak.
At the same time, the leader must act as a "scavenger." A scavenger performs the humble, difficult, and often despised work of cleaning up physical filth. Socially, this means rolling up one's sleeves to identify and clean up the deep-seated "social filth" of untouchability, prejudice, and hatred. This role requires immense humility, empathy, and a willingness to associate with the lowest sections of society. Together, these metaphors show that greatness is not about sitting on a high throne of power or receiving praise; it is about engaging in the difficult, controversial, and exhausting work of social purification and reconstruction, serving as both a powerful destructive force against evil and a humble builder of a just society.
Q4. Compare and contrast Carlyle's, Rosebery's, and Ambedkar's tests of greatness. How does Ambedkar synthesize and advance these ideas?
Answer: In his essay, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar engages in a brilliant intellectual dialogue with Western thinkers to construct a synthesized and advanced theory of greatness. He begins with Thomas Carlyle's theory of "Hero Worship," which sets the "test of sincerity" as the primary standard. For Carlyle, a hero is someone who is deeply earnest and cannot help but speak the truth. Ambedkar accepts this but finds it partial; a sincere person can still be foolish or hold dangerous, outdated ideas.
Ambedkar then evaluates Lord Rosebery's criteria, which combines sincerity with intellect. Rosebery argues that a great man must have a powerful mind to direct his sincerity. Ambedkar agrees that capacity is essential, but notes that many highly intellectual and sincere individuals remain entirely indifferent to the suffering of others, or even use their intellect to justify oppression. Ambedkar synthesizes these views and advances them by introducing "Social Purpose." Sincerity and intellect are merely raw tools; they must be guided by a progressive social purpose to constitute true greatness. A leader must use his sincere heart and brilliant mind to actively reform and elevate his society. By adding this ethical, service-oriented dimension, Ambedkar transforms an elitist concept of personal genius into a democratic, revolutionary model of social leadership.
Q5. Discuss how Mahadev Govind Ranade's life and reform work embody Dr. Ambedkar's definition of a great man.
Answer: Mahadev Govind Ranade's life and career serve as the concrete, historical embodiment of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's definition of a great man. Ranade possessed high intellectual capacity, serving as a brilliant judge, economist, and scholar. He also possessed a deep, unquestionable sincerity that guided his actions. However, what truly elevated him to greatness, according to Ambedkar, was his lifelong dedication to the progressive reformation of Indian society.
Ranade lived in an era dominated by orthodox customs and deep social inequality. Instead of enjoying his elite status, he chose to act as both a scourge and a scavenger of his society. He aggressively attacked the evils of child marriage, worked tirelessly for the legal rights of widows, and promoted modern education. He faced immense public opposition and social boycotts from orthodox groups, but he refused to compromise. He recognized that political freedom was meaningless without social reform and equality. By dedicating his intellect and sincerity to the moral purification of his community, Ranade proved that a great man is not defined by military conquests or political power, but by his enduring service to social justice and human dignity, fully validating Ambedkar's progressive metric of leadership.