Taking on Gandhi

During India's struggle to break free of British colonial rule, Mohandas Gandhi dominated the political stage. But there were two other important leaders who challenged Gandhi's hegemony over the independence movement. One, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, became the founder of Pakistan. The other, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, won crucial victories in the emancipation of India's oppressed untouchables, making them beneficiaries of what is today the world's largest program of affirmative action for education, jobs and political office.

His achievement was stunning. Born in 1891, Ambedkar was himself an untouchable, the 14th child of a poor school teacher. He faced extreme...