552 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
enunciated. That Government must be by the exploited classes and not by the exploiting classes, which is what is meant by dictatorship of the proletariat. These are fundamental propositions in Karl Marx, which have the basis of Communism in Russia. They have undoubtedly been expanded, it has been added too, and so on. But these are the fundamental propositions.
Now let me, for a moment, go to Buddhism and see what the Buddha has to say about the points made out by Karl Marx. As I told you, Karl Marx begins with what is called exploitation of the poor. What does the Buddha say ? How does he begin ? What is the foundation on which he has raised the structure of His religion ? The Buddha, too, 2000 or at any rate 2400 years ago, said exactly the same thing. He said, “There is Dukkha in the world.” He did not use the word ‘exploitation’ but He did lay the foundation of His religion on what He called Dukkha There is Dukkha in the world. The word Dukkha no doubt has been interpreted in various ways. It has been interpreted to mean re-birth, the round of life, that is Dukkha. I do not agree with that. I think there are lots of places in the Buddhist literature where the Buddha has used the word Dukkha in the sense of poverty. Therefore, so far as the foundaion is concerned, there is really no difference at all.
It is unnecessary for the Buddhist people to go to Karl Marx to get the foundation. That foundation is already there, well laid. It is where the Buddha begins his first sermon-the Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutta. Therefore, to those who are attracted by Karl Marx, I say, study the Dharmachakra Pravartana Sutta and find out what the Buddha says. And you will find sufficient satisfaction on this question. The Buddha did not lay the foundation of his religion either on God, or on Soul, or anything Supernatural like these. He laid His finger on the fact of life-people are living in suffering. Therefore, so far as Marxism or Communism is concerned, Buddhism has enough of it. And the Buddha has said it 2000 years before Marx was born.
With regard to the question of property, you will again find some very close affinity to the doctrine of the Buddha and the doctrine preached by Karl Marx. Karl Marx said that in order