Navayāna Buddhism, often rendered as the “New Vehicle,” is a modern reinterpretation of the Buddhist tradition formulated by B. R. Ambedkar in the Indian context. It arose as a deliberate response to caste-based oppression and was shaped as a path of social and spiritual liberation for those subjected to systemic discrimination, especially Dalit communities. Rather than aligning itself with Theravāda, Mahāyāna, or Vajrayāna, it is presented as a distinct stream, consciously distancing itself from earlier schools. This distinctiveness lies not only in doctrinal choices but also in the explicit orientation toward social transformation and egalitarian ethics.

At the heart of Navayāna lies a radical emphasis on equality, human dignity, and social justice. Caste hierarchy, ritual status, and inherited privilege are rejected as fundamentally incompatible with the Dhamma. The Buddha is portrayed less as a supernatural savior and more as a rational, ethical reformer and social critic who opposed oppressive religious structures. The traditional teachings, such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, are reinterpreted as instruments for ending social suffering, not merely individual existential anguish. In this way, liberation is framed as a collective, this-worldly project rather than a purely personal escape from saṃsāra.

Navayāna also adopts a distinctly rational and this-worldly stance toward Buddhist doctrine. Metaphysical elements such as rebirth, karma understood as cosmic moral bookkeeping, and elaborate cosmologies are downplayed or rejected, especially where they have been used to justify social inequality. The focus shifts to ethical conduct, education, and social engagement as the primary expressions of Buddhist practice. Ritual is simplified, and the monastic community is imagined in democratic terms, with an emphasis on participation and shared responsibility rather than rigid hierarchy.

In practical terms, Navayāna encourages commitment to the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts, yet understands them as living principles for ethical life and social transformation. The sangha is envisioned as a community dedicated to liberty, equality, and fraternity, using Buddhist identity as a means to challenge and transcend caste oppression. Mass conversions, such as those led by Ambedkar, symbolically enact a break from oppressive religious structures and a turning toward a more just social order. Navayāna thus stands as a form of engaged Buddhism, seeking the eradication of suffering in this life through moral action, community organization, and the pursuit of a genuinely egalitarian society.