Navayana Buddhism, as articulated by B. R. Ambedkar, reinterprets nirvana in resolutely this‑worldly, rational, and ethical terms. Rather than a primarily metaphysical escape from samsara or an ineffable otherworldly state, nirvana is understood as liberation from suffering rooted in ignorance, craving, and oppressive social structures. It signifies the extinction of clinging to false notions of self and the overcoming of greed, hatred, and delusion as they are embedded in social relations. In this sense, nirvana is not a flight from the world but a transformation of one’s understanding and conduct within it.

This reinterpretation places strong emphasis on social justice and equality. Nirvana is closely linked to freedom from caste discrimination, systemic inequality, and social injustice, so that spiritual liberation becomes inseparable from social liberation. The realization of nirvana involves the restoration of human dignity and self‑respect, particularly for those subjected to entrenched hierarchies. Ethical conduct, wisdom, and compassion are not merely personal virtues but forces for reshaping society into one grounded in liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Navayana thus gives nirvana a pronounced collective dimension. While inner transformation remains essential, the attainment of nirvana is tied to collective efforts toward social reform, education, and the dismantling of oppressive institutions. It is conceived as attainable in this very life through the creation of egalitarian communities and the cultivation of a rational, ethical way of living. In this view, the liberated person is one whose clarity of mind and freedom from ignorance naturally express themselves in active engagement for the well‑being of all.

Under this framework, nirvana becomes a state of mental clarity and moral freedom that is deeply engaged with the world rather than withdrawn from it. It is the fruition of wisdom and compassion expressed as concrete commitment to justice, the end of domination, and the alleviation of suffering in all its social forms. Far from being an abstract ideal, nirvana is presented as a lived possibility: a transformation of both consciousness and society that allows human beings to inhabit their full dignity and to contribute meaningfully to the common good.