"We are Indians, firstly and lastly"

When B. R. Ambedkar declared, “We are Indians, firstly and lastly,” he called for a powerful sense of national unity and collective identity that transcended religious, regional, caste, or linguistic differences. At the time, India was forging itself as an independent republic, struggling with the deep fractures left by colonial rule, among them communal tensions, social stratification, and cultural divides. Ambedkar, a principal architect of the Indian Constitution and an unwavering advocate for social justice, emphasized the idea that all citizens, regardless of their background, are bound by a common national identity.

The assertion serves as both a reminder and a prescriptive principle. It reminds citizens that their first and ultimate allegiance must be to the nation as a whole, not to narrower identities that can foster division. By foregrounding the word “Indian,” Ambedkar argues for an allegiance deeper than parochial loyalties or sectarian affiliations. The phrase “firstly and lastly” underscores the primacy and persistence of this overarching identity, suggesting that it should inform all actions and social relations from beginning to end.

Such a stance was vital for a nation rich in diversity yet vulnerable to fissures along lines of ethnicity, caste, and creed. Ambedkar’s words reject the notion that social status, faith, or community should define one’s place in the polity; he envisions a civic nationalism anchored in equality and inclusion. The phrase thus serves as an antidote to divisiveness, urging individuals and institutions to prioritize unity, justice, and shared nationhood.

In an era still marked by identity politics and competing loyalties, this message endures. It continues to inspire a vision of India as a pluralistic, democratic state where all are equal stakeholders. Ambedkar’s insistence on Indian identity as fundamental to both self-perception and national ethos remains a powerful call for solidarity and nation-building.