Village-level Hierarchies Ambedkar was critical of the traditional village system for perpetuating caste- based inequalities and social hierarchies. Separate Electorates Ambedkar initially advocated for separate electorates for depressed classes but later withdrew his support, recognizing their divisive potential and the need for a unified national polity. However, his earlier stance and concerns about representation indicate a distrust in the existing framework's ability to deliver justice to marginalized groups without specific safeguards, which he felt the Constituent Assembly might not adequately provide. Hero-worship Ambedkar warned against the dangers of hero-worship in politics, believing it could undermine democratic institutions and lead to authoritarianism. Democracy as an Initial Condition While Ambedkar saw democracy as a crucial pathway to social justice, his distrust in the Constituent Assembly's approach to achieving it was based on its perceived inadequacies in addressing deep- seated social inequalities.