Dr. Ambedkar’s parents had enough money to pay school fees and economically well off. Then why did the principal deny him admission? Why did he face so much discrimination in society, such as being made to sit outside the classroom, being denied services by rickshaw pullers, and not being allowed entry into temples?

This indicates that we need to think beyond income. It was once believed that good income could solve all problems. However, if we look at the life of Dr. Ambedkar, we understand that something more is required to live a good life. We need to judge a person’s condition through the lens of development.

The important question is whether a person is able to live a life they value — a life with substantive freedoms such as being educated, healthy, living with dignity, and experiencing social equality.

What we need is capabilities to translate resources to good and dignified life.