Kanshi Ram joined the offices of the Explosive Research and Development Laboratory in Pune under the government's scheme of affirmative action. It was at this time that he first experienced caste discrimination and in 1964 he became an activist. Those who admire him claim that he was spurred to this after reading B. R. Ambedkar's book "Annihilation of Caste" and witnessing what he perceived to be discrimination against a Dalit employee who wished to observe a holiday celebrating Ambedkar's birth. Kanshi Ram strongly inspired by B. R. Ambedkar and his philosophy.