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4.66 AVERAGE
4.66 AVERAGE
I don't know why I didn't read this sooner. Ambedkar's writing, logics, and propositions are bullet-proof.
The reality of caste in India is scary, and more often than not the averagely educated person is not adversely impacted by it, thus making it a topic that not many think, and thus learn about. But we learn to revere those who upheld caste, and that is wrong.
Ambedkar's writing is of global relevance, and one of my most favourite parts was about his analysis of religions and cultures as an indicator of the morality and way of life in different societies. Yes, religion is not neutral and no, culture is not a defence for a practice that impedes someone's dignity.
I would love to connect with other people who have read this text, and I hope to introduce a lot of people to this text as well.
The reality of caste in India is scary, and more often than not the averagely educated person is not adversely impacted by it, thus making it a topic that not many think, and thus learn about. But we learn to revere those who upheld caste, and that is wrong.
Ambedkar's writing is of global relevance, and one of my most favourite parts was about his analysis of religions and cultures as an indicator of the morality and way of life in different societies. Yes, religion is not neutral and no, culture is not a defence for a practice that impedes someone's dignity.
I would love to connect with other people who have read this text, and I hope to introduce a lot of people to this text as well.
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Very very insightful read. Arundhati roy did i think a fantastic job for setting the stage and context from which this text/ piece emerged without mincing words. She so beautifully detailed with brutality her descriptions of the dangerous views held by Gandhi and the continued stink of the caste system that follows us to this day. Just everything political I'd read from her so far has been so !!! i don't even know how to describe it but her brain is very sexy
This insidious inhuman system that has been playing right before my eyes but the extent of which I had been blind to previously until a about a few years ago because of the inherent and invisible privilege of being born a tamil brahmin. I am trying to read more dalit literature and voices as I go because I've recently identified that as a humongous blind spot when i talk about my personal ethics. And I believe negligence and stasis is a dangerous act in itself.
As Roy points out herself, the one thing sickening about this manifesto is the language used against the tribal population of India. The way Ambedkar describes them as savages, who need to be integrated forcefully into "regular" society and have their culture and homes erased, clashed so thoroughly with the reason and passion with which he spoke about the dalit community. It just felt so sickening especially since i'm fresh off of having done my entire thesis on the colonisation of the Jarawa tribe in the Andamans both by the British Raj and then now the Indian government itself to this day with police brutality to boot and knowing no signs of change.
Sighs deeply. Anyway. That's a whole different conversation. I'm glad I read this annotated version because I got so much more out of it and it left lots of ideas to turn over and marinate in my brain.
This insidious inhuman system that has been playing right before my eyes but the extent of which I had been blind to previously until a about a few years ago because of the inherent and invisible privilege of being born a tamil brahmin. I am trying to read more dalit literature and voices as I go because I've recently identified that as a humongous blind spot when i talk about my personal ethics. And I believe negligence and stasis is a dangerous act in itself.
As Roy points out herself, the one thing sickening about this manifesto is the language used against the tribal population of India. The way Ambedkar describes them as savages, who need to be integrated forcefully into "regular" society and have their culture and homes erased, clashed so thoroughly with the reason and passion with which he spoke about the dalit community. It just felt so sickening especially since i'm fresh off of having done my entire thesis on the colonisation of the Jarawa tribe in the Andamans both by the British Raj and then now the Indian government itself to this day with police brutality to boot and knowing no signs of change.
Sighs deeply. Anyway. That's a whole different conversation. I'm glad I read this annotated version because I got so much more out of it and it left lots of ideas to turn over and marinate in my brain.
A well researched book on the social evils that continue to prevail in modern India. My only concern with the book is Ambedkar's insistence that religion is necessary.
Instead of caste, I believe we would be better of annihilating religion itself and focus our lives on moral values.
A must read for all Indians and anyone who is interested in the caste system.
Instead of caste, I believe we would be better of annihilating religion itself and focus our lives on moral values.
A must read for all Indians and anyone who is interested in the caste system.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This was extremely interesting. I didn’t know much about the caste system of India going into this and it has been really eye opening. I was aware of the basics but this has really supplemented my knowledge.
I do realise this book is politically motivated so it’s not an objective rendering of the situation but it’s still worth a read. I’ll definitely look more into the caste system and maybe read some other books on the subject.
I do realise this book is politically motivated so it’s not an objective rendering of the situation but it’s still worth a read. I’ll definitely look more into the caste system and maybe read some other books on the subject.
challenging
informative
inspiring
Must read! The introduction by Arundhati Roy is also incredibly helpful for understanding Dr.Ambedkar's speech.
I first read Dr. Ambedkar's essay a few years back when I had just started thinking about caste and how it is important to acknowledge caste exists and working to dismantle it, instead of sweeping it under the rug of poverty alleviation.
In the years between the first read to now, I have sharpened my own thinking. Had numerous discussions (often acrimonious ones) with Ambedkarites who speak glibly about "destruction of Hinduism" without getting into how they propose to do it, or what they will replace Hinduism with. I have witnessed Amebdkarites lock horns with Communists and as a keen but dispassionate observer seen how each calls the other casteist for approaching the issue of casteism from different directions (I also saw how at Gail Omvedt's funeral, chants of "Jai Bheem" and "Lal Salam" were raised in tandem). Above all, I have seen how everyone who quotes AoC seems to have no clue about how to go about doing what they want to do.
I picked up the "Annihilation of Caste: with a reply to Mahatma Gandhi" with the full weight of expectations on it. I had already internalised the issues relating to caste privilege and of how relative economic affluence does not necessarily translate into lack of social oppression. I had no doubt that "....the real method of breaking up the Caste System was not to bring about inter-caste dinners and inter-caste marriages but to destroy the religious notions on which Caste was founded". I recognise that what is needed is "social reform in the sense of the reorganization and reconstruction of the Hindu Society". What I really expected from the book was the "how". How does one bring about the destruction of a practice sanctioned by religion.
Alas, no solutions were offered. Dr Ambedkar says, and rightly that "To ask people to give up Caste is to ask them to go contrary to their fundamental religious notions." Since caste system is a hierarchy in which the divisions of labourers are graded one above the other, when people seek the annihilation of caste, they stand to lose as much as they gain. There is a great incentive for preserving the status quo, especially since to get out of that, you need to take on the entire nation.
Dr. Ambedkar calls for the "ancient rules of life be annulled" and that "its place ... be taken by a Religion of Principles, which alone can lay claim to being a true Religion." Drawing a distinction between principles and rules, he rightly points out that "the principle may be wrong but the act is conscious and responsible. The rule may be right but the act is mechanical. A religious act may not be a correct act but must at least be a responsible act."
However, he leaves it at that. He urges Hindus to take on the task of overthrowing the religion which has too many inflexible and inhuman rules, and replacing it with "a society based on Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." But he doesn't tell us how to make that happen.
In the context of 1936, and given the fact that the address was to be made to a society which was working towards annihilation of caste, the fact that he doesn't offer solutions doesn't matter. What is disappointing is that today the work is selectively quoted, and his vague calls for action are offered as solutions. Which they are not. I felt let down because the book did not address what I sought.
There was a long analysis on the order in which political reforms, economic reforms and social reforms could take place. How a person addresses that question depends on where they stand. Someone from a privileged social position will prioritise political reforms since that affects them most deeply. But post-Independence history has shown that unless one continues demanding social reform after attaining political reform, it gets missed out. In the context of today, in my opinion, since the prevailing political ideology is making the social menace worse, political reforms will need to be dealt with on priority.
If you are looking to learn about the caste system, and why it should be weeded out completely, this is the book for you. However, if you want answers to questions you are already asking, you may be disappointed because he too is asking those same questions. I would have still given the book five stars- that the author offers no solutions does not in any way take away from the phenomenal work done by him in explaining the intricacies of the caste system.
The reason I gave the book only 4 stars was because I did not find him a totally unbiased observer. For example, a lot of what Dr. Ambedkar said about Hinduism holds equally true for all religions. Almost all religions are dogmatic, almost all religions discourage reasoning, almost all religions are a collection of static rules. Yet, only Hinduism was singled out for criticism. Since it was about the caste system, I can understand why that might be so. However, in other sections of the book, Hinduism was compared to other religions and found wanting. Since they were brought up as a contrast, for the sake of neutrality, they should have been mentioned in other contexts too. Either keep it about one religion only or criticise all- selectiveness shows a marked bias.
In the years between the first read to now, I have sharpened my own thinking. Had numerous discussions (often acrimonious ones) with Ambedkarites who speak glibly about "destruction of Hinduism" without getting into how they propose to do it, or what they will replace Hinduism with. I have witnessed Amebdkarites lock horns with Communists and as a keen but dispassionate observer seen how each calls the other casteist for approaching the issue of casteism from different directions (I also saw how at Gail Omvedt's funeral, chants of "Jai Bheem" and "Lal Salam" were raised in tandem). Above all, I have seen how everyone who quotes AoC seems to have no clue about how to go about doing what they want to do.
I picked up the "Annihilation of Caste: with a reply to Mahatma Gandhi" with the full weight of expectations on it. I had already internalised the issues relating to caste privilege and of how relative economic affluence does not necessarily translate into lack of social oppression. I had no doubt that "....the real method of breaking up the Caste System was not to bring about inter-caste dinners and inter-caste marriages but to destroy the religious notions on which Caste was founded". I recognise that what is needed is "social reform in the sense of the reorganization and reconstruction of the Hindu Society". What I really expected from the book was the "how". How does one bring about the destruction of a practice sanctioned by religion.
Alas, no solutions were offered. Dr Ambedkar says, and rightly that "To ask people to give up Caste is to ask them to go contrary to their fundamental religious notions." Since caste system is a hierarchy in which the divisions of labourers are graded one above the other, when people seek the annihilation of caste, they stand to lose as much as they gain. There is a great incentive for preserving the status quo, especially since to get out of that, you need to take on the entire nation.
Dr. Ambedkar calls for the "ancient rules of life be annulled" and that "its place ... be taken by a Religion of Principles, which alone can lay claim to being a true Religion." Drawing a distinction between principles and rules, he rightly points out that "the principle may be wrong but the act is conscious and responsible. The rule may be right but the act is mechanical. A religious act may not be a correct act but must at least be a responsible act."
However, he leaves it at that. He urges Hindus to take on the task of overthrowing the religion which has too many inflexible and inhuman rules, and replacing it with "a society based on Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." But he doesn't tell us how to make that happen.
In the context of 1936, and given the fact that the address was to be made to a society which was working towards annihilation of caste, the fact that he doesn't offer solutions doesn't matter. What is disappointing is that today the work is selectively quoted, and his vague calls for action are offered as solutions. Which they are not. I felt let down because the book did not address what I sought.
There was a long analysis on the order in which political reforms, economic reforms and social reforms could take place. How a person addresses that question depends on where they stand. Someone from a privileged social position will prioritise political reforms since that affects them most deeply. But post-Independence history has shown that unless one continues demanding social reform after attaining political reform, it gets missed out. In the context of today, in my opinion, since the prevailing political ideology is making the social menace worse, political reforms will need to be dealt with on priority.
If you are looking to learn about the caste system, and why it should be weeded out completely, this is the book for you. However, if you want answers to questions you are already asking, you may be disappointed because he too is asking those same questions. I would have still given the book five stars- that the author offers no solutions does not in any way take away from the phenomenal work done by him in explaining the intricacies of the caste system.
The reason I gave the book only 4 stars was because I did not find him a totally unbiased observer. For example, a lot of what Dr. Ambedkar said about Hinduism holds equally true for all religions. Almost all religions are dogmatic, almost all religions discourage reasoning, almost all religions are a collection of static rules. Yet, only Hinduism was singled out for criticism. Since it was about the caste system, I can understand why that might be so. However, in other sections of the book, Hinduism was compared to other religions and found wanting. Since they were brought up as a contrast, for the sake of neutrality, they should have been mentioned in other contexts too. Either keep it about one religion only or criticise all- selectiveness shows a marked bias.
informative
reflective
Annihilation of Caste is a speech that Dr. BR Ambedkar is planning to give at the annual conference of the Jaat Pat Todak Mandal (Society for the Break up of Caste System) arguing for the complete annihilation of caste. The society does not want to raise the ire of the orthodox Hindus and decides to cancel the conference entirely in order to avoid the ire of the orthodox Hindus. Dr. Ambedkar is put in the position where he has to publish the book using his own money.
To most upper caste urban people, it would appear as if the caste system is already abolished and we live in a pure meritocracy. It is often the case that such wealthy urbanites benefit not only from wealth in the form of financial support from their parents but also the social capital that comes from being in a higher caste. Caste in India marks all people into different tribes and a person risks excommunication should they decide to break their caste. Dr. Ambedkar clearly lays out all of the effects that this system has on the workings of Indian society. He even makes a prediction that, if the caste system is not destroyed its many mischiefs and evils will spread around the world. A New York Times report speaks of a large temple complex built by lower caste labourers who were paid a paltry wage of just 1 dollar per hour. It speaks to Dr. Ambedkar's genius that he should have seen this coming nearly 100 years ago.
Upper caste people benefit daily from the social and financial capital of their caste whether they realise it or not. Its important to read up on and understand this system.
To most upper caste urban people, it would appear as if the caste system is already abolished and we live in a pure meritocracy. It is often the case that such wealthy urbanites benefit not only from wealth in the form of financial support from their parents but also the social capital that comes from being in a higher caste. Caste in India marks all people into different tribes and a person risks excommunication should they decide to break their caste. Dr. Ambedkar clearly lays out all of the effects that this system has on the workings of Indian society. He even makes a prediction that, if the caste system is not destroyed its many mischiefs and evils will spread around the world. A New York Times report speaks of a large temple complex built by lower caste labourers who were paid a paltry wage of just 1 dollar per hour. It speaks to Dr. Ambedkar's genius that he should have seen this coming nearly 100 years ago.
Upper caste people benefit daily from the social and financial capital of their caste whether they realise it or not. Its important to read up on and understand this system.