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4.66 AVERAGE
4.66 AVERAGE
I finally got the chance to read Ambedkar's work.
It all started with a Chinese English PhD student, who made a conversation on Caste System with me.
We both were having Dinner. He knew that I was from India, and brought the conversation of Caste.
Also, he was a Communist, this topic is of great interest to him. At that time, I wouldn't have been familiar with most of the history references used in this work.
As everyone, I tried the usual question, "How can we get rid of it?"
The more I explored the topic, the more I saw that I required more understanding, breadth in different fields of knowledge - Politics, Sociology, History, Anthropology, Economics.
Ambedkar, gives an outline of world history like a speech with points.
And then, gives his solution as inter-marriage and inter-dinning. I even wrote an Essay on Caste System. Perhaps in a decade with more breadth, understanding, it would be time for me to update it.
Some thoughts:
-Can Rules change human heart? Nope
-Can People be forced to treat others equally? Nope
-Can All Castes be forced to inter-marry, and inter-dine? Nope
Therefore, I am more persuaded that, he missed the problem of human nature, and change of human heart.
So Dear Reader, how do you change the human heart?
Edmund Burke says, “All men have equal rights, but not to equal things.”
Deus Vult,
Gottfried.
It all started with a Chinese English PhD student, who made a conversation on Caste System with me.
We both were having Dinner. He knew that I was from India, and brought the conversation of Caste.
Also, he was a Communist, this topic is of great interest to him. At that time, I wouldn't have been familiar with most of the history references used in this work.
As everyone, I tried the usual question, "How can we get rid of it?"
The more I explored the topic, the more I saw that I required more understanding, breadth in different fields of knowledge - Politics, Sociology, History, Anthropology, Economics.
Ambedkar, gives an outline of world history like a speech with points.
And then, gives his solution as inter-marriage and inter-dinning. I even wrote an Essay on Caste System. Perhaps in a decade with more breadth, understanding, it would be time for me to update it.
Some thoughts:
-Can Rules change human heart? Nope
-Can People be forced to treat others equally? Nope
-Can All Castes be forced to inter-marry, and inter-dine? Nope
Therefore, I am more persuaded that, he missed the problem of human nature, and change of human heart.
So Dear Reader, how do you change the human heart?
Edmund Burke says, “All men have equal rights, but not to equal things.”
Deus Vult,
Gottfried.
A book with very strong opinions indeed. Not sure whether all of them are applicable today (this was written at the time of independence). An interesting thing to do will be to see how each of points have changes according to time and whether they are applicable today also and if yes then it what form.
A brute force refutation of the claims of a over billion people of the supposed peaceful and tranquil nature of the third largest religion in the world, Annihilation of Caste remains, after a status quo retaining 85 years, an enthralling read.
Ambedkar's prose, while bare-bones in structure, is pointedly utilitarian. No flowery language or methods for favourable impression flank his momentum and quantity based approach to the proof. He, in fact, numbers his arguments as they tend to towards the conclusion, it being the need for the destruction of the caste system and the religion which so willfully harbors it.
The most eye-opening part of the book was the dialogue between Gandhi and Ambedkar. Gandhi implicitly called Ambedkar an attention-whore and Ambedkar was hurt :( and at that moment Gandhi tried to gish gallop his way into victory. Very wily. But Ambedkar proved to be too smart for him at the end. He diligently struck down all of Gandhi's arguments for the need of the wisdom that the creed he professes surely contains. He even ignored Gandhi's pointed barb at the pricing of the book. I think that conversation would be more entertaining as a rap battle.
5/5.
Ambedkar's prose, while bare-bones in structure, is pointedly utilitarian. No flowery language or methods for favourable impression flank his momentum and quantity based approach to the proof. He, in fact, numbers his arguments as they tend to towards the conclusion, it being the need for the destruction of the caste system and the religion which so willfully harbors it.
The most eye-opening part of the book was the dialogue between Gandhi and Ambedkar. Gandhi implicitly called Ambedkar an attention-whore and Ambedkar was hurt :( and at that moment Gandhi tried to gish gallop his way into victory. Very wily. But Ambedkar proved to be too smart for him at the end. He diligently struck down all of Gandhi's arguments for the need of the wisdom that the creed he professes surely contains. He even ignored Gandhi's pointed barb at the pricing of the book. I think that conversation would be more entertaining as a rap battle.
5/5.
It's so sad that the Jat-Pat Todak Mandal did not allow Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to deliver this particular speech. It's radical, but it's real, the caste system is the reason why many don't have opportunities to outgrow their social and economic woes.
I would have given this 5 stars, but the version of the book I have, has an introduction from Arundhati Roy. Roy explains the contrasting ideas Gandhi and Ambedkar had and criticizes Gandhi a lot. Ger points are of course valid, but they really overshadow what Ambedkar has to say about the caste system. It's like she's stealing his thunder although that's not the case.
But, this book is a MUST read, read the undelivered speech for sure.
I would have given this 5 stars, but the version of the book I have, has an introduction from Arundhati Roy. Roy explains the contrasting ideas Gandhi and Ambedkar had and criticizes Gandhi a lot. Ger points are of course valid, but they really overshadow what Ambedkar has to say about the caste system. It's like she's stealing his thunder although that's not the case.
But, this book is a MUST read, read the undelivered speech for sure.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
In the late 1990s, when I was 13 years old, my mom gave me Dr. Ambedkar's Riddle of Rama and Krishna and asked me to never discuss its content with anyone. She impressed on me the dangers of attracting the ire of fanatics and getting lynched. My instinct for self-preservation is kicking in even as I type this review.
For Ambedkar I would say: No prophet is popular in his hometown.He rages and rages with such clarity and reasoning that none of the caste-Hindus could ever be able to stand defense.He also argues about the position of women, which is an oppressed class itself.This is the most important book I have ever read till date. Each sentence here is worth quoting.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I'm glad I read this book as part of a read along suggested by other bloggers. Being an Indian, I'm surprised that this book wasn't a part of the regular course material growing up. But then, if you read the footnotes in the book, you'll be even more surprised with the omissions of certain facts and backgrounds and philosophies of our admired leaders, that we studied in history and civics.
In this book of his undelivered speech, Dr. Ambedkar has made some compelling arguments regarding the annihilation of caste system in India and how that can actually help our country become stronger. A worthwhile read.
In this book of his undelivered speech, Dr. Ambedkar has made some compelling arguments regarding the annihilation of caste system in India and how that can actually help our country become stronger. A worthwhile read.
Difficult to review such a formative text.
I enjoyed Roy's introduction, in and of itself very informative as well as exceptionally good in setting the context for Dr Ambedkar's undelivered speech. A brief history of caste and anti-caste activism in independent India would also have been very helpful.
A must read, especially for Hindu Savarnas.
I enjoyed Roy's introduction, in and of itself very informative as well as exceptionally good in setting the context for Dr Ambedkar's undelivered speech. A brief history of caste and anti-caste activism in independent India would also have been very helpful.
A must read, especially for Hindu Savarnas.