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4.66 AVERAGE
4.66 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Never realised a social issue could be analysed with so much Logic and Reasoning! His earlier book of 'Castes in India' already prepped me to the depth he was operating at.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
man was dropping banger after banger throughout his career
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Not only is this the definitive work on caste, it is also scathing and expertly written. Based on the appendices where he owns Gandhi with facts and logic, Ambedkar would’ve killed it on Twitter.
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
honestly a must read for anyone to understand Indian religious, political and social history and systems better. lots to think over with the critiques in caste, the context with conflicts between Ambedkar and Gandhi - the footnotes do an essential job in placing each statement within historical context
"What is this Hindu religion? Is it a set of principles, or is it a code of rules? ... The moment it degenerates into rules, it ceases to be a religion, as it kills the responsibility which is the essence of a truly religious act." - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
I'm surprised at how articulate and to-the-bone a speech can be written to convey one's thesis, which still holds the test of time. The whole speech itself and appendixes of communication between the Mahatma and Dr. Ambedkar can be a quick read and at the same time be a lot to digest. I was especially impressed by the distinction Dr. Ambedkar draws between rules and principles, and further how he applies those distinctions to the connotation of religion and its place in society. Reading this speech is a journey I'd suggest to everyone.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
A clear idea presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar about casteism in India and its negative impacts.
Caste exists.
Most of us are told about caste using adjectives describing the injustices that stem from its existence.Consequently we grow up empathising/repulsing the topic. The media or political parties arent helpful in clearing the confusion.This book is a good place to start.Meanwhile,being vocal about your anti-caste stand is an easy way of signalling virtue. But what is Caste? what is Varna? How are they different?
Sadly these questions seem irrelevant to the 21st century, Young,Indian-egalitarians. They seem to work on the presupposition that Caste System is EVIL.This is in violation of the Principle of Charity. One needs to create the hardest and most accurate representation of their opponents argument before mounting a watertight defence against it.This process is called "Steelmanning"(as an antidote to strawmanning)Ambedkar's charitable refutals are void of appeals to emotion. Hence Ambedkar is essential reading for anybody who wants to seriously engage in the problem of Caste.
Another realisation I earned from reading this book is that most contemporary political arguments misrepresent what the man had to say.Ambedkar didn't see equality as an end in itself, rather Equality was a means for ensuring maximum Liberty to each Individual.
Equality was not a goal, rather a governing principle.
Often Ambedkarites putting forth the argument that merit is a social construct.Meanwhile Ambedkar held the view that Merit and competency should be the criterion in Social Hierarchies.Hoping to read more of Ambedkar's works in the future.
Most of us are told about caste using adjectives describing the injustices that stem from its existence.Consequently we grow up empathising/repulsing the topic. The media or political parties arent helpful in clearing the confusion.This book is a good place to start.Meanwhile,being vocal about your anti-caste stand is an easy way of signalling virtue. But what is Caste? what is Varna? How are they different?
Sadly these questions seem irrelevant to the 21st century, Young,Indian-egalitarians. They seem to work on the presupposition that Caste System is EVIL.This is in violation of the Principle of Charity. One needs to create the hardest and most accurate representation of their opponents argument before mounting a watertight defence against it.This process is called "Steelmanning"(as an antidote to strawmanning)Ambedkar's charitable refutals are void of appeals to emotion. Hence Ambedkar is essential reading for anybody who wants to seriously engage in the problem of Caste.
Another realisation I earned from reading this book is that most contemporary political arguments misrepresent what the man had to say.Ambedkar didn't see equality as an end in itself, rather Equality was a means for ensuring maximum Liberty to each Individual.
Equality was not a goal, rather a governing principle.
Often Ambedkarites putting forth the argument that merit is a social construct.Meanwhile Ambedkar held the view that Merit and competency should be the criterion in Social Hierarchies.Hoping to read more of Ambedkar's works in the future.