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jessicaps's review against another edition
4.0
I read this after reading The Doctor and the Saint by Arundhati Roy, and I’m glad I read that first, as it provides a lot of context for both Ambedkar and Ghandi. Annihilation of Caste is dense and I definitely had to pause and look things up but it is worthwhile and I felt a lot of parallels to today. I also thought the back-and-forth between Ghandi and Ambedkar after the publication of the speech is fascinating and enlightening.
uditnair24's review against another edition
5.0
One of the fiercest commentaries on the deplorable practice of caste system of India. Ambedkar thinks that there can be no fundamental reform in the Hinduism until and unless caste system is annihilated. This leads him to another proposition which is the sanction behind the caste system is religious in nature. As a result you either get out of the fold of the Hinduism as he himself did or destroy the sanctity of the texts which prescribe the caste system or supports it indeed.
He passionately tears into each and every justification given for caste system. He does this with scholarly backing and also bit of common sense which seems to be missing all the times.
The best part about the work is that it has lessons for everybody. For eg even the people who wish for the so called hindu unity have been given insights through this. Ambedkar firmly believes that without the end of caste system there cannot be a unity of the so called majority in india. Although he is so brutal with his analysis that most of the right wingers would be too uncomfortable reading or even understanding him.
Just to give a little insight into his take on chaturvarna system let me quote him verbatim here_
"There cannot be a more degrading system of social organization than the Chaturvarnya. It is the system which deadens, paralyses and cripples the people from helpful activity. This is no exaggeration. History bears ample evidence. There is only one period in Indian history which is a period of freedom, greatness and glory. That is the period of the Mourya Empire. At all other times the country suffered from defeat and darkness. But the Mourya period was a period when Chaturvarnya was completely annihilated, when the Shudras, who constituted the mass of the people, came into their own and became the rulers of the country. The period of defeat and darkness is the period when Chaturvarnya flourished to the damnation of the greater part of the people of the country."
Further he goes on to give solutions too. First as I mentioned above is to get out of the fold of Hinduism. Second would be question the authority of scriptures. Probably the third one is the most feasible one which is inter caste or interfaith marriages. Once you mix the blood there is no purity as such and this cannot be refuted at all.
The parting paragraph of this commentary is directly addressing the Hindus and here it is -
"The Hindus must consider whether the time has not come for them to recognize that there is nothing fixed, nothing eternal, nothing sanatan; that everything is changing, that change is the law of life for individuals as well as for society. In a changing society, there must be a constant revolution of old values and the Hindus must realize that if there must be standards to measure the acts of men there must also be a readiness to revise those standards."
He passionately tears into each and every justification given for caste system. He does this with scholarly backing and also bit of common sense which seems to be missing all the times.
The best part about the work is that it has lessons for everybody. For eg even the people who wish for the so called hindu unity have been given insights through this. Ambedkar firmly believes that without the end of caste system there cannot be a unity of the so called majority in india. Although he is so brutal with his analysis that most of the right wingers would be too uncomfortable reading or even understanding him.
Just to give a little insight into his take on chaturvarna system let me quote him verbatim here_
"There cannot be a more degrading system of social organization than the Chaturvarnya. It is the system which deadens, paralyses and cripples the people from helpful activity. This is no exaggeration. History bears ample evidence. There is only one period in Indian history which is a period of freedom, greatness and glory. That is the period of the Mourya Empire. At all other times the country suffered from defeat and darkness. But the Mourya period was a period when Chaturvarnya was completely annihilated, when the Shudras, who constituted the mass of the people, came into their own and became the rulers of the country. The period of defeat and darkness is the period when Chaturvarnya flourished to the damnation of the greater part of the people of the country."
Further he goes on to give solutions too. First as I mentioned above is to get out of the fold of Hinduism. Second would be question the authority of scriptures. Probably the third one is the most feasible one which is inter caste or interfaith marriages. Once you mix the blood there is no purity as such and this cannot be refuted at all.
The parting paragraph of this commentary is directly addressing the Hindus and here it is -
"The Hindus must consider whether the time has not come for them to recognize that there is nothing fixed, nothing eternal, nothing sanatan; that everything is changing, that change is the law of life for individuals as well as for society. In a changing society, there must be a constant revolution of old values and the Hindus must realize that if there must be standards to measure the acts of men there must also be a readiness to revise those standards."
jai_g's review against another edition
5.0
Ambedkar's final words on Hinduism
The foreclosure given by Arundhati Roy in addition to the original text was very good. The letters which were exchanged in addition to the original address was also presented.
The original reforms that must be carried as a religion was also stated by Ambedkar which was vehemently disregarded by Most of the hindus.
One thing which comes to my mind is the suggestion of any one should become a priest irrespective of caste, this is one Idea already got implemented in Tamil nadu. It is a recent take, Historically it was done by Sri Ramanujar by preaching sacred text to everyone.
The foreclosure given by Arundhati Roy in addition to the original text was very good. The letters which were exchanged in addition to the original address was also presented.
The original reforms that must be carried as a religion was also stated by Ambedkar which was vehemently disregarded by Most of the hindus.
One thing which comes to my mind is the suggestion of any one should become a priest irrespective of caste, this is one Idea already got implemented in Tamil nadu. It is a recent take, Historically it was done by Sri Ramanujar by preaching sacred text to everyone.
yogarshi's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book to kick start 2021. Ambedkar's writing has the clarity and sharp quality that makes him stand head and shoulders above his critics (particularly, and in the context of this book, Gandhi, whose simplistic arguments are destroyed by Ambedkar without blinking an eye). I want to say this book should be compulsory reading in schools and colleges everywhere, but honestly, as a privileged upper-caste teenager, my head was so far up my ass that I probably would have dismissed this work without a second thought. I'm glad that I read this when I did, with a few extra years of mature world-view on my side. It is patently clear that the problems highlighted by Ambedkar almost 9 decades ago are still relevant to the DBA community. While to a bystander Ambedkar's solution of dismantling the structures of Hinduism are radical, his arguments make it very clear how these very structures enable and perpetuate social inequities via the caste system. No amount of socio-political reform of Hinduism is going to solve the caste problem.
That is not to say Ambedkar never falters. His disregard and condescension towards Adivasis is problematic (as also pointed out in the book-length introduction by Arundhati Roy, which does a good job of setting the context for the speech). Despite this, there is more wisdom and food-for-thought to be gained here than in any of his contemporaries' writings.
That is not to say Ambedkar never falters. His disregard and condescension towards Adivasis is problematic (as also pointed out in the book-length introduction by Arundhati Roy, which does a good job of setting the context for the speech). Despite this, there is more wisdom and food-for-thought to be gained here than in any of his contemporaries' writings.
somecatcherintherye's review against another edition
5.0
While this book may not be the best parameter to judge the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar and his views on the vast topics that concern our society - given the fact that it largely talks about caste - it is the best and so far the most stark commentary I have read on such a controversial subject as caste. A man of strong opinions, he does not shy away from questioning and sometimes even publicly and unapologetically criticizing the Mahatma. It was a treat to read his opinions on the subject and the way he carried them out in speech/writing. I am immensely grateful to him for having laid down The Indian Constitution which is the basis of many laws that govern our nation today.
floydian's review against another edition
5.0
“Caste System is not merely a division of labour. It is also a division of labourers.”
This book, as the name suggests, is about how caste system is a worst nightmare for those who come in its radar. About how caste has oppressed people from ages and is continuing in doing so.
Originally written to address the members of Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal (organisation of caste reformers) but later published by Ambedkar himself as the whole event was cancelled concerning how controversial the whole speech can get.
Caste system was a necessary adjustment needed to keep the sanity of religion. Ambedkar ji challenges the core if it. He questions the very authority of the Shastras & the Vedas. He questions the underlying rules to be a part of hindu religion. He even questions the principles of Mahatma gandhi whom many preach and which such elegance.
“All are slaves of the Caste System. But all the slaves are not equal in status.”
This book is one of the finest material if you want to deep dive and study the intricate way in which caste and religion goes hand in hand & pollute our minds. It should be a part of the CBSE curriculum so that we can break the caste system from the very beginning.
Verdict: Enlighten yourself so that we can dream of a nation where people get what they deserve irrespective of which caste and religion they are born in.
This book, as the name suggests, is about how caste system is a worst nightmare for those who come in its radar. About how caste has oppressed people from ages and is continuing in doing so.
Originally written to address the members of Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal (organisation of caste reformers) but later published by Ambedkar himself as the whole event was cancelled concerning how controversial the whole speech can get.
Caste system was a necessary adjustment needed to keep the sanity of religion. Ambedkar ji challenges the core if it. He questions the very authority of the Shastras & the Vedas. He questions the underlying rules to be a part of hindu religion. He even questions the principles of Mahatma gandhi whom many preach and which such elegance.
“All are slaves of the Caste System. But all the slaves are not equal in status.”
This book is one of the finest material if you want to deep dive and study the intricate way in which caste and religion goes hand in hand & pollute our minds. It should be a part of the CBSE curriculum so that we can break the caste system from the very beginning.
Verdict: Enlighten yourself so that we can dream of a nation where people get what they deserve irrespective of which caste and religion they are born in.
hellmiina's review against another edition
4.75
I learned a lot and the reader did a great job too with a dynamic voice that I enjoyed listening to.
bootero's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
s4peace's review against another edition
5.0
Annihilation of caste is a reasonable, rational and very real piece of literature. I have learned a lot and the book provides a brilliant articulation of how to counter many irrational arguments that are thrown against anti-caste, pro-minority narratives. Ambedkar was an intelligent and brave man who spoke his truth fearlessly.
He provides a perspective that is very different and almost antidotal to the systemic poison that plagues our society and our constitution. It is wrongly positioned as an affront on hinduism. It challenges the Hindu society I an attempt to improve it rather than apologize or rationalize for it. Hinduism is a religion without a rulebook which is why there are so many rulebooks that are manipulated as propaganda. This book questions that as one should. The modern society is both worst and better than the society we left behind. We have to be able to question it, mould it and make the society a more equitable one, with equality as a guiding principle. I would recommend anyone and everyone to read this speech, this book and to get to know Ambedkar.
He provides a perspective that is very different and almost antidotal to the systemic poison that plagues our society and our constitution. It is wrongly positioned as an affront on hinduism. It challenges the Hindu society I an attempt to improve it rather than apologize or rationalize for it. Hinduism is a religion without a rulebook which is why there are so many rulebooks that are manipulated as propaganda. This book questions that as one should. The modern society is both worst and better than the society we left behind. We have to be able to question it, mould it and make the society a more equitable one, with equality as a guiding principle. I would recommend anyone and everyone to read this speech, this book and to get to know Ambedkar.