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A review by hemagovind
Annihilation of Caste by B.R. Ambedkar
5.0
Firstly this book needs to be read from the mindset of 1930s life and not compared with current day scenario.
I had already read this book twice this month, mainly because it helped me shape my thoughts against caste and religion. Nowadays, we could see a lot of youngsters arguing against reservation, but have no strong ideas against caste, which is forgotten altogether. This speech explains what caste really is and how deeply it is in the minds of Hindu people.
This is an undelivered speech of Ambedkar and he explains in detail why it is so. It directly hits at Hinduism, it's Shastras and Vedas and doesn't mellow down at any point to please people. Right from pointing that Brahminism is the root for slavery to claiming Hinduism as the downfall for India, he didn't let any leaf unturned.
His reply to Gandhi's accusation is one of the best parts for me.
Major takeaways:
1. Religious reform precedes political reform.
2. Hindus let the savages remain the same to protect their caste.
3. Hinduism is not a missionary religion as they can't find a caste to place the converts.
4. Caste is not a mere division of labour.
5. The merging of sub castes will only increase the depth of this system.
6. The untouchables of Madras have no connect to the untouchables of Kashmir.
7. A religious leader has no wish to be a social reformist.
8. Religious scriptures created strong values which made us believe in caste division involuntarily.
9. Only way to abolish caste is Inter-caste-marriage and reorganisation of the Hindu value system.
10. Saints don't believe all men are equal, they only say all men are equal in the eyes of God.
A hard read, but also a must read. To be read at regular intervals.
I had already read this book twice this month, mainly because it helped me shape my thoughts against caste and religion. Nowadays, we could see a lot of youngsters arguing against reservation, but have no strong ideas against caste, which is forgotten altogether. This speech explains what caste really is and how deeply it is in the minds of Hindu people.
This is an undelivered speech of Ambedkar and he explains in detail why it is so. It directly hits at Hinduism, it's Shastras and Vedas and doesn't mellow down at any point to please people. Right from pointing that Brahminism is the root for slavery to claiming Hinduism as the downfall for India, he didn't let any leaf unturned.
His reply to Gandhi's accusation is one of the best parts for me.
Major takeaways:
1. Religious reform precedes political reform.
2. Hindus let the savages remain the same to protect their caste.
3. Hinduism is not a missionary religion as they can't find a caste to place the converts.
4. Caste is not a mere division of labour.
5. The merging of sub castes will only increase the depth of this system.
6. The untouchables of Madras have no connect to the untouchables of Kashmir.
7. A religious leader has no wish to be a social reformist.
8. Religious scriptures created strong values which made us believe in caste division involuntarily.
9. Only way to abolish caste is Inter-caste-marriage and reorganisation of the Hindu value system.
10. Saints don't believe all men are equal, they only say all men are equal in the eyes of God.
A hard read, but also a must read. To be read at regular intervals.