8/16/2019 Book Review-Annhilation of Caste

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 This was quite an unusual book for me in more ways than one. In the past, I

never came across a book which has an almost as large an introduction as the book

itself (Thanks to prolic Ms. oy!. "urther, it was quite an e#perience seeing notes

and bibliography for the introduction too. $nd what%s more& this is one of those rare

books which carry their criticism in the same volume. 'andhii%s response to this

book has been included as a separate chapter within the book.)r. * $mbedkar, a man much maligned and vilied during the course of

history, an e#ception being the recent times in which for political e#pediency he%s

being embraced by political parties spread all along the left&right continuum of

political spectrum, has brought out a thoroughly researched scholarly essay on the

origin, spread and sustenance of the caste system in +indu society. $imed at

providing a solution, this book discusses the evils of the caste system and remedies

thereof. )r. $mbedkar%s contention is that world over nowhere political and

economic reforms havet led to any success in the absence of the ground work

needed by way of social and religious reforms. In its present form caste- has acted

as a dividing force in the +indu society and has precluded its integration into a

united whole. uoting e#amples from /russia, Ireland and ome he argues thatunless religious and social reforms are carried out in the +indu society, political

emancipation could not take place. )r. $mbedkar has not ust questioned the

authority of the holy scriptures of +induism in this essay but also called for

annihilation of all such features of +indu religion which place certain groups under

the dominion of others.

 This book is based on the undelivered speech which was to be delivered at a

conference organi0ed by 1aat /aat Todak Mandal($rya 2ama%s $3liate! in 4567. It

was to be )r. $mbedkar%s last speech as a +indu as soon after he converted to

*uddhism. )r. $mbedkar%s views on caste are in stark contrast with the views of his

political adversary 'andhii. $lthough both leaders stood against untouchability, )r.$mbedkar%s di8erence from 'andhii lay in his emphasis on annihilation of caste

system rather than its reformation, as advocated by 'andhii.

 This book advocates a very radical idea of complete annihilation of the caste

system. 9hether you agree with him or not, you can%t deny the substance in the

scholarly arguments of )r. $mbedkar. I%d suggest that every Indian should read this

book, even if it is for the sake of criticism which would at least be an informed one.