Castes In India Their Mechanism Genesis And Development

This is the text of a Paper presented at an Anthropology Seminar taught by Dr A. A. Goldenweizer, Columbia University, on May 09, 1916. He began by explaining the original multi-ethnic mix of India today, and how this amalgamation of tribes and cultures that all had to jostle for their place in the society that was created, may have led to the caste system.

"Castes in India" by B.R. Ambedkar is an incisive and seminal work that examines one of the most enduring social institutions in Indian society-caste. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the caste system, its historical origins, and its profound impact on Indian society. Ambedkar delves into the complex structure of caste, dissecting its divisions, hierarchies, and oppressive practices that have shaped the lives of millions for centuries. He presents a comprehensive critique of the caste system and offers a vision for its eradication and emancipation. He passionately argues for social justice, equality, and the importance of individual rights, challenging the entrenched notions of superiority and discrimination perpetuated by the caste system. Ambedkar's groundbreaking work remains a cornerstone in the discourse on caste and social reform in India, and his profound insights and unwavering commitment to social reform make this book an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of caste and its impact on Indian society.

Paper presented at the Anthropology Seminar of Dr. A.A. Goldenweizer, held at New York on 9th May 1916.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables, while also supporting the rights of women and labour.

Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956) is both the towering symbol of protest against age-old and contemporary forms of exploitation in India and a scholar-sage proposing fair terms of social association. An untouchable himself, he led a resolute and adroit struggle against untouchability and attempted to reformulate the terms of nationalist discourse in India. This selection draws from his major works, speeches, letters and memoranda.

“What the Communist Manifesto is to the capitalist world, Annihilation of Caste is to India.” —Anand Teltumbde, author of The Persistence of Caste The classic work of Indian Dalit politics, reframed with an extensive introduction by Arundathi Roy B.R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste is one of the most important, yet neglected, works of political writing from India. Written in 1936, it is an audacious denunciation of Hinduism and its caste system. Ambedkar – a figure like W.E.B. Du Bois – offers a scholarly critique of Hindu scriptures, scriptures that sanction a rigidly hierarchical and iniquitous social system. The world’s best-known Hindu, Mahatma Gandhi, responded publicly to the provocation. The hatchet was never buried. Arundhati Roy introduces this extensively annotated edition of Annihilation of Caste in “The Doctor and the Saint,” examining the persistence of caste in modern India, and how the conflict between Ambedkar and Gandhi continues to resonate. Roy takes us to the beginning of Gandhi’s political career in South Africa, where his views on race, caste and imperialism were shaped. She tracks Ambedkar’s emergence as a major political figure in the national movement, and shows how his scholarship and intelligence illuminated a political struggle beset by sectarianism and obscurantism. Roy breathes new life into Ambedkar’s anti-caste utopia, and says that without a Dalit revolution, India will continue to be hobbled by systemic inequality.