Susmita Paul
All About Ambedkar: A Journal on Theory and Praxis, Volume 2, Number 2 | Full Text PDF
ABSTRACT
A critical negotiation with the concept of caste seems to be at the heart of B.R. Ambedkar’s political philosophy. Ambedkar’s clear and incisive political vision saw through the structural phenomenon of caste inequality in India. He not only explores in his writings the mechanism, genesis, and development of the caste system but also made it an inalienable part of his political praxis. His approach to the caste issue was thoroughly radical, and this sets him apart from his political peers. This article seeks to accomplish two things. First, it explores Ambedkar’s writings on the caste issue vis-à-vis his political activism. Secondly, the article contextualizes Ambedkar’s understanding of the caste system through a comparative study with ideas about the caste system in his contemporary political parlance, particularly M.K. Gandhi’s approach to it.
KEYWORDS: B.R. Ambedkar, caste, Hinduism, Dalits, M.K. Gandhi, religion, oppression.