In three sentences
1. Hindus should question, think and leave Hinduism because it cannot exist without caste.
2. Caste cannot be reformed by any means including by reframing it as varna (choice based occupation) vs caste (heredity based).
3. Socialists' emphasis on property as a marker of power is suited for European circumstances and fails to account for Brahmanical power.
Impressions
Babasaheb's writing is precise and persuasive. I can't believe this undelivered speech was written in 1936, it remains a must-read nearly 100 years later.
Audience
People interested in society and equality. It’s been translated in multiple languages and was written in the format of a speech so it should be appealing to a wider audience.
How the text changed me
We should grow the courage to be honest, especially in front of an antagonistic audience and unjust social order. Thinking of counter-arguments helps to be thorough.
Questions
What should we make of Ambedkar’s labelling of Adivasi and NT-DNT groups as not civilised in this speech? He writes "Civilising the aborigines means adopting them as your own, living in their midst, and cultivating fellow feeling—in short, loving them. How is it possible for a Hindu to do this? His whole life is one anxious effort to preserve his caste." A sympathetic reader would frame Babasaheb's statement as one that shows the negative impact of caste society rather than a subordination of Adivasi and NT-DNT groups.
Top three quotes
"'Ask any political safeguards you like and you shall have them.' What was the reply that Ulstermen gave? Their reply was, 'Damn your safeguards, we don’t want to be ruled by you on any terms'."
"[I]s it reasonable to expect that the Brahmins will ever consent to lead a movement, the ultimate result of which is to destroy the power and prestige of the Brahmin caste?"
"[Caste] places these communities in a graded order one above the other in social status. Each caste takes its pride and its consolation in the fact that in the scale of castes it is above some other caste."
Summary + notes
In his speech, Babasaheb Ambedkar challenges the true intentions of those who claim to be reformers of society but refuse to accept the consequences of the changes they advocate. He criticizes individuals who shy away from acting on the logical implications of their reformist ideas. Ambedkar argues that reforms must go beyond superficial changes and address deeper systemic issues. For instance, he critiques the Arya Samaj’s reform of the caste system, pointing out that it still perpetuates caste labels like Brahmins and Kshatriyas, thus undermining the very essence of social equality.
He distinguishes between principles and rules: while principles guide thought, rules dictate actions. Ambedkar stresses that religion has historically been a tool for consolidating power. He observes that in India, religious figures hold more sway over the masses than even the magistrates, influencing everything from elections to strikes.
Ambedkar also touches upon the concept of an anti-social spirit, where groups with exclusive interests isolate themselves from broader society. This division, in his view, perpetuates social inequality and reduces the potential for collective progress. He asserts that religion, social status, and property are interconnected sources of power that allow individuals to control others' liberty.
On the Chaturvarnya system, Ambedkar emphasizes that it cannot exist by its own merit; it must be enforced by law, highlighting the rigid structure that sustains social hierarchies. He calls for a break from the restrictive mindset created by the Shastras, encouraging people to cleanse their minds from these harmful beliefs so that social practices like inter-dining and intermarriage will naturally follow.
Finally, Ambedkar acknowledges the challenge of reform, stating, “every act of independent thinking puts some portion of an apparently stable world in peril.” This captures the disruptive power of new ideas and the courage required to challenge entrenched systems.
Reference:
Ambedkar, B. R. Annihilation of Caste. 1936, https://www.marxists.org/archive/ambedkar/2015.71655.Annihilation-Of-Caste-With-A-Reply-To-Mhatma-Gandhi.pdf.
I have adapted the questions I used to think about the text from Ali Abdaal.
