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Research Paper | Anthropology Science | India | Volume 11 Issue 12, December 2022

Rethinking Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar's Notions of the Caste System in India

Satyaki Paul | Sabatini Chatterjee

Abstract: Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar is revered as the messiah of the Dalit cause because he created the counter narrative against the hegemonic caste system through various rational conjectures and even through actions. The caste had its foundation in ancient hegemonic scriptures of smriti, which was put in place for the eternal subjugation of the so-called antyaja (one who is born last) or the untouchables. Dr Ambedkar repudiated such a form of graded inequality and challenged the infallibility of the Vedas. Throughout his entire lifetime, he gave his heart and soul to reforming age-old traditions which were codified through subjugation and religious obscurantism. In due course, his ideas reformed the contours of Indian traditions, which is evident in the current context. This article seeks to revisit Dr Ambedkar?s purview on caste-related discourses and his view on the process of annihilation of caste. His ideas are still relevant even in the current 21st century and thus need to be revisited to accrue a larger picture of the social process.

Keywords: Annihilation, Untouchability, Caste, Broken men, Neo-untouchability

Edition: Volume 11 Issue 12, December 2022,

Pages: 25 - 28