Dr. Ambedkar and Untouchability: Fighting the Indian Caste System"For years Ambedkar battled alone against the Indian political establishment, including Gandhi, who resisted his attempt to formalize and codify a separate identity for the Dalits. Nonetheless, he became law minister in the first government of independent India and, more important, was elected chairman of the committee which drafted the Indian Constitution. Here he modified Gandhian attempts to influence the Indian polity. He then distanced himself from politics and sought solace in Buddhism, to which he converted in 1956, a few months before his death." "Jaffrelot focuses on Ambedkar's three key roles: as social theorist, as statesman and politician, and as an advocate of conversion to Buddhism as an escape route for India's Dalits. In each case he pioneered new strategies that proved effective in his lifetime and still resonate today."--BOOK JACKET. |
Contents
The First Dalit Leader of India | 1 |
Opposition or Collaboration? Ambedkars Pragmatism | 6 |
Maharashtra and its sociopolitical system | 8 |
Son of a Mahar Soldier | 24 |
Analysing and Ethnicising Caste to Eradicate it More | 31 |
Reserved seats or separate electorates? | 53 |
26 | 59 |
Searching for an Electoral Strategy | 78 |
The Solution of Conversion | 119 |
The Impact and Relevance of Ambedkar Today | 150 |
Conclusion | 161 |
Notes | 167 |
Select Bibliography | 175 |
98 | 182 |
108 | 191 |
161 | 197 |
Other editions - View all
Dr Ambedkar and Untouchability: Analysing and Fighting Caste Christophe Jaffrelot No preview available - 2005 |
Dr Ambedkar and Untouchability: Analysing and Fighting Caste Christophe Jaffrelot No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
Ambed anti-Brahmin Arya B. R. Ambedkar balutedars Bansode bhakti Bombay Presidency Brahmins British Buddha Buddhism caste Hindus caste system cent Chambhars Christian Concessions to Confrontation Congress Constituent Assembly Constitution conversion Dalit Dalit leaders Delhi Depressed Classes Dr Ambedkar Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar egalitarian elections emancipation emphasised equality Gandhi Gandhian Gavai Gokhale Govt graded inequality Hindu Mahasabha Hindu society Hinduism Ibid India Kamble Kanshi Ram Keer Kshatriyas Labour Legislative Council low caste lower castes Mahad Maharajah Maharashtra Mahars Mahatma Mangs Marathas minority Moonje movement Muslims Nagpur Nasik nation Nehru NMML non-Brahmin Omvedt organisation party Phule political Poona Pact Pradesh Quoted Rajah regarded rejected religion representatives reserved seats Round Table Conference Sabha Samaj Sanskritisation satyagraha Scheduled Castes separate electorates Shourie Shudras Sikhs social reform status strategy temple entry tion touchables Untouchable leaders Untouchables upper caste varnas vatan village vote Writings and Speeches Zelliot