Assignment ques: Discuss Ambedkar's critique of the caste system making suitable references to the text you have studied.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one of the most prominent lawyers, economists, politicians and social reformers who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards the Untouchables. He played a significant role for the upliftment of the downtrodden. He was considered a messiah for the suppressed class as he belongs to the untouchable’s community. He is considered a great critique of the caste system. He had knowledge of 9 languages like Hindi, Pali, Sanskrit, English, French, German, Marathi, Persian, and Gujarati.
He was born in the Dalit Mahar family of western India, he was a boy humiliated by his high-caste schoolfellows. In 1947 Ambedkar became the law minister of the government of India. He took a leading part in the framing of the Indian constitution, outlawing discrimination against untouchables, and skillfully helped to steer it through the assembly. He resigned in 1951, disappointed at his lack of influence in the government. In October 1956, in despair because of the perpetuation of untouchables in Hindu doctrine, he renounced Hinduism and became a Buddhist, together with about 200000 fellow Dalits, at a ceremony in Nagpur.
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His prominent works: Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development (1916), Mook Nayak (weekly) (1920), The Problem of the Rupee: its origin and its solution (1923), Bahishkrut Bharat (India Ostracized)(1927), Janta (weekly) (1930), The Annihilation of Caste(1936) and Federation Versus Freedom(1939).
Ambedkar’s “Annihilation of Caste” is a revolutionary speech prepared by him in the 1936 Annual Conference of Lahore. Due to certain misapprehension, it was not delivered in the conference. Ambedkar invited the socialists to fight against the caste system and he asserted that caste is not just based on the division of labour but it is the division of labourers.
Ambedkar's views on the caste system:
- Caste is a system in which the determination of position, rights and duties of an individual is done on the basis of the birth of such individual in a particular group. In other words, we can say that the status of an individual is determined by birth. As we have evidence of the Varna system in Hinduism which divides its society into 4 classes or castes the upper is Brahmins including priests and intellectuals. They themselves claim to have all good qualities like honesty, integrity, cleanliness, purity, austerity, knowledge, and wisdom. They are assigned to spiritual tasks like teaching and studying Vedas, performing sacrifices and religious ceremonies etc. Then after Brahmins, Kshatriyas were the warriors, police, and administrators basically protectors of society. They are expected to show considerable strength of body and character. Then Vaishyas, were farmers, merchants, and business people. Their duty is to protect animals and the land, to create wealth and prosperity and to give taxes to the Kshatriyas. The lowest class are the Shudras, consisting of artisans and workers. They have to render service to the other upper class above them.
- Under the caste system an individual is not allowed to change its status for instance, in November 1935 some untouchable women of village Zanu in Ahmedabad started fetching water in metal pots which was considered as one of the luxury items, this enraged the upper caste Hindus and they assaulted the untouchable women for their shamelessness. This means that untouchables cannot have access to any luxury items even if he/she can afford to buy it as this was considered as an affront to their dignity.
- We can say that it is the rigid form of stratification system, which restrict the mobility and distinctness of status. Due to the caste system, several evil prevails in the society and the untouchables were subjected to oppression for instance oppressed untouchables in Maratha under Peshwas. They were being made to attach brooms on their waists so that used paths by them could be clean by the broom in order to stop Hindus from being polluted. They had to carry an earthen pot hung in their neck so that they could spit in.
- Caste system leads to untouchability. The caste system has condemned large groups of people to a life of degradation without any hope of redemption. It has created untouchables, an evil that has been sapping the very vitals of society. This untouchability is reduced to the state of natural slavery and hindered the growth of brotherhood; holding off the national unity as it disallowed any type of social intercourse. As BR Ambedkar rightly said, ‘untouchability of Hindus is a rare phenomenon, humanity in any other part of the earth has never experienced it. There is no such thing in any other society. It restricts the growth of brotherhood among people and also it holds off national unity and creates obstacles to social progress. According to Mahatma Gandhi, untouchability is the hate fullest expression of caste. There is an anti-social spirit in Hindus because of the caste system. This anti-social spirit is not confined to caste alone but can be seen in sub-castes as well. For instance, Brahmin’s foremost concern is to avoid interaction with other groups as those of non- Brahmins and non- Brahmins' foremost interest is to avoid any interactions or social gatherings with Brahmins. This led to a lack of brotherhood among Hindus. Till the caste system prevails Sanghatan(unity) would be impossible among Hindus. For instance, a Hindu would never come to rescue a Hindu as they lack fellow-feeling and also the reason in difference due to caste. On the other hand, a Muslim and a Sikh would come to rescue their brothers respectively because they have fellow feelings in them.
- The caste system denies equal rights of individuals, that’s why it is considered as undemocratic. As Ambedkar himself said, “If i find the constitution being misused, I shall be the first one to burn it”.Democracy is based on the principle of equality, fraternity, and liberty. On the other hand, the caste system is based on inequality of status and opportunities, which often creates conflict and tension in society. It acts as an obstacle in the normal and smooth functioning of democracy. No doubt India has got political freedom but it must be the concern of every individual that real freedom cannot be cherished without the attainment of social and economic democracy. It is unfortunate that the Indian society is sharply divided into various castes and sub-castes which acts as a barrier due to rigidity and division of society based on caste consideration.
- Disintegrating Factor: The caste system has literally split up the society into hundreds of hereditary caste and subcastes and encouraged a spirit of exclusiveness and class pride, narrowed the outlook and created wide gaps between the various sections of the community. The caste system resulted in a lot of evils because of its rigid rules. It perpetuates the exploitation of the economically weaker and socially inferior caste. For instance, we evidenced in the text
- Origin of caste system: It is difficult to establish when the caste system originated, but there is no doubt that the institution of caste for the convenience of the ruling class leading to their successful administration by them. There are different theories about the establishment of the caste system. These are Religious mystical, Biological, Socio- historical theories.
Grounds for the defence of caste system
Even today there are many supporters of the caste system, reasons for support vary.
- On the basis of a profession: The caste system is being defended on the basis of labour but in reality, it is the division of labourers as Ambedkar asserted that ‘caste system is not merely division of labour. It is also a division of labourers’. It means that the labourers are graded as one above the other, but this stratification is not based on the innate capabilities of an individual but rather based on the social status or social background of his family and this stratification is based on the occupation has harmful effects. According to Ambedkar unemployment in our country which exists at a high rate is the result of the caste system. A Hindu is not free to change his occupation according to his changing circumstances. For instance, if a Hindu remains to starve because of his financial condition and he aspires of a better occupation which does not belong to his caste, then he has to abandon his desires. So, this division of labour is based on the division of choice and individual preferences and desires nothing matters as they are bound by the caste system. There is no efficiency in a system where neither men’s heart nor their minds are in their work. So caste proved to be pernicious for economic organization.
- On a biological basis: Some defenders defence the caste system biologically in order to preserve their blood and race but even ethnologists have claimed that men of pure blood and race do not exist anywhere in the world. The caste system was said to preserve a mixture of races but in fact, the caste system came into effect long after the mingling of blood and culture of different races. Ambedkar claimed his argument by asking several questions for instance, what racial difference we find in the untouchables of Madras and untouchables of Punjab? What racial difference is between the Brahmin of Madras and Pariah of Madras? The untouchable of Punjab and madras are of the same race and Brahmin of Madras and Pariah of madras are of the same race Caste system is negative as it prohibits intermarrying of different castes just to preserve their purity but what’s the problem in interdining between different castes as it cannot impure the blood. So-called superior Hindus By claiming the caste system as based on eugenics is just an excuse in order to preserve their superiority and social status. Even scientists have claimed the caste system based on eugenics is a futile or worthless argument.
Effects of caste system on Hindus itself
The effect on Hindus is completely unacceptable they have become insensitive towards individuals other than their caste. For a Hindu everything is his caste and his responsibility, his loyalty are limited only to his caste. Caste has bound a Hindu to a great extent. A Hindu cannot show sympathy, or loyalty other than his caste. He cannot give charity to the needy or appreciate a deserving person other than his caste. They are bound to give charity only to his caste members. All these restrictions have made Hindus insensitive towards others. In fact, a Hindu will follow the leadership of any leader only if he is of the same caste of his.for example a Brahmin will follow a leader only if he is a Brahmin, and a Kayastha will follow only a leader if he belongs to the Kayastha.
A Hindu must be loyal to his caste, which means that he has to support his fellows only of his caste no matter whether they are right or wrong or good or bad. This means that virtue and vice don’t matter only caste matters for a Hindu.
Caste has completely demoralised and disorganized the Hindus. According to sociologists, there is a complete lack of “consciousness of kind” among Hindus..the only consciousness that exists is the consciousness of his caste. That is the reason they feel a lack of unity amongst themselves. They need to communicate or interact with other castes which can only make them as an integrated whole. For example, the festivals are the same for everyone under Hinduism but the way of celebrating the festivals is different, by adopting these ways they have become separated within the same religion. They should celebrate or make joy together as this will arouse feelings of emotions and sensitivity towards their fellow beings. This caste system prevents the Hindus to come together and celebrating festivals together as it would be considered as going against their religion and an affront to their dignity.
Why Hindus are bound to a caste system? Why they don’t show the courage to destroy it?
The real reason lies in Hindu scriptures and Shastras. The Vedas which are considered the most ancient text of Hinduism has evidence of the caste system and these scriptures justify the caste system. According to Ambedkar, Hindu practices are cast not because they are abnormal or insensitive rather they practice caste just because they are deeply religious people so this is not the fault of Hindus but their religion is at fault and Hindus are just obeying their religion. Hindus have not flaws but their religion, Hinduism have flaws.
These are the reasons a Hindu complains of isolation, lack of unity among Hindus, not intermingling with others, not inter dining and not accepting inter-caste marriage. The root cause lies in shastras. Ambedkar regrets for reformers of untouchability and claimed that even Mahatma Gandhi couldn’t realize the root cause of the caste system practised by people which lies in shastras, a Hindu is just abiding by his religion as their foundation for caste system emerged form their religion. So the shastras compel them to be loyal to the caste system and even if they try to go against the caste system they have to face punishment like ex-communication.
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