Annihilation of Caste

Content Warning: This text contains intense criticisms of religious beliefs, specifically those in Hinduism. It also references social discrimination and systemic oppression.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was the youngest child of his parents, and was born into the Mahar, or the Dalits, the “untouchable” caste occupying the very lowest stratum in the complex Indian caste system. In his youth, his mother died, and the family moved to be closer to extended relatives; at the age of 15, he was sent into an arranged marriage and continued with his studies in Mumbai. At 21-years-old he graduated from Bombay University with a degree in economics and political science. After his undergraduate studies, Ambedkar would go on to study in graduate school, earning multiple master’s degrees and eventually receiving doctoral degrees in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

During his studies he attempted to hold down multiple jobs to help support his family, but certain business opportunities continued to fail on account of his clients discovering that he was a member of the “untouchable” caste. Eventually, with his studies finished, he began to participate in public movements to remove the stigma against the lowest castes. Beginning with smaller protests against the prohibitions against using certain drinking fountains and being barred from entering certain temple precincts, Ambedkar would eventually move on to more extreme forms of protest, taking the form of such acts as publicly condemning certain Hindu texts and even burning copies of ancient Hindu laws. In 1936, he would found the Independent Labour Party, and in the same year he published his short book Annihilation of Caste. Just over 10 years later, the state of India won its independence in 1947. With its new independence, India’s prime minister tasked Ambedkar with helping to draft the new constitution that would guide India into its future.

Along with his harsh criticism of the Indian caste system came a rejection of India’s religion of Hinduism. Eventually Ambedkar would convert to Buddhism, associating himself with the religion for a majority of the six years before his death and officially converting just weeks before dying. While he would later come to regret some of his involvement with drafting India’s constitution, he still devoted his life to the social, religious, and political reform of his homeland. Critical of all religion in certain respects, he saved his most harsh criticism for Hinduism, a position that comes through quite explicitly in his work Annihilation of Caste.

After formally rejecting Hinduism, he not only converted to Buddhism but also began a movement encouraging other Indians to convert to Buddhism. The movement began in 1956 when around 500,000 Dalits gave up Hinduism and converted to what is called Navayana Buddhism. This is a Buddhism founded by Ambedkar that is a reinterpretation of the religion to focus it more on social and political engagement. The religion is also sometimes called Neo Buddhism and is still adhered to in parts of India today. It is famous for requiring adherents to take 22 vows, drawn up by Ambedkar himself, upon conversion.