Annihilation of caste written by B.R. Ambedkar in 1936 is a robust and compelling speech written for the Jat Pat Todak Mandal’s annual conference. The speech which was deemed “unbearable” by the Reception Committee went on to become one of the most revolutionary texts against the prevailing caste system in India. It’s easy to understand why that is the case once you read it.
Interestingly, Ambedkar starts in a very humble manner, unlike most of his extremist contemporaries, which sets a non-threatening yet firm and rational tone to the speech. His views are truly justified when he says that social reform needs to be given precedence and importance over socio-economic reforms. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. brought about a revolution …show more content…
B.R. Ambedkar was not against religion per se, he adopted one himself however, he was staunchly against the religious sanctions that Brahmins or the Vedic religion provided to the existence and propagation of the caste system. A mean and selfish system that crippled the lower castes taking away from them all opportunities and resources of growth and caused segregation from the society. He states that the Muslims or Christians are better in that sense, at least they are spreading their religion sharing their values and resources. However, the same argument has been used by extremist groups such as ISIS and KKK to justify their means, usually extreme violence. Later He does mention that If violence is used the message loses traction but the problem arises, where exactly is the line and who draws it? Does ones thinking of what is right for everyone else allow them to impose upon others? How is that different from what the upper castes were …show more content…
Caste endogamy is still prevalent and inter-caste marriages are treated with contempt so much so that it often is cause for violence. A report published by National Crime Records Bureau stated a seven-fold rise in honour killing cases last year. I would also like to mention relates to the principles of social justice, empathy and equality that we as a modern democratic country pride ourselves in, after all, our constitution states that all citizens are equal before the law. That’s why the rape and murder of a Maratha girl in Ahmednagar caused the Maratha Kranti Silent Morcha but, what about the hundreds of crimes, including brutal murders, that occur on a daily basis. There are no morchas for them, do these lives not matter? In a society where bigotry is so deeply embedded in every mind there is no space left for fraternity and sensitivity even in the case of rape one’s caste determines the severity of punishment, if there is
Interestingly, Ambedkar starts in a very humble manner, unlike most of his extremist contemporaries, which sets a non-threatening yet firm and rational tone to the speech. His views are truly justified when he says that social reform needs to be given precedence and importance over socio-economic reforms. For instance, Martin Luther King Jr. brought about a revolution …show more content…
B.R. Ambedkar was not against religion per se, he adopted one himself however, he was staunchly against the religious sanctions that Brahmins or the Vedic religion provided to the existence and propagation of the caste system. A mean and selfish system that crippled the lower castes taking away from them all opportunities and resources of growth and caused segregation from the society. He states that the Muslims or Christians are better in that sense, at least they are spreading their religion sharing their values and resources. However, the same argument has been used by extremist groups such as ISIS and KKK to justify their means, usually extreme violence. Later He does mention that If violence is used the message loses traction but the problem arises, where exactly is the line and who draws it? Does ones thinking of what is right for everyone else allow them to impose upon others? How is that different from what the upper castes were …show more content…
Caste endogamy is still prevalent and inter-caste marriages are treated with contempt so much so that it often is cause for violence. A report published by National Crime Records Bureau stated a seven-fold rise in honour killing cases last year. I would also like to mention relates to the principles of social justice, empathy and equality that we as a modern democratic country pride ourselves in, after all, our constitution states that all citizens are equal before the law. That’s why the rape and murder of a Maratha girl in Ahmednagar caused the Maratha Kranti Silent Morcha but, what about the hundreds of crimes, including brutal murders, that occur on a daily basis. There are no morchas for them, do these lives not matter? In a society where bigotry is so deeply embedded in every mind there is no space left for fraternity and sensitivity even in the case of rape one’s caste determines the severity of punishment, if there is