Annihilation of Caste: The Annotated Critical Edition [Paperback]

“What theCommunist Manifestois to the capitalist world,Annihilation of Casteis to India.” —Anand Teltumbde, author ofThe Persistence of Caste

B.R. Ambedkar’sAnnihilation of Casteis one of the most important, yet neglected, works of political writing from India. Written in 1936, it is an audacious denunciation of Hinduism and its caste system. Ambedkar – a figure like W.E.B. Du Bois – offers a scholarly critique of Hindu scriptures, scriptures that sanction a rigidly hierarchical and iniquitous social system. The world’s best-known Hindu, Mahatma Gandhi, responded publicly to the provocation. The hatchet was never buried.

Arundhati Roy introduces this extensively annotated edition ofAnnihilation of Castein “The Doctor and the Saint,”examining the persistence of caste in modern India, and how the conflict between Ambedkar and Gandhi continues to resonate. Roy takes us to the beginning of Gandhi’s political career in South Africa, where his views on race, caste and imperialism were shaped. She tracks Ambedkar’s emergence as a major political figure in the national movement, and shows how his scholarship and intelligence illuminated a political struggle beset by sectarianism and obscurantism. Roy breathes new life into Ambedkar’s anti-caste utopia, and says that without a Dalit revolution, India will continue to be hobbled by systemic inequality.“Annihilation of Castehas to be read ... No Hindu who prizes his faith above life itself can afford to underrate the importance of this indictment.” —M.K. Gandhi

“WhatCommunist Manifestois to the capitalist world,Annihilation of Casteis to caste India. Arundhati Roy’s introduction is expansive and excellent. S. Anand’s annotations have style and perfection.” —Anand Teltumbde, author ofThe Persistence of Caste: TlE