As he was “fighting” freedom for his country from the British Empire, India was struggling with the discrimination that they own caste system infringed over the ones denominated “untouchables”, which showed Gandhi and his movement as a double standard revolution.…
Ambedkar shows that the caste system is inherently flawed, because it divides up the people, completely segregates them so no -intermarriage or even inter-dining is allowed by people of different caste. He goes further to give the example of the Maryann Empire, the single period in Indian history of “freedom, greatness and glory.”, that achieved its title, because it abolished the caste system, and thus the majority, or the Shudras took over. He explains that the only way Indian Society can proceed , is if they abolish the caste system. The caste system is inherently flawed because of 3 reasons. First, an outcast is shunned by the entire Hindu community. Unlike the Muslim, Christian and Sikh castes, the Hindu castes try to kill outcasts and completely shunned away. Furthermore, the outcasted person would still remain within the same caste to others, as if they have never left (its confusing, I know) 5Secondly, there is no inherent unity between the people, because the people are divided into castes. The way that the caste system works, is that it divides up the people and completely segregates them. In fact, the concept of inter-marriage and inter-dining is a foreign concept. IF one does commit such actions, they are sentenced to death by the elders.6 Thirdly and lastly, the caste system allows the insubordination of the lower castes (i.e. untouchables) by those in the higher castes 7. Let’s take the example of the tyranny practiced by the hindu community upon the…
Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi, known as Mahatma , or ‘Great Soul’ was a successful leader who managed to cause major political change in countries that experienced an abundance of racial discrimination and cultural inferiority .The two most significantly effected countries that experienced direct positive empowerment because of Mahatma Ghandi were South Africa and India. Reason for Ghandi’s immense success with each goal he set was his strong self belief, resilience, persistence and determination. Apart from these characteristics allowing Ghandi to achieve his goals, they made him an exceptional example of an effective leader. In South Africa Mahatma Ghandi fought for Indian civil rights, his success resulted in the reformation of the anti- Indian Legislation, by South African Officials. Throughout the history of South Africa racial discrimination was always prevalent among society. Native Africans, Indians and Asians were constantly subject to racial injustices, particularly from the 1800’s to 1959. Examples of this are evident throughout the legislations and laws that were directed at Indians; Indians; -Could only freely migrate to South Africa as indentured Labourers (labourers on contract) - They had none of the rights of full citizenship - Were not allowed to own property or land - Were only granted temporary residence -Forced to pay of sum of £3 if they were ex-indentured Indians that failed to reindenture or chose to return to India after their labour contracts were completed . - Had to live in government allocated areas for ‘sanitation’ purposes - Were the only race that had to complete a educational, health, age and means test in order to gain admission into the country with the exclusion of Indian indentured labourers. (this purpose of this test was to stop further immigration of ‘free Indians’ (Indians that came to South Africa not indentured)…
Gandhi was a small Indian man that faced the British Empire's policies of injustice, discrimination, and colonial control without using a single punch or bullet, or in any way using violence as a weapon. The fact that he defeated the British Empire by winning Indian Independence is considered as testimony that Gandhi should be given the status of being remembered as a ‘great man’ in history. Gandhi began his work against the injustices of the British Empire when he was still a young man in South Africa. After returning to India, Gandhi had convinced himself that he must get in touch with the common people and convince them to follow him in nonviolent and non-cooperative protest against British Rule. Through marches, demonstrations, and protests, Gandhi was able to bring the attention of the world to India by displaying the atrocities of the British Empire and not reacting with violence. Although Indian Independence was Gandhi's main goal, he had a hard time accepting the idea that Hindus and Muslims did not want to live together even after India had gained independence. The road in achieving India’s Independence was a long one for Gandhi; therefore, to fully understand his struggle, it is necessary to start at the beginning…
Ray, Himanshu Prabha. "Buddhism in Ancient India." Encyclopedia of India. Ed. Stanley Wolpert. Vol. 1. Detroit: Charles Scribner 's Sons, 2006. 201-207. Gale World History In Context. Web. 11 Dec.…
Karl Marx says in his article ‘The British Rule in India’, “England has broken the entire framework of Indian society, without any symptom of reconstitution yet appearing. The loss of his old world, with no gain of a new one, imparts a particular kind of melancholy to the present misery of the Hindoo, and separates Hindostan, ruled by Britain, from all its ancient traditions, and from the whole of its past history”. The novel ‘Hansuli Banker Upakatha’ relates the history of such a community of rural Bengal that is compelled to change their profession again and again to become rootless and destitute at the end. It is also a document of a semi tribal society which was disintegrated by different forces worked within and outside the community. Tarasankar, the gifted novelist shows how a community and a place are totally changed by imperial force. The muscle power as well as logic of development turned the peasant kahars overnight to laborers, forced to become industrial slaves leaving their traditional habitat.…
Middleton, Vern. "Caste Issues in the Minds of McGavran and Gandhi", Missiology: An International Review, Vol. XIII, No. 2, April 1985.…
Zelliot, Eleanor. From Untouchable to Dalit : Eassys on the Ambedkar Movement. New Delhi: Manohar Publishers, 2005.…
Pecorino, Dr. Philip A. “Religions of the World: Buddhism.” qcc.cuny.edu. Queensborough Community College, 2001. Web. 4 Jul. 2013.…
Published by Dalitstan Journal `Oh You Hindu Awake' by Dr. Chatterjee was originally published by Indian Patriots Council, in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Comemoration Issue, April 1993, free from any copyright. This substantially improved edition was written by Hadwa Dom for Dalitstan Journal, Volume 1, 1999 Issue 1 (August 1999), and like the original, is published free from any copyright. It has thence been archived in the Ambedkar Library. 1…
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, anthropologist,inspiring economist, teacher, editor, prolific writer,historian, orator, revolutionary and a revivalist for Buddhism in India.…
14 October 1956 holds a special significance for the Dalit community in India. On that day, Bhim Rao Ambedkar, by all accounts the most influential Dalit intellectual of the 20th century publicly renounced Hinduism and converted to Buddhism. He told it was his “rebirth” in his speech over there. Actually Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born in 14th April 1891. He was born in lowly Mahar Caste in the western state of Maharashtra. The caste Mahara was untouchables according to the varn vyavasta. Mahar were generally village servant whose caste duties including cutting wood for cremation, removing dead cattle, washing wells, delivering massage over long distance among other things. As soon the British came and ruled the India they did not bother about the caste and for their better administration, they give equal opportunity to all People. Caste Mahar were chance to accept the new occupation. Dr. Ambedkar was born in one of the army soldier family.…
Constitution of India. The Preamble of the constitution of India embodies the resolve of the people of India to secure for all citizens: “Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; to promote among them all Fraternity assuring the dignity of the Individual and the unity of the Nation”. One of the seven categories of broad Fundamental Rights guaranteed in the constitution is the right to equality including equality before the law, prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and equality of opportunity in matters of employment. However, it is declared in the Directive Principles of the State Policy that “The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all form of exploitation”. Further Article 15(4) of the Constitution provides that “Nothing in Article 15 or 29(2)….. shall prevent the State from making any special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes”. Also, Article 16 (40 of the constitution permits the state to make “any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favor of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the state, is not adequately represented in the services under the State”. Thus, the Constitution prescribes certain protection and safeguards for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes…
The period of history termed the Renaissance of India does not yield to prejudicial assessment. The leaders of Indian Renaissance like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Dayananda Saraswathy stood against the Brahmin Supremacy in even aspect. Yet the Mahatma Jyothi Baphula, E. V. Rama Swami Naikar and Dr. Ambedkar belonged to another layer on level. This shows the conflicting nature…
Dr. Ambedkar mind was deeply imbued with Kabeer’s philosophy in the childhood days. On passing his matriculation (1908) examination, he was felicitated by his teacher and was presented with a copy of a book on the life of Buddha. This gift must have made…