Annihilation Of Caste

by B.R. Ambedkar

in India, with the attitude the common man has to saints and to Mahatmas—to honour but not to follow—one cannot make much out of it.

A high caste man cannot be a good man in so far as he must have a low caste man to distinguish him as high caste man.

That a man is ready to render homage to many Gods and Goddesses may be cited as evidence of his tolerant spirit. But can it not also be evidence of insincerity born of a desire to serve the times ? I am sure that this toleration is merely insincerity.

Why does the Mahatma cling to the theory of every one following his or her ancestral calling ?

Years ago writing on “Caste versus Class” in his Young India he argued that Caste System was better than Class System on the ground that caste was the best possible adjustment of social stability.

Is it the Vedic conception as commonly understood and preached by Swami Dayanand Saraswati and his followers, the Arya Samajists ? The essence of the Vedic conception of Varna is the pursuit of a calling which is appropriate to one’s natural aptitude. The essence of the Mahatma’s conception of Varna is the pursuit of ancestral calling irrespective of natural aptitude.

A People and their Religion must be judged by social standards based on social ethics.

I am prepared to bear with the imperfections and shortcomings of the society in which I may be destined to labour, I feel I should not consent to live in a society which cherishes wrong ideals

If I am disgusted with Hindus and Hinduism it is because I am convinced that they cherish wrong ideals and live a wrong social life.