Author : Dr. B. R. Ambedkar,
This is one of the most important texts that should be read by anyone interested in understanding the caste system in India and the struggles to address this issue. This is an undelivered speech written in 1936 by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar who is considered the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and campaigned against social discrimination towards the Dalits (untouchables). The fact that I was most surprised by was that I had not even heard of this speech until I started looking for the writings of Dr. Ambedkar. Caste has been and still is an extremely inherent part of Hindu Indian society and one can only imagine the extent to which it has stifled the potential in multiple generations of people from the low caste and untouchables. It was really astonishing to read the opinions on this matter by one of the most influential figures who fought for the rights of these people. Dr. Ambedkar was definitely a person ahead of time. While people may continuously argue over the best way of addressing this issue, this speech remains a very important part of this conversation
… unless every generation had the right to create a new constitution for itself, the earth would belong to “the dead and not the living”.
Annihilation of Caste
Ratnesh Kumbhkar 