B. R. Ambedkar wrote prolifically throughout his life, producing works on economics, history, sociology, and religion. His books and essays often served as direct challenges to the existing social order, and his views sparked significant debate with contemporaries like Mahatma Gandhi and critiques of historical figures and texts. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Major books by B. R. Ambedkar
- Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development (1916). This was his first published work, an essay that explores the origins and function of the caste system.
- The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution (1923). His doctoral thesis on economics, this influential work analyzed the history of Indian currency and contributed to the debate that eventually led to the formation of the Reserve Bank of India.
- Bahishkrut Bharat (1927): A Marathi newspaper founded by Ambedkar to highlight the plight of the "untouchable" communities.
- Janta (1930): Another weekly newspaper in Marathi launched by Ambedkar.
- The Annihilation of Caste (1936). A speech Ambedkar prepared for an annual conference of Hindu caste-reformers in Lahore. The speech was so radical in its condemnation of the caste system and Hinduism that the organizers withdrew their invitation. Ambedkar then published it himself, and it became an instant classic.
- Federation Versus Freedom (1939): A work discussing constitutional reform in India.
- Thoughts on Pakistan (1940). This book examined the Muslim League's demand for a separate Muslim state.
- Mr. Gandhi and the Emancipation of the Untouchables (1943): An important work discussing the differences between Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi on the issue of how to address untouchability.
- Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah (1943). This lecture-turned-book compares the political and social ideologies of three prominent Indian leaders.
- What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables (1945). A critical analysis of the Indian National Congress and Gandhi's approach to the issues facing the Dalit community.
- Who Were the Shudras? (1946). A historical analysis exploring the origins of the Shudra varna.
- The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables (1948). A sequel to his work on the Shudras, this book explores the origins of untouchability.
- Maharashtra as a Linguistic Province (1948): A work arguing for the linguistic reorganization of states, with a focus on Maharashtra.
- The Buddha and His Dhamma (1957). His final work, published posthumously, laid out his own interpretation of Buddhism. The book was a core text for the Navayana Buddhist movement he founded.
- Riddles in Hinduism (posthumously, 1987). This unfinished and posthumously published work critiques the fundamental aspects of Hinduism.
- Waiting for a Visa (1993): A short, autobiographical text written by Ambedkar in the 1930s but published posthumously. It provides a personal account of his experiences with untouchability. [6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
Ambedkar's writing style was highly polemical and deeply engaged with the works of his contemporaries. He did not shy away from direct intellectual and political combat. His major references and replies include:
- Critique of Hindu scriptures: In Annihilation of Caste, Ambedkar offers a scholarly, verse-by-verse critique of Hindu scriptures, including the Manusmriti, which he publicly burned in 1927. He condemned these texts for their justification of the caste system and untouchability.
- Response to Mahatma Gandhi: A significant portion of Ambedkar's work was a critical engagement with Mahatma Gandhi's ideology. In Mr. Gandhi and the Emancipation of the Untouchables and What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables, he challenged Gandhi's paternalistic approach to the caste issue and his defense of the varna system, which Ambedkar saw as inherently flawed.
- Replies to political figures: He directly responded to the positions of other Indian leaders, such as M. G. Ranade and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his book Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah, outlining his differing visions for an independent India.
- Debates during the drafting of the Constitution: As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Ambedkar's writings and speeches within the Constituent Assembly represent a powerful set of replies to other members. His defenses of fundamental rights, a strong central government, and safeguards for minorities were responses to criticisms from various political factions.
- Comparison with Buddhism: In his final work, The Buddha and His Dhamma, Ambedkar presented his version of Buddhism as a reasoned alternative to Hinduism and also contrasted it with Marxism, dedicating a section to "Buddha or Karl Marx" to explore the different approaches to social liberation. [11, 12, 13]
Reply to Mahatma Gandhi
The ideological differences between Ambedkar and Gandhi are well-documented. Ambedkar was a fierce critic of Gandhi's approach to caste, which included the use of the term Harijan ("children of God") for Dalits.
- Controversy over the Poona Pact: Ambedkar famously clashed with Gandhi during the negotiations for the Poona Pact of 1932. He believed Gandhi's resistance to separate electorates for Dalits was a "Himalayan blunder" designed to maintain the Hindu social order.
- Rejection of the caste system: In his writings, especially in The Annihilation of Caste and What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables, Ambedkar argued that Gandhi's defense of the Varna system was an idealistic misrepresentation. He called it a division of laborers, not a division of labor, that stifled merit and promoted a system of inherited servitude. [1, 18, 19]
Ambedkar did not just challenge individuals; he took on the religious and philosophical texts that underpinned the caste system.
- Critique of Manusmriti: He viewed the Manusmriti as a text that institutionalized the exploitation and subjugation of lower castes. In 1927, he publicly burned a copy of the text to protest its oppressive nature.
- Rejection of the Bhagavad Gita: In his essays, Ambedkar argued that the Bhagavad Gita offered a "philosophic defence of counter-revolution" by legitimizing the varna system and discouraging rebellion against social hierarchy.
- Conversion as a solution: When faced with the intransigence of the Hindu caste system, Ambedkar concluded that conversion away from Hinduism was the only way for Dalits to achieve true liberation. He publicly defended this decision against critics of religious conversion. [2, 18, 24, 25, 26]
While influenced by Marxist ideas of social justice and the exploitation of the poor, Ambedkar critiqued Marxism for failing to adequately address caste.
- Caste vs. Class: Ambedkar argued that in India, the primary division was not economic class but social caste, which could not be solved by a purely economic revolution.
- Role of religion: He rejected the Marxist view that all religions were the "opium of the masses." Instead, he saw Buddhism as a potential source of spiritual satisfaction and inspiration for the oppressed, built on principles of equality and compassion.
- Role of the state: Unlike Marx, who saw the state as an instrument of exploitation, Ambedkar believed that the state could be a tool for liberation and social upliftment through affirmative action. [18, 30]
For a complete and comprehensive collection of his writings, the authoritative resource is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, a multi-volume series published by the Government of Maharashtra. This series includes not only his major books but also his essays, newspaper editorials, letters, and speeches given in various forums, providing the most exhaustive record of his references and replies.
