Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar: Taking a Stand to Transform Indian Society. Olivia D Souza. Junior Division. Historical Paper. Word Count: 2,500 words

Transcription

1 Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar: Taking a Stand to Transform Indian Society Olivia D Souza Junior Division Historical Paper Word Count: 2,500 words

2 1 Some of the biggest changes in the world s history have at first gone unnoticed, yet they better our society by changing the minds of others. The people behind those changes have sometimes been lost in books and documentaries, only to be stumbled upon by chance. The biggest change in Indian history was made by a man named Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. 1 Born an Untouchable, Dr. Ambedkar was the first of his caste to receive a proper education. Recognizing the injustices occurring in India, Dr. Ambedkar used his personal experiences and eventual political power to advocate for members of the Untouchable caste and take a stand to abolish it through law in the late 1940 s. His work created a new world for India s Untouchables and all those affected by the Hindu caste system. The Caste System The Hindu caste system is a social hierarchy determined by one s birth and ancestry. It includes four main classes or varnas : Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. The Brahmins are the priests and holy men; Kshatriyas are those who enforce or change the law, such as politicians and police officers. Vaishyas are merchants or traders. Finally, at the bottom, the 2 Shudras: cleaners and farmers. Untouchables were not identified in the four main varnas but 3 rather as completely separate from the system. They were thought of as pollutants of the earth, ill-bred and uncouth. Untouchables were considered a caste lower than the Shudras and were forced to do the dirty work; they buried the dead, cleaned animal dung and public toilets. They 1 An untouchable is a person who belongs to the lowest caste in the Hindu caste system: Zelliot, Eleanor. "Untouchability: Overview." New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. 12 Oct link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/cx /whic?u=gree68876&xid=c The Caste System. Ushistory.org. Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook, Accessed December 15, Rajan, V.G. Julie. Caste in Transition. In Caste in Transition. Previously published in Hinduism Today, 2003, SIRS Researcher.

3 2 were forced to string brooms around their waists to sweep away their own footsteps and wear 4 earthen pots around their necks so their spit would not stain the earth. Despite the Untouchables not being mentioned in any Hindu scripture, it was identified as a Hindu caste and many acknowledged it as a legal term to justify beating Untouchables, forcing them out of stores and villages. This legal system of discrimination was heavily rooted in tradition and not to be easily broken. As it was said in the movie Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, One is to die in the story in 5 which one is born. Whichever caste one is born into, one will remain in for the rest of their life. The British Rule and its Educational Contributions While India had it s own cultural rules and laws in place through the caste system, the 6 British Empire s influence encouraged educational and developmental changes. India was divided geographically by state, having its own rulers or governors. Examined students from government schools they awarded scholarships to those they believed would succeed in their 7 studies regardless of caste. Growing up in this reformed system helped Dr. Ambedkar, providing him the opportunity to attend school, study, and later take a stand for Untouchable s rights. Taking a Stand Against Society Through Education Born an Untouchable, Dr. Ambedkar faced caste discrimination first hand prompting him to begin his fight. Growing up an Untouchable was difficult. Barbers, who shaved sheep and 8 cattle, would not dare to cut his hair. Dr. Ambedkar was not allowed to set foot or glimpse 4 Patel, Jabbar, dir. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Narrated by Mammootty Ibid. 6 "British Raj," Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, last modified June 25, 2016, 7 Roy, Arundhati. The Doctor and the Saint. N.p.: Verso, [Page 97] 8 "Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar," The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, ed., Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, last modified May 21, 2012,

4 3 9 inside a temple for people thought he would pollute the sacred ground. His family was denied bussing and walked or biked in the scorching heat of summer wherever they went. While years of suffering under this treatment inspired Dr. Ambedkar to work for change, it would take educational experience to make his stance possible. In 1907, due to his father s position in the Mahar Regiment in the British Army, Dr. Ambedkar was the first and only Untouchable admitted to Elphinstone High School in Bombay. 10 Despite being admitted to the school, he continued to face discrimination. While his peers 11 were treated with respect, he was forced to sit on sacks behind everyone else. Despite the discrimination Dr. Ambedkar faced in India s educational system, he would rise above it. Thanks to the British educational system, Dr. Ambedkar was awarded scholarships to study law 12 abroad at Columbia University (New York) and London School of Economics. The stand that Dr. Ambedkar took against the caste system and Untouchability was not one that was noticed immediately. It was a long process that took years to complete. One may argue that Ambedkar s first official stance against Indian culture was taken as a college student at Columbia University. His paper, Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development spoke out against the complexity and unnecessity of the caste system. 13 He formally presented his paper on May 9, 1916 at an Anthropology Seminar at Columbia 14 University. After reading and hearing his presentation, many of Dr. Ambedkar s American 9 "The Caste System, ushistory.org. 10 Pritchett, Emerita Frances W. "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Life and Work," FWP, accessed November 11, 2016, 11 Roy, The Doctor, [Page 96]. 12 Pritchett, "Dr. B.R.," FWP. 13 Ambedkar, Bhimrao Ramji. "Castes In India: Their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development" (unpublished manuscript, Columbia University, New York, NY, n.d.) 14 Sharma, K.S. Dr. CounterCurrents.org newsgroup, "Re-Reading Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Earliest Paper on Caste 100 Years Later," June 18, 2016, accessed January 10, 2017,

5 4 15 professors suggested he take part in Indian politics as a politician or government lawyer. While inspired by the promise of his western world professors, Dr. Ambedkar knew that in order to take a stand as an Untouchable in Indian politics he would need to gain as much education as possible, so continuing his higher education. In the midst of earning his Master's degree and Ph.D. from London School of Economics, Dr. Ambedkar was sought out by Sayajirao Gaekwad, the governor of Baroda, who provided him a job as a Military Secretary in the Indian state of Baroda. Though Dr. Ambedkar was clearly an educated, successful man, he was often treated poorly in the workplace. For example, while applying for an officer s club, he was accepted on certain conditions; be served by only one 16 waiter, must sit at his own table, and use his own cutlery. During this time, Dr. Ambedkar s presence in the workplace caused much controversy. Dr. Ambedkar drank out of a tap assigned for Touchables, was served by the same waiter as higher caste men and even sat in their vicinity 17 instead of his own room. The stances that Dr. Ambedkar took in the workplace lead to discussions about whether he should be allowed to work at all. While he was extremely passionate about making changes, transforming Indian society, Dr. Ambedkar was not at a place personally to take a stand in the public eye, so he quit to continue his studies and avoid social notice for the time being. Soon after leaving his position in 1924, Dr. Ambedkar completed his education and founded an organization to help Untouchables. This organization was known as Bahishkrit 18 Hitakarini Sabha (Group for the Wellbeing of the Excluded). Their motto was to Educate, 15 Patel, Dr. Babasaheb. 16 Ibid. 17 "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar of India, 63, Dead," New York Times (New York), December 7, Pritchett, "Dr. B.R.," FWP.

6 5 Agitate, Organize. He appealed to the government to obtain its help. Despite the rejection from political leaders and congressmen such as Gandhi s chief lieutenant, C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. 19 Ambedkar s efforts did not go unnoticed. In 1926, Dr. Ambedkar was appointed to the 20 Legislation of Bombay by the Governor of Bombay himself. Using this newfound authority, he tried to take a stand by changing the little things in society.. The first change Dr. Ambedkar made was to allow Untouchables to drink from the same water reservoir as the rest of the higher caste village. With the help of a few government representatives, Dr. Ambedkar started a movement that changed laws which denied Untouchables access to food and water. Undeterred 21 by the new laws, Brahmin village leaders severely beat those who drank from the reservoir. In response, Dr. Ambedkar held peaceful protests and assemblies to take a stand for the beaten Untouchables. Eventually, villagers began to understand the seriousness of these laws. This first small change in law to stop discriminating Untouchables in simple day to day tasks helped show India what Dr. Ambedkar was fighting for and how he planned on doing it, one small step at a time Over the next couple of years, Dr. Ambedkar spoke at Depressed Class Conferences in which he openly attacked the Hindu Laws of Manu, which allowed for discrimination of caste, 22 and burned them in front of Congress. He began many journals on equality and obtained 23 special representation for Untouchables in legislative councils of the Indian government. Every small action Dr. Ambedkar took was to stand against Untouchability and the caste system. Taking a Stand Against Gandhi and Society 19 Roy, The Doctor, [Page 105]. 20 Ibid. 21 Patel, Dr. Babasaheb. 22 Pritchett, "Dr. B.R.," FWP. 23 The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, "Bhimrao Ramji."

7 6 Dr. Ambedkar had many who opposed him, but one who criticized him the most was the 24 well-known and beloved Mahatma Gandhi. Born a Vaishya, Gandhi grew up watching and despising the way his family treated their servants. Yet, as he grew older Gandhi saw the caste system as the basis of the Hindu culture, believing it helped keep Hindus organized and set apart from other religions or cultures. Untouchables held the responsibility of completing unclean and impure tasks so the higher castes would be considered pure enough to worship their gods in temples. Therefore Gandhi saw the caste system as a necessary means to worship their 25 gods appropriately. Gandhi focused on helping Untouchables accept their lifestyle. He used Untouchables as a showcase of his mission and taught them how to love their place in life and 26 not pursue anything greater than their hereditary occupations. As Gandhi stated, To destroy caste system and adopt Western European social system means that Hindus must give up the principle of hereditary occupation which is the soul of the caste system. Hereditary principle is an eternal principle. To change it is to create disorder. I have no use for a Brahmin if I cannot call him a Brahmin for my life. It will be a chaos if every day a Brahmin is to be changed into a Shudra and a Shudra is to be changed into a 27 Brahmin. During a Depressed Class Conference, Dr. Ambedkar mentioned that, Mahatmas have 28 come and Mahatmas have gone, but the Untouchables have remained Untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar included this in his speech to inform the public that they cannot always trust a large 24 Patel, Dr. Babasaheb. 25 Roy, The Doctor, [Page 101]. 26 Ibid. 27 "Gandhi and the Black Untouchables," Trinicenter, accessed January 31, 2017, 28 Patel, Dr. Babasaheb.

8 7 figure with an important name. It was from this point on that Dr. Ambedkar took to fighting against Gandhi s sentiments. Dr. Ambedkar stood against Gandhi through his draft of the Communal Award in The Communal Award stated that Untouchables (and only Untouchables) would choose their representation and cast a ballot to determine who among caste Hindus were best suited to 29 represent them in legislative matters. This could include Untouchables themselves. Gandhi, believing that Untouchables did not need representation, announced that he would fast unto 30 death until the Communal Award was revoked by the British. India flew into a panic, with nearly everyone supporting Ghandi. As Dr. Ambedkar continued to stand his ground, people held protests and fasted in order to save Gandhi s life. Dr. Ambedkar and his family received harmful messages and threats. Ultimately, society s reaction to the Communal Award made Dr. Ambedkar realize in order to be successful in taking a long-lasting stand, he would step back and first gain a strong public backing. Therefore, on September , he signed the Poona Pact, 31 an agreement which repealed the Communal Award. After the signing, Gandhi and his followers stopped their fasting and celebrated. Despite this short setback, Dr. Ambedkar continued to hold his own protests and assemblies, where he took a stand against Gandhi and his opposing viewpoints. After continuing his efforts for Untouchable representation in the government, in 1937 Congress finally announced that there would be 151 seats reserved specifically for Untouchables. Taking a Stand through the Constitution 29 Anand, S. "A Note on the Poona Pact," in Annihilation of Caste, [Page 5], previously published in Annihilation of Caste (n.p.: Navayana Publishing, 2014). 30 Patel, Dr. Babasaheb. 31 Anand, "A Note," in Annihilation of Caste, [Page 7].

9 8 Despite their different viewpoints, Gandhi realized what Dr. Ambedkar was trying to accomplish through his stand and eventually recommended him to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, who chose him to be a part of his constituent assembly and Minister of 32 Law. This recommendation led to Dr. Ambedkar s next stand against Untouchability. Appointed by Nehru, Dr. Ambedkar became the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of 33 the Constitution in The drafting of the Constitution of India would arguably become his most well known stand. In the next year, Dr. Ambedkar and the six other members of the Drafting Committee worked on creating the Constitution of India. Dr. Ambedkar became the sole author of the Constitution and the other six members turned into simple advisors and editors. 34 Article 17 of India s constitution states that: Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of Untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law. 35 Not only was Untouchability abolished through the constitution thanks to Dr. Ambedkar s work, but other forms of discrimination as well. In Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India, any type of discrimination based on gender, race, caste, religion, place of birth, or descent is deemed 36 illegal and punishable by law. Dr. Ambedkar s formal stance through the Constitution finally abolished Untouchability by law, creating equal rights for people of all castes. 32 Divya A, "IGNCA Chief Says Nehru Didn t Want Ambedkar in Constituent Assembly," The Indian Express, last modified June 13, 2016, accessed March 23, 2017, n-constituent-assembly /?scrlybrkr=2b9e Pritchett, "Dr. B.R.," FWP. 34 Kait, Kavita "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Father of Indian Constitution," Legal Services India, last modified December 12, 2013, accessed January 18, 2017, 35 Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Dr., Constitution of India, November 26, 1949, Constitution of India, New Delhi, India. 36 Ibid.

10 9 Not only did the Constitution of India enforce laws on caste and class discrimination, it also created opportunities for discussions which ultimately changed the minds of many large political figures, showing them their former treatment of lower castes and Untouchables was 37 unwarranted and cruel. While Dr. Ambedkar s stance against Untouchability and the caste system was officially taken in the Constitution in 1947, the fruits of his work can be seen long after through changes in Indian society and tradition. The Lasting Impact and Legacy of Dr. Ambedkar s Stand Dr. Ambedkar s long term stance in history can best be seen through the changes in the day to day lives of Untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar transformed the lives of over sixty million Untouchables and the minds of those they lived amongst. Holding protests and assemblies, Dr. Ambedkar influenced government officials to create laws mandating that public facilities were 38 open to all. Because of the new laws, Hindu temples opened their doors to those of depressed classes, and many Untouchables finally received access to food, shelter, clean water, and restrooms in their community. While these changes were a starting point, the government recognized that short term assistance was not enough to bring Untouchables out of the oppression they had faced for the past century. In response, they instituted numerous Affirmative Action programs for lower, excluded castes. Over $4,000 (about 273,000 rupees) was distributed in scholarship money each year for students in excluded castes, a practice that remains in place 39 today. Dr. Ambedkar s transformation of Indian society can be noticed through the Indian 37 Patel, Dr. Babasaheb. 38 Shahani, Ranjee "A New World for India's Untouchables," The New York Times (New York City, NY), October 2, 1949, sec. SM, [Page 1]. 39 Shahani, "A New World," sec. SM, [Page 4].

11 10 population s economic mobility and in the Affirmative Action programs that help students in lower classes get the education they are entitled to. Conclusion There have been many historical figures who have fought for something they are passionate about, but Dr. Ambedkar brought it to another level. Taking a stand to dissolve parts of the caste system that was heavily rooted in tradition and justified by religious law in Indian communities was a near impossible idea. Challenging this idea helped people see the truth of their actions against Untouchables. Those who drank water from the roadside can now have clean water from a reservoir; those who grew up without an education can now earn their degrees. Fighting against tradition and society, using experiences from his youth and incoming political power, Dr. Ambedkar took a stand by eradicating Untouchability through law and creating a new world for those affected by the caste system.

12 11 Annotated Bibliography Primary Sources Aide Denounces Nehru and Quits. New York Times [New York, NY]. 12 Oct. 1951: 5. Print. This is a newspaper article from the New York Times. This article describes Dr. Ambedkar s denouncement of the Indian Government because of their unfair treatment of Untouchables. This also gives an outsider s view to Ambedkar s walking out of the government. I referenced this in my paper when discussing the different ways Dr. Ambedkar took a stand, particularly when writing the constitution and quitting his job. Ambedkar, Bhimrao Ramji, Dr.. Castes In India: Their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development. Unpublished manuscript, Columbia University, New York, NY, n.d. This is Dr. Ambedkar s thesis paper on the caste system while he was attending Columbia University. This paper really gave me a proper idea of Dr. Ambedkar s thinking and what he felt about the caste system. This also helped me gain knowledge about how the caste system really works through examples of endogamy, and what each of the four varnas or castes mean. I used references from this paper when discussing Ambedkar s way of thinking and while talking about his first real stand against the caste system and Untouchability. Ambedkar, Bhimrao Ramji, Dr. Annihilation of Caste. N.p.: Navayana Publishing, Annihilation of Caste is a printed transcript of one of Dr. Ambedkar s speeches. He originally wrote this speech to be spoken at a Depressed Classes Conference but was later denied the opportunity to talk. In order to make sure his voice was heard Dr. Ambedkar printed copies of his speech transcript as a book to give to the public. In this book, Dr. Ambedkar expresses his views of the Hindu caste system and the religion itself. This really helped give me a proper understanding of Dr. Ambedkar s thinking and view of India at that time. Constitution of India. November 26, Constitution of India. New Delhi, India.

13 12 This is a copy of the Constitution of India. I read Article 17 which abolishes Untouchability. It helped me understand and see the proper wording of the laws written by Dr. Ambedkar, himself. I referenced this in my paper when discussing how Dr. Ambedkar wrote the Constitution of India and gave equal rights to all castes. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar of India, 63, Dead. New York Times [New York]. 7 Dec. 1956: 27. Print. This is a newspaper article from the New York Times announcing the death of Dr. Ambedkar. It gave me a basic idea of his lifetime achievements from a western world point of view. It also described his struggle for education and how he got support from the ruler of Baroda. I referenced aspects of this in my paper when discussing educational difficulties for Untouchables and how Ambedkar had to get through it. Shahani, Ranjee. A New World for India s Untouchables. The New York Times (New York City, NY), October 2, 1949, sec. SM, 1-4. This is a newspaper article that was written the same year India adopted its constitution. The article gave examples of all the different aspects of the constitution and how it affected India focusing on how Untouchables were no longer an official caste and discrimination of them was illegal moving forward. I used this source in my paper when discussing the impact Dr. Ambedkar left on society in India both short and long term. "Thoughts on Dr. Ambedkar." New York Times [New York, NY]. 8 Dec. 1956: 18. Print. This was a newspaper editorial published in the New York Times shortly after Dr. Ambedkar s death. The author while unknown, gave reference as to what Dr. Ambedkar was like during his time working for India s first prime minister. He praises his work for using the few resources available to him as an Untouchable to make a difference. It helped me understand the western world s perspective on him and his work and the immediate aftermath of changes he made. Untouchables Case Made Issue in India. New York City [New York]. 29 Apr. 1948: 16. Print. This newspaper article was written in This is possibly the first time that the rest of world heard about India s Untouchability issue. This also mentions Dr. Ambedkar s first stance against untouchability such as holding conferences, speaking in government, and urging Untouchables to stand up for themselves. I used this to understand the reaction of others in the world to not only India s caste system, but Dr. Ambedkar s work.

14 13 Secondary Sources A, Divya. "IGNCA chief says Nehru didn't want Ambedkar in Constituent Assembly." The Indian Express. June 13, Accessed March 23, This is an article from an Indian website known as the The Indian Express. It discusses how Nehru did not originally plan for or even liked having Dr. Ambedkar be a part of the constituent assembly or Law minister later on. The author of the article also gives his own views as to what was really going on at the time of the writing of the constitution and as to why Nehru picked Dr. Ambedkar to be part of the constituent assembly. I referenced this article when discussing how Dr. Ambedkar was given the chance to be part of the Indian government. Anand, S. A Note on the Poona Pact. In Annihilation of Caste. Previously published in Annihilation of Caste. N.p.: Navayana Publishing, A Note on the Poona Pact is an excerpt I found in the annotated edition of Annihilation of Caste. This excerpt gave me information on what the Poona pact was and how it affected Untouchable representation in the Indian Congress. The author included the steps Gandhi took to make Dr. Ambedkar sign the Poona Pact and how it got rid of the original Communal Award. I used this source in my paper when discussing the opposition Dr. Ambedkar faced from Gandhi and the government. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Last modified May 21, This article gave basic information on Dr. Ambedkar s life. It helped me early in my research to understand who Dr. Ambedkar was. I used information regarding this in the early sections of my paper. British Raj. Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Last modified June 25,

15 14 This is an article on the British Raj, or the British Rule of India. This article gives information on what happened during the time of the British rule and how they came to power in India. The history of different company rules, and expansion of the rule are also included. The author even includes geographic information on the different provinces and cities in India at that time. This is important to my topic, because during Dr Ambedkar s time period India was under British rule, and in 1947 was given its independence. This article helped me establish historical context of the time and understand important background information on the history of India leading up to Dr. Ambedkar s work. Case Study 4 Background: Living in the British Empire: India. The National Archive. This is an article on the British Empire in India. It had different sections on the debate of the British Rule, the Indian Mutiny, the British Raj, and how they affected India s economy and society. The author also used images to enhance the article and give examples about what life was like during that time. I used this information when giving historical context and background information on what was happening during Dr. Ambedkar s time. Cleary, Vern. The British Raj Begins. Unpublished manuscript, n.d. This is an article on the British Raj. This article offers in-depth examples regarding the treatment of Indians by the British and their influence on India s education system. I referenced examples when discussing the historical context of Dr. Ambedkar s stand and how it affected his early life and education during the British Raj. Gandhi and the Black Untouchables. Trinicenter. Accessed January 31, This is a web page that gave me an understanding of Dr. Ambedkar s feelings toward Gandhi and his views on the caste system. The author used quotes from Gandhi that explain why he believed the caste system was needed in the religion. The author also explained the different aspects of each of Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar s views. I used this in my paper when quoting Gandhi on his views of the caste system and Untouchability and Ambedkar s opposition to him. Impact of Dr. Ambedkar s thoughts on Indian Economy. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Association for Education, Japan. Last modified Accessed October 6,

16 15 This was an article about Dr. Ambedkar published by the International Association for Education. It contained basic information about Ambedkar s life and his eventual work to change Indian society. "India Bans Discrimination against Untouchables, 1948." In Historic World Events. Detroit: Gale, Accessed March 23, u=gree68876&xid=ff293c47. This is a reference article on India's ban of discrimination against untouchables. It helped me by giving me an idea of the impact the Constitution of India made in the day to day lives of Indians. This article helped me understand visualize the changes made during and after the writing of the constitution of India. Kait, Kavita. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Father of Indian Constitution. Legal Services India. Last modified December 12, Accessed January 18, on html. This is an article I have found on a website created by the Government of India sponsored by the Indian National Archives to provide legal services. This article described the path Dr. Ambedkar took in drafting the constitution. The author described the political journey Dr. Ambedkar had to go through to be selected for the drafting committee of the constitution. This article really gave me a good understanding of Dr. Ambedkar s political influences, and how he really started to become part of Indian politics. Patel, Jabbar, dir. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Narrated by Mammootty This is a documentary that depicts the hardships Dr. Ambedkar faces throughout his career and studies as an untouchable. The documentary also emphasized how Ambedkar really began fighting and how he was inspired through what he saw and how he was treated. Ambedkar was treated very badly in his workplace and his classes, yet he was encouraged by the Maharaja. I referenced this information in my paper when explaining the caste system and the harsh treatment of Untouchables. Pritchett, Emerita Frances W. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar s Life and Work. FWP. Accessed 11 Nov This website was authored by Professor Emerita Frances W. Pritchett of Columbia University who has done extensive studies on Dr. Ambedkar and his life. It gave me a historical timeline of Dr. Ambedkar s life which helped me sort out his major life events.

17 16 I referenced aspects of it in the Fighting Against Society through Education section of my paper. Rajan, V.G. Julie. Caste in Transition. In Caste in Transition. Previously published in Hinduism Today, 2003, SIRS Researcher. This article gave me an idea of the history of the caste system. Not only did it talk about the history, it examined it from the viewpoint on how untouchability was just a human tendency and not a part of Hinduism itself. It stated that caste is just a fact of life and will continue to be. I referenced this material in the intro to the Caste system portion of my paper. Roy, Arundhati. The Doctor and the Saint. N.p.: Verso, This is a book on Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhi s association with each other, and their opposing ideas. Roy analyzes the different impacts Dr. Ambedkar s fight caused. He also includes Gandhi s views on caste system and Untouchability and how he affected the changes Ambedkar could have made. I used this source in my paper to explain the different ways Dr. Ambedkar took a stand as well as in explaining the different opposition he faced against Gandhi. Shah, Shelly. Origins of Caste System in India (7 Theories). Sociology Discussion (blog). Accessed 19 Dec m-in-india/2354. This is a blog post that discusses 7 different theories of the origin of Untouchability. The author includes information as to how and why each theory affects other s views on the caste system. She also compares and contrasts each theory to one another to show differences and similarities between them. I can use this in my research to gain a better understanding the Caste system and various viewpoints on it. Sharma, K.S., Dr. Re-Reading Dr. B.R. Ambedkar s Earliest Paper on Caste 100 Years Later, CounterCurrents.org. 18 June Accessed January 10, years-later/. This is an online article that analyzes and discusses different aspects of Dr. Ambedkar s paper on the caste system. The author includes some of his most notable quotes and and also includes the history of the paper. Information on where he presented the paper, how it affected his educational community, and how it made a difference are also all included

18 17 in this online article. I can use this in my paper when discussing how this paper was really Dr. Ambedkar s first stand against the caste system, and how it affected his views later in life. The Caste System. Ushistory.org. Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook, Accessed December 15, This is an article that gives a basic overview of the Aryan invasion theory and the origin of the caste system. It even includes what a native Hindu might say when asked about the origins of their caste system. I referenced this in my Fighting Against Society through Education section of my paper. Violatti, Cristian. Aryan. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified January 19, This is an article that gives a full history of the Aryan people. The author includes the meaning of the term Aryan and how it is originally a Sanskrit term. Violatti also gives an explanation of the Aryan migration which really helped me to understand the Aryan invasion theory, a concept critical to the origins of caste theories. I used this to gain a better understanding of the caste system early in my research. Zelliot, Eleanor. Untouchability: Overview. New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. Ed. Maryanne Cline Horowitz. Vol. 6. Detroit: Charles Scribner s Sons, World History in Context. Web. 12 Oct This is an article that explains the whole idea of Untouchability. It even includes a few examples of Dr. Ambedkar and his thoughts on the topic. I used this to gain a better understanding of Untouchability.