QUES . Critically describe Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s argument on the origin of Indian caste system.
HINTS:
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a prominent Indian social reformer and the chief architect of India’s Constitution argued that the caste system in India has its origins in the varna system, which was originally based on occupational distinctions.
According to Ambedkar, the varna system was a simple occupational division of labor, where people were classified into four broad categories based on their occupations – Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and traders), and Shudras (laborers and artisans). However, over time, the varna system became rigid and hierarchical, with the Brahmins at the top and the Shudras at the bottom, and this gave rise to the caste system as we know it today.
Ambedkar argued that the caste system was not a product of Hinduism, as some scholars had suggested, but was a social system that existed independently of religion. He believed that the caste system was a result of the interaction between two distinct groups – the Indo-Aryans, who came to India from Central Asia around 1500 BCE, and the indigenous population, who were already living in India.
Ambedkar argued that the Indo-Aryans brought with them a hierarchical social system, which they imposed on the indigenous population, who were then classified into castes based on their occupations and social status. The Brahmins, who were the dominant group among the Indo-Aryans, used their religious and social authority to maintain and perpetuate the caste system, which eventually became a deeply ingrained social institution in Indian society.
Ambedkar believed that the caste system was a major obstacle to the progress of Indian society, and he dedicated his life to fighting against it. He advocated for the abolition of caste-based discrimination and worked to improve the social and economic conditions of the so-called “untouchables,” who were considered to be at the bottom of the caste hierarchy.
Overall, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s argument on the origin of the Indian caste system was that it was a product of historical, social, and economic forces that evolved over time, rather than a religious or cultural phenomenon. He believed that the caste system was a major impediment to social progress and worked tirelessly to challenge and reform it.
External link: https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/75088/1/Unit-1.pdf
