Q: What does Dr. B. R. Ambedkar mean by the concept of “Annihilation of caste" ?

Model Answer:

Ambedkar’s Concept -> Annihilation of Caste

In his 1936 text, Annihilation of Caste, B.R. Ambedkar presented a radical Subaltern Perspective demanding the complete destruction of the caste system’s ideological and structural foundations, explicitly rejecting mere reform.

Core Dimensions of Annihilation

Destruction of Shastras

Arguing that caste represents “Graded Inequality” rather than a simple division of labour, Ambedkar advocated “dynamiting” the Shastras and Smritis that grant divine legitimacy to exploitation.

Eradicating Endogamy

Identifying Endogamy as the core mechanism reproducing caste boundaries, he argued that mere interdining is insufficient; the ultimate antidote is the “fusion of blood” through intermarriage.

Ambedkar vs. Gandhi Debate

Unlike M.K. Gandhi, who sought to remove untouchability while preserving an idealized Varna system, Ambedkar asserted caste is inherently pathological. As sociologist Gail Omvedt notes, Ambedkar’s vision demanded a total social revolution, not just behavioral reform.

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The persistence of honour killings and the rise of “Digital Endogamy” through caste-based matrimonial websites validate Ambedkar’s thesis that without ideological destruction, caste simply adapts to modernity.

Conclusion

Despite robust constitutional safeguards and political empowerment, Ambedkar’s radical vision of a truly casteless society remains an unfinished social revolution in contemporary India.