Unknown - B.R. Ambedkar and Social Transformation

This book revisits the philosophy of B.R. Ambedkar in the context of the present socio-economic-political realities of India. It examines the philosophical and theoretical interventions of Ambedkar, as well as his egalitarian principles of equality, liberty, fraternity and morality. Noting the current shift in state policy from welfarism to neoliberalism, the book argues that the measures, interventions and recommendations that Ambedkar made are highly appropriate and concrete to face challenges and can be considered as practical solutions to existing problems. It studies various themes that form a part of his oeuvre such as Buddhism, federalism, justice, social exclusion, representation, anti-caste system, womens equality, among others. It also discusses his impact on literature, visual arts, and literary, democratic and cultural movements throughout history.

The volume positions Ambedkar as a theoretician, social reformer, and a real visionary of social justice and democratization. It will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of social exclusion, politics, especially Indian political thought, sociology and South Asian studies.

Jagannatham Begari is Assistant Professor, Centre for Gandhian Thought and Peace Studies, School Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India. He obtained his Doctorate from the Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad, India. His research interests include democracy, modern Indian thinkers, the political economy of India, human rights and marginality. He has delivered lectures at Western Sydney University and Adelaide University, Australia. He also visited and presented papers in international Conferences at Berlin (Germany), Denver, Colorado, United States of America and Manchester (England). He also chaired session and delivered lectures in 25th World Congress of Political Science, Brisbane, Australia. He has also published articles in reputed journals like EPW, Indian Journal of Human Rights and Indian Journal of Political Science. He is the author of Interrogating Democracy and Human Rights: Telangana Peoples Movement (2014) and Mapping a Human Rights and Subalterns in Modern India (2016).

Edited by Jagannatham Begari

First published 2022

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2022 selection and editorial matter, Jagannatham Begari; individual chapters, the contributors

The right of Jagannatham Begari to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Names: Begari, Jagannatham, editor.

Title: B.R. Ambedkar and social transformation : revisiting the philosophy and reclaiming social justice / edited by Jagannatham Begari.

Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Taylor & Francis Group, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021020160 (print) | LCCN 2021020161 (ebook) | ISBN 9780367355500 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032113012 (paperback) | ISBN 9780429356759 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Ambedkar, B. R. (Bhimrao Ramji), 1891-1956--Philosophy. | Ambedkar, B. R. (Bhimrao Ramji), 1891-1956--Political and social views. | India--Politics and government--1947

Classification: LCC DS481.A6 .B7 2022 (print) | LCC DS481.A6 (ebook) | DDC 320.95401--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021020160

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021020161

ISBN: 978-0-367-35550-0 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-032-11301-2 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-429-35675-9 (ebk)

DOI: 10.4324/9780429356759

Typeset in Sabon

by MPS Limited, Dehradun

I dedicate this book to my late parents: Smt. Shivamma and Shri. Mallaiah

Jagannatham Begari

Valerian Rodrigues

Aakash Singh Rathore

K.Y. Ratnam

Harish S. Wankhede

Jadumani Mahanand

C. Sheela Reddy

Komal Rajak

M. Kodandaram

E.V. Ramakrishnan

Y. S. Alone

E. Krishna Rao

V.M. Ravi Kumar

Jagannatham Begari

Aakash Singh Rathore has taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University, and the Universities of Delhi, Rutgers, Pennsylvania, Toronto, Humboldt-Berlin, and LUISS-Rome. He is author of Ambedkars Preamble: A Secret History of the Constitution of India, and Series Editor of the 15-volume Rethinking India book series, and co-editor of its first volume, Vision for A Nation, with Ashis Nandy. He is also the editor of B.R. Ambedkar Quest for Justice (5 Vols, 2021), OUP, New Delhi.

C. Sheela Reddy, Chair Professor, Dr Ambedkar Chair in Social Justice, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. Sheela Reddys area of research specialization: B.R. Ambedkar and social Justice, women, Governance and Public Policy issues.