Radical Imperative of Social Reform: B.R. Ambedkar's Critique of Caste as a Barrier to Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in Annihilation of Caste.

This dissertation is an attempt to understand one of the most important and difficult issues in Indian society — the caste system and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s powerful call for its complete annihilation. When I first read Annihilation of Caste, I was struck by how clearly and bravely Ambedkar spoke about a problem that still affects millions of people every day. He did not suggest small improvements or gradual reforms. Instead, he said that caste cannot be fixed — it must be destroyed because its roots lie in religious beliefs that divide people by birth and deny them liberty, equality, and fraternity. The Title “The Radical imperative of Social Reform” reflects Ambedkar’s own strong message. He believed that political independence alone was not enough. Without social reconstruction, India would only replace foreign rulers with upper-caste dominance. This idea became the starting point of my work. Through this dissertation, I have tried to explore how caste developed over centuries, how it continued during British rule, how early reformers challenged it, and how Ambedkar took the struggle to a deeper level. I have written this work in simple language because I believe Ambedkar’s ideas should reach as many people as possible. All the chapters are based on careful reading of primary sources such as Ambedkar’s own writings, Manusmriti, Rigveda, and the works of Phule and Periyar. Recent government reports on atrocities and discrimination have also been used to show that the problem is still very much alive. This dissertation is not just an academic exercise for me. It is an effort to understand why caste continues to affect our society even after so many years of independence and constitutional safeguards. Ambedkar’s message reminds us that true democracy cannot exist without social democracy. I hope this work will help readers see the depth of the issue and the courage needed to address it. I am grateful to all the writers and scholars whose works helped me understand this complex topic. Any mistakes or shortcomings in this dissertation are entirely my own.