Caste — Annihilation Of

: He countered the defense that caste is simply a "division of labour," stating it is actually a division of labourers into watertight, hereditary compartments that ignore individual aptitude and preference.

: The text became a foundational document for the Dalit Panther movement and continues to influence social justice movements in modern India. Ambedkar's Perspective Traditional/Reformist View Caste Origin Divine basis in scriptures Social or biological necessity Solution Complete annihilation Piecemeal reforms (e.g., temple entry) Prioritization Social reform before political Political independence first Ambedkar's later conversion to Buddhism ? Reading 'Annihilation of Caste' by Ambedkar Jayanti Annihilation of Caste

: Gandhi disagreed with Ambedkar’s harsh criticism of Hindu scriptures, believing the caste system could be reformed from within through "Varna Dharma". Ambedkar included a detailed rebuttal to Gandhi in subsequent editions of the book. : He countered the defense that caste is