Maitrey Singh - Week 3


Understanding Caste From Buddha to Ambedkar and Beyond
Submission 3/10

The book, “Understanding Caste From Buddha to Ambedkar and Beyond” by Gail
Omvedt sheds light on the caste system is it exists in India while also elaborating on the
origin and history of the system. Chapter 1 of the book talks about the inception of
Hinduism and gives a brief origin story of the name and the religion itself while also
talking about the Indus Valley civilisation and the involvements of the Aryans. The
chapter then elaborates in the idea of Brahmans and their origin as given in the
Shastras and their authoritarian ideologies. We also see later in the chapter the
the difference of opinion which Gandhi, Ambedkar and Nehru had. Gandhi portrayed
himself to be a Hindu before anything else, while Nehru considered Brahmanical
Hinduism as the national religion of India. Ambedkar has always been against the caste
system as it exists and the chapter also includes excerpts from his unpublished speech.
The chapter ends at a conclusion that the Nehruvian and Gandhian Ideologies ultimately
failed as they both considered Brahmanical Ideology as the majority religion and
neglected other limbs of the religion such as the lower castes.
Another Chapter of the book talks more about the history and delves deeper into Buddhism.
The main aim of the religion was to focus on the spiritual condition of human
beings. This the chapter elaborates on the two major streams of thought which were,
Brahminic and Shamanic and their respective characteristics. At a certain Buddha is
shown to be against the idea of Brahminism as he spoke against his brother who was in
favour of Brahmanical ideologies and called brahmins, “Greedy Liars who promote
deceit”. Buddha was in favour of the idea of A universal compassion and welfare of
all.  

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