AMBEDKAR IN RETROSPECT: Essays on Economics, Politics & Society

The canvas of Ambedkar’s writings is vast, and the issues discussed by contributors in this volume are a modest attempt to mirror the breadth and vision of the writings of Ambedkar. This volume, besides reflecting and representing the theoretical issues that are implicated in the writings of Ambedkar, also attempts to capture his position on such issues as economic development and planning, socialism and democracy, nationalism, representation and reorganisation of states, Panchayati Raj, caste discrimination and untouchability, whose relevance is acutely felt, even today.

Besides, Ambedkar’s perspective on history, question of Hindu women, education and his response to social exclusion are also taken up by various contributors. Ambedkar in retrospect is India at prospect that confronts the substantive predicaments and momentous issues that beset India in the present, closely and critically, while charting out a trajectory of social transformation. This volume on Ambedkar’s intellectual analysis and insights would provide a valuable resource to the students and researchers as well as those engaged in policy making.

Sukhadeo Thorat is Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Chairman, University Grants Commission, Government of India. He also served as Director, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi. He has, to his credit, fifteen books and over seventy scholarly papers published in national and international journals on problems of agriculture development, economic institutions, rural poverty, problem of slums, Dalits, caste discrimination, Ambedkar’s economic thinking and human right issues.

Aryama teaches political science at SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi and is also a visiting faculty at Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi. He specializes in political theory, marginality and invisibility of social groups and its implications.