UP AGAINST CASTE: Comparative Study of Ambedkar and Periyar (Revised Second Edition)

The struggle for social justice and human rights in India is inextricably linked to the question of caste and the continuing caste-based social structure.
Struggles against caste and the caste system have a long history. In modern times the contributions of B.R. Ambedkar and E.V. Ramasami (popularly known as Periyar) are particularly significant. Ambedkar, hailing from an untouchable caste background, was the pioneer in teaching the untouchables the art of using political weapons for the betterment of their conditions. Through his scholarly works and social and political struggles, Ambedkar challenged the Brahminical order of society and sought to uphold the basic human rights of the depressed classes. E.V. Ramasami’s contributions were no less significant. The imprints of his struggles are to be found in the social and political spheres of the Tamil region in southern India. His challenge to Brahminism was sought to be posited through an alternative, democratic culture. The book presents a unique comparative discourse on the ideas of Ambedkar and Periyar.
In recent times, the expansion of neoliberalism and right wing politics in India as well as globally have thrown up serious challenges for the dalits which they seek to meet through newer styles of protest, continuing to draw light from the teachings of Ambedkar and Periyar. The book explores this legacy in the context of contemporary conditions, noting the diverse trends in the post-Ambedkar and post-Periyar dalit struggles.

Debi Chatterjee is a former Professor, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. She was also Visiting Professor in the Department of Human Rights and Human Development, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. She also served as Guest Faculty in the Human Rights Programme and the Department of Sociology at the University of Calcutta. She writes extensively, both in English and Bengali, on themes of human rights, social marginality, dalits and caste oppression. Among her other books are Dalit Rights/Human Right (2011), Ideas and Movements Against Caste in India: Ancient to Modern Times (1998, 2010 ), Sociology of National Integration (1993), Marxist Thought in India ( 1985) and Colour Volcano (1981). These apart, she has co-edited a number of books and has published several articles in edited volumes and journals. She is the Founder-Editor of the bi-annual journal Contemporary Voice of Dalit.