Thread by @srajagopalan

Today on Ambedkar’s 128th birth anniversary he is more politically and socially relevant than ever before. A thread on some of his writings (with links) that I think should be read by everyone. 1/n #ambedkar #ThoughtsofAmbedkar

Ambedkar’s writings on caste is well known. An absolute must read is “The Annhilation of Caste” which is a lecture he never gave. It published later as a book. It is a debate between the ideas of Gandhi and Ambedkar or the doctor versus the saint. amazon.com/Annihilation-C… 2/n

In Annhilation, one section in particular on how the caste system is not the division of labour but the division of labourers. ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/mmt/a… 3/n

Another poignant essay on caste describing his childhood experience with discrimination and untouchability. “A childhood journey to Koregaon becomes a nightmare” columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pri… 4/n

Also there are two excellent episodes of the Hindi podcast @puliyabaazi by @pranaykotas and @saurabhchandra on Ambedkar’s writings on caste and cow which talk about Annhilation and other works. thinkpragati.com/podcast/puliya… and thinkpragati.com/podcast/puliya… 5/n

Also read Ambedkar’s famous speech to the Constituent Assembly called The Grammar of Anarchy google.com/amp/s/www.outl… 6/n

Ambedkar on the status of women in Hindu society in his work titled “The rise and fall of the Hindu woman. Who was responsible for it?” essentialambedkar.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/the-ri… 7/n

Ambedkar was also a trained economist and favored fiscal federalism and managing budgets by raising revenue instead of relying on intergovernmental transfers. ia801609.us.archive.org/27/items/in.er… 8/n

Ambedkar’s excellent essay on agriculture and his analysis on the problem of small farm holdings and their low productivity ambedkar.org/ambcd/11.%20Sm… 9/n

Ambedkar on the gold standard as a solution for “the problem of the rupee: it’s origin and it’s solution.” amazon.com/PROBLEM-RUPEE-… 10/n

Narendra Jadhav has an excellent series of edited volumes called Ambedkar Speaks amazon.com/kindle-dbs/sea… and Ambedkar Writes amazon.com/Ambedkar-Write… 11/n

Ambedkar was a prolific writer throughout his student years and career. Most of his writings are available on the MEA website here mea.gov.in/books-writings… 12/n

Ambedkar remains the most important and relevant thinker of his time in present day India and it is unfortunate we don’t read more of his work in our curriculum. Link to other works by Ambedkar today using #ThoughtsofAmbedkar 13/n

I hope @CafeEconomics @cbhanp @pranaykotas @saurabhchandra @DrJadhav @gidla_sujatha and others can add to this list.

And some of my thoughts on caste informed by Ambedkar’s ideas were discussed in my chat with @amitvarma on his podcast The Seen and the Unseen” seenunseen.in/episodes/2018/…