Who were the Shudras (Dr B.R. Ambedkar) - Hardcover

Dr B.R. Ambedkar

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 935499024X ISBN 13: 9789354990243

Publisher: GENERAL PRESS, 2025

Synopsis

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s "Who Were the Shudras?" is a groundbreaking historical and sociological investigation that fundamentally challenges traditional narratives about the origins of India's caste system. Written with profound empathy and analytical rigor, the book seeks to restore the dignity of a marginalized people by uncovering their true historical roots.

Ambedkar systematically dismantles the orthodox Brahminical assertion that the Shudras were naturally born as a servile fourth class from the feet of the cosmic creator. Instead, through meticulous analysis of ancient Hindu scriptures—including the Vedas and the Mahabharata—he presents a radical and compelling thesis. He argues that the Shudras were originally an elite, powerful sect of Kshatriyas (the warrior and ruling class) within ancient Indo-Aryan society.

According to Ambedkar, a prolonged and bitter power struggle erupted between these Shudra kings and the Brahmin priests. In retaliation for the Shudras' resistance to Brahminical supremacy, the Brahmins weaponized their religious authority. They deliberately refused to perform the *Upanayana* (the sacred thread ceremony) for this specific group of Kshatriyas. In ancient society, this ritual was essential for social legitimacy. Denied this crucial sacrament, these former kings and warriors were systematically degraded over time, plunging them into the newly fabricated, impoverished, and oppressed fourth varna.

Ultimately, the book is a powerful act of historical justice. In beautifully clear language, Ambedkar not only rewrites ancient Indian history but also exposes how religious rituals were historically manipulated to enforce social inequality, offering a timeless reflection on power and human dignity.

About this title

About the Author

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Modern Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination in India, striving for equal social rights or Dalits, women and labour. He was independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India. Ambedkar was a prolific student, earning a law degree and various doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, and gained a reputation as a scholar for his research in law, economics and political science. In his early career he was an economist, professor, and lawyer. His later life was marked by his political activities, where he became involved in the negotiations for India's independence campaigning by publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for untouchables and contributing significantly to the establishment of the state of India. In 1956 he converted to Buddhism, initiating mass conversions of Dalits. In 1990, Ambedkar was posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. Ambedkar's legacy includes numerous memorials and depictions in popular culture.

Edition details

• Publisher: GENERAL PRESS
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 935499024X
• ISBN 13: 9789354990243
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296