ANNIHILATION OF CASTE

by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

with a reply to
MAHATMA GANDHI

"Know Truth as Truth and Untruth as Untruth "
BUDDHA

"He that WILL NOT reason is a bigot He that CANNOT reason is a fool He that DAR NOT reason is
a sla!e " H. DRUMMOND
"rinted fro# the third edition of $%&&
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Contents
1. Preface to the eco!" #"itio!
$. Preface to the Thir" #"itio!
%. Prolo&'e
(. peech Prepare" By Dr. B. R. A)be"*ar
+. Appe!"i, I - A .i!"icatio! Of /a0te By Mahat)a Ga!"hi
1. Appe!"i, II - A Reply To The Mahat)a By Dr. B. R. A)be"*ar

ANNIHILATION OF CASTE
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
The 0peech prepare" by )e for the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al of 4ahore ha0 ha" a! a0to!i0hi!&ly war)
receptio! fro) the Hi!"' p'blic for who) it wa0 pri)arily i!te!"e". The #!&li0h e"itio! of o!e
tho'0a!" fi5e h'!"re" wa0 e,ha'0te" withi! two )o!th0 of it0 p'blicatio!. It i0 tra!0late" i!to G'6arati
a!" Ta)il. It i0 bei!& tra!0late" i! Marathi7 Hi!"i7 P'!6abi a!" Malayala). The "e)a!" for the #!&li0h
te,t 0till co!ti!'e0 '!abate". To 0ati0fy thi0 "e)a!" it ha0 beco)e !ece00ary to i00'e a eco!" #"itio!.
/o!0i"eratio!0 of hi0tory a!" effecti5e!e00 of appeal ha5e le" )e to retai! the ori&i!al for) of the
e00ay!a)ely the 0peech for)3altho'&h I wa0 a0*e" to reca0t it i! the for) of a "irect !arrati5e. To
thi0 e"itio! I ha5e a""e" two appe!"ice0. I ha5e collecte" i! Appe!"i, I the two article0 writte! by Mr.
Ga!"hi by way of re5iew of )y 0peech i! the Hari(an) a!" hi0 letter to Mr. a!t Ra)7 a )e)ber of the
2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al. I! Appe!"i, II7 I ha5e pri!te" )y 5iew0 i! reply to the article0 of Mr. Ga!"hi
collecte" i! Appe!"i, 1. Be0i"e0 Mr. Ga!"hi )a!y other0 ha5e a"5er0ely critici0e" )y 5iew0 a0
e,pre00e" i! )y 0peech. B't I ha5e felt that i! ta*i!& !otice of 0'ch a"5er0e co))e!t0 I 0ho'l" li)it
)y0elf to Mr. Ga!"hi. Thi0 I ha5e "o!e !ot beca'0e what he ha0 0ai" i0 0o wei&hty a0 to "e0er5e a reply
b't beca'0e to )a!y a Hi!"' he i0 a! oracle7 0o &reat that whe! he ope!0 hi0 lip0 it i0 e,pecte" that the
ar&')e!t )'0t clo0e a!" !o "o& )'0t bar*. B't the worl" owe0 )'ch to rebel0 who wo'l" "are to
ar&'e i! the face of the po!tiff a!" i!0i0t that he i0 !ot i!fallible. I "o !ot care for the cre"it which e5ery
pro&re00i5e 0ociety )'0t &i5e to it0 rebel0. I 0hall be 0ati0fie" if I )a*e the Hi!"'0 reali8e that they are
the 0ic* )e! of I!"ia a!" that their 0ic*!e00 i0 ca'0i!& "a!&er to the health a!" happi!e00 of other
I!"ia!0.
B. R. AMBEDKAR
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
The eco!" e"itio! of thi0 #00ay appeare" i! 19%:7 a!" wa0 e,ha'0te" withi! a 5ery 0hort perio". A
!ew e"itio! ha0 bee! i! "e)a!" for a lo!& ti)e. It wa0 )y i!te!tio! to reca0t the e00ay 0o a0 to
i!corporate i!to it a!other e00ay of )i!e calle" ; Castes in India) their Origin and their *e+hanis# ;7
which appeare" i! the i00'e of the I!"ia! A!ti<'ary 2o'r!al for May 191:. B't a0 I co'l" !ot fi!" ti)e7
a!" a0 there i0 5ery little pro0pect of )y bei!& able to "o 0o a!" a0 the "e)a!" for it fro) the p'blic i0
5ery i!0i0te!t7 I a) co!te!t to let thi0 be a )ere repri!t of the eco!" e"itio!.
I a) &la" to fi!" that thi0 e00ay ha0 beco)e 0o pop'lar7 a!" I hope that it will 0er5e the p'rpo0e for
which it wa0 i!te!"e".
$$7 Prithwira6 Roa"
New Delhi 10t Dece)ber 19(( B. R. AMBEDKAR
PROLOGE
O! Dece)ber 1$7 19%+7 I recei5e" the followi!& letter fro) Mr. a!t Ra)7 the ecretary of the 2at3
Pat3To"a* Ma!"al -

My "ear Doctor aheb7
Ma!y tha!*0 for yo'r *i!" letter of the +th Dece)ber. I ha5e relea0e" it for pre00 witho't yo'r
per)i00io! for which I be& yo'r par"o!7 a0 I 0aw !o har) i! &i5i!& it p'blicity. =o' are a &reat thi!*er7
a!" it i0 )y well3co!0i"ere" opi!io! that !o!e el0e ha0 0t'"ie" the proble) of /a0te 0o "eeply a0 yo'
ha5e. I ha5e alway0 be!efite" )y0elf a!" o'r Ma!"al fro) yo'r i"ea0. I ha5e e,plai!e" a!" preache" it
i! the Kranti )a!y ti)e0 a!" I ha5e e5e! lect're" o! it i! )a!y /o!fere!ce0. I a) !ow 5ery a!,io'0 to
rea" the e,po0itio! of yo'r !ew for)'la; It i0 !ot po00ible to brea* /a0te witho't a!!ihilati!& the
reli&io'0 !otio!0 o! which it7 the /a0te 0y0te)7 i0 fo'!"e".; Plea0e "o e,plai! it at le!&th at yo'r
earlie0t co!5e!ie!ce7 0o that we )ay ta*e 'p the i"ea a!" e)pha0i0e it fro) pre00 a!" platfor). At
pre0e!t7 it i0 !ot f'lly clear to )e.
> > > > >
O'r #,ec'ti5e /o))ittee per0i0t0 i! ha5i!& yo' a0 o'r Pre0i"e!t for o'r A!!'al /o!fere!ce. ?e ca!
cha!&e o'r "ate0 to acco))o"ate yo'r co!5e!ie!ce. I!"epe!"e!t Hari6a!0 of P'!6ab are 5ery )'ch
"e0iro'0 to )eet yo' a!" "i0c'00 with yo' their pla!0. o if yo' *i!"ly accept o'r re<'e0t a!" co)e to
4ahore to pre0i"e o5er the /o!fere!ce it will 0er5e "o'ble p'rpo0e. ?e will i!5ite Hari6a! lea"er0 of all
0ha"e0 of opi!io! a!" yo' will &et a! opport'!ity of &i5i!& yo'r i"ea0 to the).
The Ma!"al ha0 "ep'te" o'r A00i0ta!t ecretary7 Mr. I!"ra i!&h7 to )eet yo' at Bo)bay i! @)a0
a!" "i0c'00 with yo' the whole 0it'atio! with a 5iew to per0'a"e yo' to plea0e accept o'r re<'e0t.
> > > > >
The 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al7 I wa0 &i5e! to '!"er0ta!"7 to be a! or&a!i8atio! of /a0te Hi!"' ocial
Refor)er07 with the o!e a!" o!ly ai)7 !a)ely to era"icate the /a0te y0te) fro) a)o!&0t the Hi!"'0.
A0 a r'le7 I "o !ot li*e to ta*e a!y part i! a )o5e)e!t which i0 carrie" o! by the /a0te Hi!"'0. Their
attit'"e towar"0 0ocial refor) i0 0o "iffere!t fro) )i!e that I ha5e fo'!" it "iffic'lt to p'll o! with
the). I!"ee"7 I fi!" their co)pa!y <'ite '!co!&e!ial to )e o! acco'!t of o'r "iffere!ce0 of opi!io!.
Therefore whe! the Ma!"al fir0t approache" )e I "ecli!e" their i!5itatio! to pre0i"e. The Ma!"al7
howe5er7 wo'l" !ot ta*e a ref'0al fro) )e a!" 0e!t "ow! o!e of it0 )e)ber0 to Bo)bay to pre00 )e
to accept the i!5itatio!. I! the e!" I a&ree" to pre0i"e. The A!!'al /o!fere!ce wa0 to be hel" at
4ahore7 the hea"<'arter0 of the Ma!"al. The /o!fere!ce wa0 to )eet i! #a0ter b't wa0 0'b0e<'e!tly
po0tpo!e" to the )i""le of May 19%1. The Receptio! /o))ittee of the Ma!"al ha0 !ow ca!celle" the
/o!fere!ce. The !otice of ca!cellatio! ca)e lo!& after )y Pre0i"e!tial a""re00 ha" bee! pri!te". The
copie0 of thi0 a""re00 are !ow lyi!& with )e. A0 I "i" !ot &et a! opport'!ity to "eli5er the a""re00
fro) the pre0i"e!tial chair the p'blic ha0 !ot ha" a! opport'!ity to *!ow )y 5iew0 o! the proble)0
create" by the /a0te y0te). To let the p'blic *!ow the) a!" al0o to "i0po0e of the pri!te" copie0
which are lyi!& o! )y ha!"7 I ha5e "eci"e" to p't the pri!te" copie0 of the a""re00 i! the )ar*et. The
acco)pa!yi!& pa&e0 co!tai! the te,t of that a""re00.
The p'blic will be c'rio'0 to *!ow what le" to the ca!cellatio! of )y appoi!t)e!t a0 the Pre0i"e!t of
the /o!fere!ce. At the 0tart7 a "i0p'te aro0e o5er the pri!ti!& of the a""re00. I "e0ire" that the a""re00
0ho'l" be pri!te" i! Bo)bay. The Ma!"al wi0he" that it 0ho'l" be pri!te" i! 4ahore o! the &ro'!" of
eco!o)y. I "i" !ot a&ree a!" i!0i0te" 'po! ha5i!& it pri!te" i! Bo)bay. I!0tea" of a&reei!& to )y
propo0itio! I recei5e" a letter 0i&!e" by 0e5eral )e)ber0 of the Ma!"al fro) which I &i5e the
followi!& e,tract -

$:3%3%1

Re5ere" Dr. 2i7
=o'r letter of the $(th i!0ta!t a""re00ee to 6t. a!t Ra) ha0 bee! 0how! to '0. ?e were a little
"i0appoi!te" to rea" it. Perhap0 yo' are !ot f'lly aware of the 0it'atio! that ha0 ari0e! here. Al)o0t all
the Hi!"'0 i! the P'!6ab are a&ai!0t yo'r bei!& i!5ite" to thi0 pro5i!ce. The 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al ha0
bee! 0'b6ecte" to the bittere0t critici0) a!" ha0 recei5e" ce!0orio'0 reb'*e fro) all <'arter0. All the
Hi!"' lea"er0 a)o!& who) bei!& Bhai Par)a!a!"7 M34.A. A#,3Pre0i"e!t7 Hi!"' Maha abhaB7
Mahat)a Ha!0 Ra67 Dr. Go*al /ha!" Nara!&7 Mi!i0ter for 4ocal elf3Go5er!)e!t7 Ra6a Nare!"ra
Nath7 M.4./. etc.7 ha5e "i00ociate" the)0el5e0 fro) thi0 0tep of the Ma!"al.
De0pite all thi0 the r'!!er0 of the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al Athe lea"i!& fi&'re bei!& 6t. a!t Ra)B are
"eter)i!e" to wa"e thro'&h thic* a!" thi! b't wo'l" !ot &i5e 'p the i"ea of yo'r pre0i"e!t0hip. The
Ma!"al ha0 ear!e" a ba" !a)e.
> > > > >
U!"er the circ')0ta!ce0 it beco)e0 yo'r "'ty to co3operate with the Ma!"al. O! the o!e ha!"7 they
are bei!& p't to 0o )'ch tro'ble a!" har"0hip by the Hi!"'0 a!" if o! the other ha!" yo' too a'&)e!t
their "iffic'ltie0 it will be a )o0t 0a" coi!ci"e!ce of ba" l'c* for the).
?e hope yo' will thi!* o5er the )atter a!" "o what i0 &oo" for '0 all.
> > > > >
Thi0 letter p'88le" )e &reatly. I co'l" !ot '!"er0ta!" why the Ma!"al 0ho'l" "i0plea0e )e for the
0a*e of a few r'pee0 i! the )atter of pri!ti!& the a""re00. eco!"ly7 I co'l" !ot belie5e that )e! li*e
ir Go*al /ha!" Nara!& ha" really re0i&!e" a0 a prote0t
a&ai!0t )y 0electio! a0 Pre0i"e!t beca'0e I ha" recei5e" the followi!& letter fro) ir Go*al /ha!"
hi)0elf -

+ Mo!t&o)ery Roa"
4ahore7
:3$3%1

Dear Doctor A)be"*ar7
I a) &la" to lear! fro) the wor*er0 of the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al that yo' ha5e a&ree" to pre0i"e at
their !e,t a!!i5er0ary to be hel" at 4ahore "'ri!& the #a0ter holi"ay07 it will &i5e )e )'ch plea0're if
yo' 0tay with )e while yo' are at 4ahore. More whe! we )eet.
=o'r0 0i!cerely7
G. /. NARANG

?hate5er be the tr'th I "i" !ot yiel" to thi0 pre00're. B't e5e! whe! the Ma!"al fo'!" that I wa0
i!0i0ti!& 'po! ha5i!& )y a""re00 pri!te" i! Bo)bay i!0tea" of a&reei!& to )y propo0al the Ma!"al
0e!t )e a wire that they were 0e!"i!& Mr. Har Bha&wa! to Bo)bay to ; tal* o5er )atter0 per0o!ally ;
Mr. Har Bha&wa! ca)e to Bo)bay o! the 9th of April. ?he! I )et Mr. Har Bha&wa! I fo'!" that he
ha" !othi!& to 0ay re&ar"i!& the i00'e. I!"ee" he wa0 0o '!co!cer!e" re&ar"i!& the pri!ti!& of the
a""re007 whether it 0ho'l" be pri!te" i! Bo)bay or i! 4ahore7 that he "i" !ot e5e! )e!tio! it i! the
co'r0e of o'r co!5er0atio!. All that he wa0 a!,io'0 for wa0 to *!ow the co!te!t0 of the a""re00. I wa0
the! co!5i!ce" that i! &etti!& the a""re00 pri!te" i! 4ahore the )ai! ob6ect of the Ma!"al wa0 !ot to
0a5e )o!ey b't to &et at the co!te!t0 of the a""re00. I &a5e hi) a copy. He "i" !ot feel 5ery happy with
0o)e part0 of it. He ret'r!e" to 4ahore. Cro) 4ahore7 he wrote to )e
the followi!& letter -

4ahore7
"ate" April 1(7 19%1

My "ear Doctor ahib7
i!ce )y arri5al fro) Bo)bay7 o! the 1$th7 I ha5e bee! i!"i0po0e" owi!& to )y ha5i!& !ot 0lept
co!ti!'o'0ly for + or 1 !i&ht07 which were 0pe!t i! the trai!. Reachi!& here I ca)e to *!ow that yo'
ha" co)e to A)rit0ar. I wo'l" ha5e 0ee! yo' there if I were well e!o'&h to &o abo't. I ha5e )a"e o5er
yo'r a""re00 to Mr. a!t Ra) for tra!0latio! a!" he ha0 li*e" it 5ery )'ch7 b't he i0 !ot 0're whether it
co'l" be tra!0late" by hi) for pri!ti!& before the $+th. I! a!y ca0e7 it wo'" ha5e a wi"e p'blicity a!"
we are 0're it wo'l" wa*e the Hi!"'0 'p fro) their 0l')ber.
The pa00a&e I poi!te" o't to yo' at Bo)bay ha0 bee! rea" by 0o)e of o'r frie!"0 with a little
)i0&i5i!&7 a!" tho0e of '0 who wo'l" li*e to 0ee the /o!fere!ce ter)i!ate witho't a!y '!towar"
i!ci"e!t wo'l" prefer that at lea0t the wor" ; .e"a ; be left o't for the ti)e bei!&. I lea5e thi0 to yo'r
&oo" 0e!0e. I hope7 howe5er7 i! yo'r co!cl'"i!& para&raph0 yo' will )a*e it clear that the 5iew0
e,pre00e" i! the a""re00 are yo'r ow! a!" that the re0po!0ibility "oe0 !ot lie o! the Ma!"al. I hope7
yo' will !ot )i!" thi0 0tate)e!t of )i!e a!" wo'l" let '0 ha5e 17DDD copie0 of the a""re007 for which
we 0hall7 of co'r0e7 pay. To thi0 effect I ha5e 0e!t yo' a tele&ra) to"ay. A che<'e of R0. 1DD i0 e!clo0e"
herewith which *i!"ly ac*!owle"&e7 a!" 0e!" '0 yo'r bill0 i! "'e ti)e.
I ha5e calle" a )eeti!& of the Receptio! /o))ittee a!" 0hall co))'!icate their "eci0io! to yo'
i))e"iately. I! the )ea!ti)e *i!"ly accept )y heartfelt tha!*0 for the *i!"!e00 0how! to )e a!" the
&reat pai!0 ta*e! by yo' i! the preparatio! of yo'r a""re00. =o' ha5e really p't '0 '!"er a hea5y "ebt
of &ratit'"e.
=o'r0 0i!cerely7
HAR BHAG?AN
",-,Ei!"ly 0e!" the copie0 of the a""re00 by pa00e!&er trai! a0 0oo! a0 it i0 pri!te"7 0o that copie0
)ay be 0e!t to the Pre00 for p'blicatio!.
Accor"i!&ly I ha!"e" o5er )y )a!'0cript to the pri!ter with a! or"er to pri!t 17DDD copie0. #i&ht
"ay0 later7 I recei5e" a!other letter fro) Mr. Har Bha&wa! which I repro"'ce below -

4ahore7
$$3(3%1

Dear Dr. A)be"*ar7
?e are i! receipt of yo'r tele&ra) a!" letter7 for which *i!"ly accept o'r tha!*0. I! accor"a!ce with
yo'r "e0ire7 we ha5e a&ai! po0tpo!e" o'r /o!fere!ce7 b't feel that it wo'l" ha5e bee! )'ch better to
ha5e it o! the $+th a!" $1th7 a0 the weather i0 &rowi!& war)er a!" war)er e5ery "ay i! the P'!6ab. I!
the )i""le of May it wo'l" be fairly hot7 a!" the 0itti!&0 i! the "ay ti)e wo'l" !ot be 5ery plea0a!t
a!" co)fortable. Howe5er7 we 0hall try o'r be0t to "o all we ca! to )a*e thi!&0 a0 co)fortable a0
po00ible7 if it i0 hel" i! the )i""le of May.
There i07 howe5er7 o!e thi!& that we ha5e bee! co)pelle" to bri!& to yo'r *i!" atte!tio!. =o' will
re)e)ber that whe! I poi!te" o't to yo' the )i0&i5i!&0 e!tertai!e" by 0o)e of o'r people re&ar"i!&
yo'r "eclaratio! o! the 0'b6ect of cha!&e of reli&io!7 yo' tol" )e that it wa0 '!"o'bte"ly o't0i"e the
0cope of the Ma!"al a!" that yo' ha" !o i!te!tio! to 0ay a!ythi!& fro) o'r platfor) i! that
co!!ectio!. At the 0a)e ti)e whe! the )a!'0cript of yo'r a""re00 wa0 ha!"e" to )e yo' a00're" )e
that that wa0 the )ai! portio! of yo'r a""re00 a!" that there were o!ly two or three co!cl'"i!&
para&raph0 that yo' wa!te" to a"". O! receipt of the 0eco!" i!0tal)e!t of yo'r a""re00 we ha5e bee!
ta*e! by 0'rpri0e7 a0 that wo'l" )a*e it 0o le!&thy7 that we are afrai"7 5ery few people wo'l" rea" the
whole of it. Be0i"e0 that yo' ha5e )ore tha! o!ce 0tate" i! yo'r a""re00 that yo' ha" "eci"e" to wal*
o't of the fol" of the Hi!"'0 a!" that that wa0 yo'r la0t a""re00 a0 a Hi!"'. =o' ha5e al0o
'!!ece00arily attac*e" the )orality a!" rea0o!able!e00 of the .edas a!" other reli&io'0 boo*0 of the
Hi!"'07 a!" ha5e at le!&th "welt 'po! the tech!ical 0i"e of Hi!"' reli&io!7 which ha0 ab0ol'tely !o
co!!ectio! with the proble) at i00'e7 0o )'ch 0o that 0o)e of the pa00a&e0 ha5e beco)e irrele5a!t a!"
off the poi!t. ?e wo'l" ha5e bee! 5ery plea0e" if yo' ha" co!fi!e" yo'r a""re00 to that portio! &i5e!
to )e7 or if a! a""itio! wa0 !ece00ary7 it wo'l" ha5e bee! li)ite" to what yo' ha" writte! o!
Brah)i!i0) etc. The la0t portio! which "eal0 with the co)plete a!!ihilatio! of Hi!"' reli&io! a!"
"o'bt0 the )orality of the 0acre" boo*0 of the Hi!"'0 a0 well a0 a hi!t abo't yo'r i!te!tio! to lea5e the
Hi!"' fol" "oe0 !ot 0ee) to )e to be rele5a!t.
I wo'l" therefore )o0t h')bly re<'e0t yo' o! behalf of the people re0po!0ible for the /o!fere!ce to
lea5e o't the pa00a&e0 referre" to abo5e7 a!" clo0e the a""re00 with what wa0 &i5e! to )e or a"" a few
para&raph0 o! Brah)i!i0). ?e "o'bt the wi0"o) of )a*i!& the a""re00 '!!ece00arily pro5ocati5e a!"
pi!chi!&. There are 0e5eral of '0 who 0'b0cribe to yo'r feeli!&0 a!" wo'l" 5ery )'ch wa!t to be '!"er
yo'r ba!!er for re)o"elli!& of the Hi!"' reli&io!. If yo' ha" "eci"e" to &et to&ether per0o!0 of yo'r
c'lt I ca! a00're yo' a lar&e !')ber wo'l" ha5e 6oi!e" yo'r ar)y of refor)er0 fro) the P'!6ab.
I! fact7 we tho'&ht yo' wo'l" &i5e '0 a lea" i! the "e0tr'ctio! of the e5il of ca0te 0y0te)7 e0pecially
whe! yo' ha5e 0t'"ie" the 0'b6ect 0o thoro'&hly7 a!" 0tre!&the! o'r ha!"0 by bri!&i!& abo't a
re5ol'tio! a!" )a*i!& yo'r0elf a0 a !'cle'0 i! the &i&a!tic effort7 b't "eclaratio! of the !at're )a"e by
yo' whe! repeate" lo0e0 it0 power7 a!" beco)e0 a hac*!eye" ter). U!"er the circ')0ta!ce07 I wo'l"
re<'e0t yo' to co!0i"er the whole )atter a!" )a*e yo'r a""re00 )ore effecti5e by 0ayi!& that yo'
wo'l" be &la" to ta*e a lea"i!& part i! the "e0tr'ctio! of the ca0te 0y0te) if the Hi!"'0 are willi!& to
wor* i! ri&ht ear!e0t towar" that e!"7 e5e! if they ha" to for0a*e their *ith a!" *i! a!" the reli&io'0
!otio!0. I! ca0e yo' "o 0o7 I a) 0a!&'i!e that yo' wo'l" fi!" a rea"y re0po!0e fro) the P'!6ab i! 0'ch
a! e!"ea5o'r.
I 0hall be &ratef'l if yo' will help '0 at thi0 6'!ct're a0 we ha5e alrea"y '!"er&o!e )'ch e,pe!"it're
a!" ha5e bee! p't to 0'0pe!0e7 a!" let '0 *!ow by the ret'r! of po0t that yo' ha5e co!"e0ce!"e" to
li)it yo'r a""re00 a0 abo5e. I! ca0e7 yo' 0till i!0i0t 'po! the pri!ti!& of the a""re00 in toto) we 5ery
)'ch re&ret it wo'l" !ot be po00iblerather a"5i0able for '0 to hol" the /o!fere!ce7 a!" wo'l" prefer
to po0tpo!e it sine die) altho'&h by "oi!& 0o we 0hall be lo0i!& the &oo"will of the people beca'0e of
the repeate" po0tpo!e)e!t0. ?e 0ho'l"7 howe5er7 li*e to poi!t o't that yo' ha5e car5e" a !iche i! o'r
heart0 by writi!& 0'ch a wo!"erf'l treati0e o! the ca0te 0y0te)7 which e,cel0 all other treati0e0 0o far
writte! a!" will pro5e to be a 5al'able herita&e7 0o to 0ay. ?e 0hall be e5er i!"ebte" to yo' for the
pai!0 ta*e! by yo' i! it0 preparatio!.
Tha!*i!& yo' 5ery )'ch for yo'r *i!"!e00 a!" with be0t wi0he0.
I a)7
=o'r0 0i!cerely7
HAR BHAG?AN

To thi0 letter I 0e!t the followi!& reply -
$:th April 19%1
Dear Mr. Har Bha&wa!7
I a) i! receipt of yo'r letter of the $$!" April. I !ote with re&ret that the Receptio! /o))itiee of the
2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al ; wo'l" prefer to po0tpo!e the /o!fere!ce sine die " if I i!0i0te" 'po! pri!ti!&
the a""re00 in toto, I! reply I ha5e to i!for) yo' that I al0o wo'l" prefer to ha5e the /o!fere!ce
ca!celle"1 "o !ot li*e to '0e 5a&'e ter)0if the Ma!"al i!0i0te" 'po! ha5i!& )y a""re00 pr'!e" to
0'it it0 circ')0ta!ce0. =o' )ay !ot li*e )y "eci0io!. B't I ca!!ot &i5e 'p7 for the 0a*e of the ho!o'r of
pre0i"i!& o5er the /o!fere!ce7 the liberty which e5ery Pre0i"e!t )'0t ha5e i! the preparatio! of the
a""re00. I ca!!ot &i5e 'p for the 0a*e of plea0i!& the Ma!"al the "'ty which e5ery Pre0i"e!t owe0 to
the /o!fere!ce o5er which he pre0i"e0 to &i5e it a lea" which he thi!*0 ri&ht a!" proper. The i00'e i0
o!e of pri!ciple a!" I feel I )'0t "o !othi!& to co)pro)i0e it i! a!y way.
I wo'l" !ot ha5e e!tere" i!to a!y co!tro5er0y a0 re&ar"0 the propriety of the "eci0io! ta*e! by the
Receptio! /o))ittee. B't a0 yo' ha5e &i5e! certai! rea0o!0 which appear to throw the bla)e o! )e. I
a) bo'!" to a!0wer the). I! the fir0t place7 I )'0t "i0pel the !otio! that the 5iew0 co!tai!e" i! that
part of the a""re00 to which ob6ectio! ha0 bee! ta*e! by the /o))ittee ha5e co)e to the Ma!"al a0 a
0'rpri0e. Mr. a!t Ra)7 I a) 0're7 will bear )e o't whe! I 0ay that i! reply to o!e of hi0 letter0 I ha"
0ai" that the real )etho" of brea*i!& 'p the /a0te y0te) wa0 !ot to bri!& abo't i!ter3ca0te "i!!er0
a!" i!ter3ca0te )arria&e0 b't to "e0troy the reli&io'0 !otio!0 o! which /a0te wa0 fo'!"e" a!" that Mr.
a!t Ra) i! ret'r! a0*e" )e to e,plai! what he 0ai" wa0 a !o5el poi!t of 5iew. It wa0 i! re0po!0e to
thi0 i!5itatio! fro) Mr. a!t Ra) that I tho'&ht I o'&ht to elaborate i! )y a""re00 what I ha" 0tate" i!
a 0e!te!ce i! )y letter to hi). =o' ca!!ot7 therefore7 0ay that the 5iew0 e,pre00e" are !ew. At a!y rate7
they are !ot !ew to Mr. a!t Ra) who i0 the )o5i!& 0pirit a!" the lea"i!& li&ht of yo'r Ma!"al. B't I
&o f'rther a!" 0ay that I wrote thi0 part of )y a""re00 !ot )erely beca'0e I felt it "e0irable to "o 0o. I
wrote it beca'0e I tho'&ht that it wa0 ab0ol'tely !ece00ary to co)plete the ar&')e!t. I a) a)a8e" to
rea" that yo' characteri8e the portio! of the 0peech to which yo'r /o))ittee ob6ect0 a0 ; irrele5a!t
a!" off the poi!t ;. =o' will allow )e to 0ay that I a) a lawyer a!" I *!ow the r'le0 of rele5a!cy a0
well a0 a!y )e)ber of yo'r /o))ittee. I )o0t e)phatically )ai!tai! that the portio! ob6ecte" to i0
!ot o!ly )o0t rele5a!t b't i0 al0o i)porta!t. It i0 i! that part of the a""re00 that I ha5e "i0c'00e" the
way0 a!" )ea!0 of brea*i!& 'p the /a0te y0te). It )ay be that the co!cl'0io! I ha5e arri5e" at a0 to
the be0t )etho" of "e0troyi!& /a0te i0 0tartli!& a!" pai!f'l. =o' are e!title" to 0ay that )y a!aly0i0 i0
wro!&. B't yo' ca!!ot 0ay that i! a! a""re00 which "eal0 with the proble) of /a0te it i0 !ot ope! to
)e to "i0c'00 how /a0te ca! be "e0troye".
=o'r other co)plai!t relate0 to the le!&th of the a""re00. I ha5e plea"e" &'ilty to the char&e i! the
a""re00 it0elf. B't7 who i0 really re0po!0ible for thi0 F I fear yo' ha5e co)e rather late o! the 0ce!e.
Otherwi0e yo' wo'l" ha5e *!ow! that ori&i!ally I ha" pla!!e" to write a 0hort a""re00 for )y ow!
co!5e!ie!ce a0 I ha" !either the ti)e !or the e!er&y to e!&a&e )y0elf i! the preparatio! of a! elaborate
the0i0. It wa0 the Ma!"al who a0*e" )e to "eal with the 0'b6ect e,ha'0ti5ely a!" it wa0 the Ma!"al
which 0e!t "ow! to )e a li0t of <'e0tio!0 relati!& to the /a0te y0te) a!" a0*e" )e to a!0wer the) i!
the bo"y of )y a""re00 a0 they were <'e0tio!0 which were ofte! rai0e" i! the co!tro5er0y betwee! the
Ma!"al a!" it0 oppo!e!t0 a!" which the Ma!"al fo'!" "iffic'lt to a!0wer 0ati0factorily. It wa0 i! tryi!&
to )eet the wi0he0 of the Ma!"al i! thi0 re0pect that the a""re00 ha0 &row! to the le!&th to which it ha0.
I! 5iew of what I ha5e 0ai" I a) 0're yo' will a&ree that the fa'lt re0pecti!& le!&th of the a""re00 i0 !ot
)i!e.
I "i" !ot e,pect that yo'r Ma!"al wo'l" be 0o 'p0et beca'0e I ha5e 0po*e! of the "e0tr'ctio! of
Hi!"' Reli&io!. I tho'&ht it wa0 o!ly fool0 who were afrai" of wor"0. B't le0t there 0ho'l" be a!y
)i0apprehe!0io! i! the )i!"0 of the people I ha5e ta*e! &reat pai!0 to e,plai! what I )ea! by reli&io!
a!" "e0tr'ctio! of reli&io!. I a) 0're that !obo"y o! rea"i!& )y a""re00 co'l" po00ibly )i0'!"er0ta!"
)e. That yo'r Ma!"al 0ho'l" ha5e ta*e! a fri&ht at )ere wor"0 a0 ;"e0tr'ctio! of reli&io! etc.;
!otwith0ta!"i!& the e,pla!atio! that acco)pa!ie0 .the) "oe0 !ot rai0e the Ma!"al i! )y e0ti)atio!.
O!e ca!!ot ha5e a!y re0pect or re&ar" for )e! who ta*e the po0itio! of the Refor)er a!" the! ref'0e
e5e! to 0ee the lo&ical co!0e<'e!ce0 of that po0itio!7 let alo!e followi!& the) o't i! actio!.
=o' will a&ree that I ha5e !e5er accepte" to be li)ite" i! a!y way i! the preparatio! of )y a""re00 a!"
the <'e0tio! a0 to what the a""re00 0ho'l" or 0ho'l" !ot co!tai! wa0 !e5er e5e! "i0c'00e" betwee!
)y0elf a!" the Ma!"al. I ha" alway0 ta*e! for &ra!te" that I wa0 free to e,pre00 i! the a""re00 0'ch
5iew0 a0 I hel" o! the 0'b6ect I!"ee" '!til7 yo' ca)e to Bo)bay o! the 9th April the Ma!"al "i" !ot
*!ow what 0ort of a! a""re00 I wa0 prepari!&. It wa0 whe! yo' ca)e to Bo)bay that I 5ol'!tarily tol"
yo' that I ha" !o "e0ire to '0e yo'r platfor) fro) which to a"5ocate )y 5iew0 re&ar"i!& cha!&e of
reli&io! by the Depre00e" /la00e0. I thi!* I ha5e 0cr'p'lo'0ly *ept that pro)i0e i! the preparatio! of
the a""re00. Beyo!" a pa00i!& refere!ce of a! i!"irect character where I 0ay that ; I a) 0orry I will !ot
be here. . . etc.; I ha5e 0ai" !othi!& abo't the 0'b6ect i! )y a""re00. ?he! I 0ee yo' ob6ect e5e! to
0'ch a pa00i!& a!" 0o i!"irect a refere!ce7 I feel bo'!" to a0* G "i" yo' thi!* that i! a&reei!& to pre0i"e
o5er yo'r /o!fere!ce I wo'l" be a&reei!& to 0'0pe!" or to &i5e 'p )y 5iew0 re&ar"i!& cha!&e of faith
by the Depre00e" /la00e0 F If yo' "i" thi!* 0o I )'0t tell yo' that I a) i! !o way re0po!0ible for 0'ch a
)i0ta*e o! yo'r part. If a!y of yo' ha" e5e! hi!te" to )e that i! e,cha!&e for the ho!o'r yo' were
"oi!& )e by electi!& a0 Pre0i"e!t7 I wa0 to ab6're )y faith i! )y pro&ra))e of co!5er0io!7 I wo'l"
ha5e tol" yo' i! <'ite plai! ter)0 that I care" )ore for )y faith tha! for a!y ho!o'r fro) yo'.
After yo'r letter of the 1(th7 thi0 letter of yo'r0 co)e0 a0 a 0'rpri8e to )e. I a) 0're that a!y o!e
who rea"0 the) will feel the 0a)e. I ca!!ot acco'!t for thi0 0'""e! !olte fa+e o! the part of the
Receptio! /o))ittee. There i0 !o "iffere!ce i! 0'b0ta!ce betwee! the ro'&h "raft which wa0 before
the /o))ittee whe! yo' wrote yo'r letter of the 1(th a!" the fi!al "raft o! which the "eci0io! of the
/o))ittee co))'!icate" to )e i! yo'r letter '!"er reply wa0 ta*e!. =o' ca!!ot poi!t o't a 0i!&le
!ew i"ea i! the fi!al "raft which i0 !ot co!tai!e" i! the earlier "raft. The i"ea0 are the 0a)e. The o!ly
"iffere!ce i0 that they ha5e bee! wor*e" o't i! &reater "etail i! the fi!al "raft. If there wa0 a!ythi!& to
ob6ect to i! the a""re00 yo' co'l" ha5e 0ai" 0o o! the 1(th. B't yo' "i" !ot. O! the co!trary yo' a0*e"
)e to pri!t off 17DDD copie0 lea5i!& )e the liberty to accept or !ot the 5erbal cha!&e0 which yo'
0'&&e0te". Accor"i!&ly I &ot 17DDD copie0 pri!te" which are !ow lyi!& with )e. #i&ht "ay0 later yo'
write to 0ay that yo' ob6ect to the a""re00 a!" that if it i0 !ot a)e!"e" the /o!fere!ce will be
ca!celle". =o' o'&ht to ha5e *!ow! that there wa0 !o hope of a!y alteratio! bei!& )a"e i! the a""re00.
I tol" yo' whe! yo' were i! Bo)bay that I wo'l" !ot alter a co))a7 that I wo'l" !ot allow a!y
ce!0or0hip o5er )y a""re00 a!" that yo' wo'l" ha5e to accept the a""re00 a0 it ca)e fro) )e. I al0o
tol" yo' that the re0po!0ibility. for the 5iew0 e,pre00e" i! the a""re00 wa0 e!tirely )i!e a!" if they
were !ot li*e" by the /o!fere!ce I wo'l" !ot )i!" at all if the /o!fere!ce pa00e" a re0ol'tio!
co!"e)!i!& the). o a!,io'0 wa0 I to relie5e yo'r Ma!"al fro) ha5i!& to a00')e re0po!0ibility for
)y 5iew0 a!" al0o with the ob6ect of !ot &etti!& )y0elf e!ta!&le" by too i!ti)ate a! a00ociatio! with
yo'r /o!fere!ce7 I 0'&&e0te" to yo' that I "e0ire" to ha5e )y a""re00 treate" a0 a 0ort of a! i!a'&'ral
a""re00 a!" !ot a0 a Pre0i"e!tial a""re00 a!" that the Ma!"al 0ho'l" fi!" 0o)e o!e el0e to pre0i"e o5er
the /o!fere!ce7 a!" "eal with the re0ol'tio!0. Nobo"y co'l" ha5e bee! better place" to ta*e a "eci0io!
o! the 1(th tha! yo'r /o))ittee. The /o))ittee faile" to "o that a!" i! the )ea!ti)e co0t of pri!ti!&
ha0 bee! i!c'rre" which7 I a) 0're7 with a little )ore fir)!e00 o! the part of yo'r /o))ittee co'l"
ha5e bee! 0a5e".
I feel 0're that the 5iew0 e,pre00e" i! )y a""re00 ha5e little to "o with the "eci0io! of yo'r
/o))ittee. I ha5e rea0o!0 to belie5e that )y pre0e!ce at the i*h Prachar /o!fere!ce hel" at A)rit0ar
ha0 ha" a &oo" "eal to "o with the "eci0io! of the /o))ittee. Nothi!& el0e ca! 0ati0factorily e,plai!
the 0'""e! !olte fa+e 0how! by the /o))ittee betwee! the 1(th a!" the $$!" April. I )'0t !ot
howe5er prolo!& thi0 co!tro5er0y a!" )'0t re<'e0t yo' to a!!o'!ce i))e"iately that the e00io! of
the /o!fere!ce which wa0 to )eet '!"er )y Pre0i"e!t0hip i0 ca!celle". All the &race ha0 by !ow r'!
o't a!" I 0hall !ot co!0e!t to pre0i"e e5e! if yo'r /o))ittee a&ree" to accept )y a""re00 a0 it i03 in
toto, I tha!* yo' for yo'r appreciatio! of the pai!0 I ha5e ta*e! i! the preparatio! of the a""re00. I
certai!ly ha5e profite" by the labo'r if !o o!e el0e "oc0. My o!ly re&ret i0 that I wa0 p't to 0'ch har"
labo'r at a ti)e whe! )y health wa0 !ot e<'al to the 0trai! it ha0 ca'0e".
=o'r0 0i!cerely7
B. R. AMB#DEAR

Thi0 corre0po!"e!ce will "i0clo0e the rea0o!0 which ha5e le" to the ca!cellatio! by the Ma!"al of )y
appoi!t)e!t a0 Pre0i"e!t a!" the rea"er will be i! a po0itio! to lay the bla)e where it o'&ht properly to
belo!&. Thi0 i0 I belie5e the fir0t ti)e whe! the appoi!t)e!t of a Pre0i"e!t i0 ca!celle" by the
Receptio! /o))ittee beca'0e it "oe0 !ot appro5e of the 5iew0 of the Pre0i"e!t. B't whether that i0 0o
or !ot7 thi0 i0 certai!ly the fir0t ti)e i! )y life to ha5e bee! i!5ite" to pre0i"e o5er a /o!fere!ce of
/a0te Hi!"'0. I a) 0orry that it ha0 e!"e" i! a tra&e"y. B't what ca! a!y o!e e,pect fro) a relatio!0hip
0o tra&ic a0 the relatio!0hip betwee! the refor)i!& 0ect of /a0te Hi!"'0 a!" the 0elf3re0pecti!& 0ect of
U!to'chable0 where the for)er ha5e !o "e0ire to alie!ate their ortho"o, fellow0 a!" the latter ha5e !o
alter!ati5e b't to i!0i0t 'po! refor) bei!& carrie" o't F
Ra6&riha7
Da"ar7 Bo)bay 1( 1+th May 19%1 B. R. AMB#DEAR



SPEECH PREPARED B!
Dr. B. R. AMBEDKAR
COR
The 19%1 A!!'al /o!fere!ce of the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al of 4ahore
BUT NOT D#4I.#R#D
Owing to the +an+ellation of the Conferen+e b/ the Re+e0tion Co##ittee on the ground that the !iews
e10ressed in the -0ee+h would be unbearable to the Conferen+e

Crie!"07
I a) really 0orry for the )e)ber0 of the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al who ha5e 0o 5ery *i!"ly i!5ite" )e to
pre0i"e o5er thi0 /o!fere!ce. I a) 0're they will be a0*e" )a!y <'e0tio!0 for ha5i!& 0electe" )e a0
the Pre0i"e!t. The Ma!"al will be a0*e" to e,plai! a0 to why it ha0 i)porte" a )a! fro) Bo)bay to
pre0i"e o5er a f'!ctio! which i0 hel" i! 4ahore. I belie5e the Ma!"al co'l" ea0ily ha5e fo'!" 0o)e o!e
better <'alifie" tha! )y0elf to pre0i"e o! the occa0io!. I ha5e critici0e" the Hi!"'0. I ha5e <'e0tio!e"
the a'thority of the Mahat)a who) they re5ere. They hate )e. To the) I a) a 0!a*e i! their &ar"e!.
The Ma!"al will !o "o'bt be a0*e" by the politically3)i!"e" Hi!"'0 to e,plai! why it ha0 calle" )e to
fill thi0 place of ho!o'r. It i0 a! act of &reat "ari!&. I 0hall !ot be 0'rpri0e" if 0o)e political Hi!"'0
re&ar" it a0 a! i!0'lt. Thi0 0electio! of )i!e ca!!ot certai!ly plea0e the or"i!ary reli&io'0ly3)i!"e"
Hi!"'0. The Ma!"al )ay be a0*e" to e,plai! why it ha0 "i0obeye" the -hastri+ i!6'!ctio! i! 0electi!&
the Pre0i"e!t. Acco"i!& to the -hastras the Brah)i! i0 appoi!te" to be the G'r' for the three .arnas)
!arnana# bra#hano garu7 i0 a "irectio! of the -hastras, The Ma!"al therefore *!ow0 fro) who) a
Hi!"' 0ho'l" ta*e hi0 le00o!0 a!" fro) who) he 0ho'l" !ot. The -hastras "o !ot per)it a Hi!"' to
accept a!y o!e a0 hi0 G'r' )erely beca'0e he i0 well 5er0e". Thi0 i0 )a"e 5ery clear by Ra)"a07 a
Brah)i! 0ai!t fro) Mahara0htra7 who i0 alle&e" to ha5e i!0pire" hi5a6i to e0tabli0h a Hi!"' Ra6. I!
hi0 Dasbodh) a 0ocio3politico3reli&io'0 treati0e i! Marathi 5er0e Ra#das a0*07 a""re00i!& the Hi!"'07
ca! we accept a! A!tya6a to be o'r G'r' beca'0e he i0 a Pa!"it 2i,e, learned3 a!" &i5e0 a! a!0wer i!
the !e&ati5e. ?hat replie0 to &i5e to the0e <'e0tio!0 i0 a )atter which I )'0t lea5e to the Ma!"al. The
Ma!"al *!ow0 be0t the rea0o!0 which le" it to tra5el to Bo)bay to 0elect a pre0i"e!t7 to fi, 'po! a )a!
0o rep'&!a!t to the Hi!"'0 a!" to "e0ce!" 0o low i! the 0cale a0 to 0elect a! A!tya6a a! '!to'chable
to a""re00 a! a'"ie!ce of the -a!arnas, A0 for )y0elf yo' will allow )e to 0ay that I ha5e accepte"
the i!5itatio! )'ch a&ai!0t )y will a!" al0o a&ai!0t the will of )a!y of )y fellow '!to'chable0. I
*!ow that the Hi!"'0 are 0ic* of )e. I *!ow that I a) !ot a 0ersona grata with the). E!owi!& all thi0
I ha5e "eliberately *ept )y0elf away fro) the). I ha5e !o "e0ire to i!flict )y0elf 'po! the). I ha5e
bee! &i5i!& e,pre00io! to )y 5iew0 fro) )y ow! platfor). Thi0 ha0 alrea"y ca'0e" a &reat "eal of
heartb'r!i!& a!" irritatio!. I ha5e !o "e0ire to a0ce!" the platfor) of the Hi!"'0 to "o withi! their
0i&ht what I ha5e bee! "oi!& withi! their heari!&. If I a) here it i0 beca'0e of yo'r choice a!" !ot
beca'0e of )y wi0h. =o'r0 i0 a ca'0e of 0ocial refor). That ca'0e ha0 alway0 )a"e a! appeal to )e a!"
it i0 beca'0e of thi0 that I felt I o'&ht !ot to ref'0e a! opport'!ity of helpi!& the ca'0e e0pecially whe!
yo' thi!* that I ca! help it. ?hether what I a) &oi!& to 0ay to"ay will help yo' i! a!y way to 0ol5e the
proble) yo' are &rappli!& with i0 for yo' to 6'"&e. All I hope to "o i0 to place before yo' )y 5iew0 o!
the proble).
II
The path of 0ocial refor) li*e the path to hea5e! at a!y rate i! I!"ia7 i0 0trew! with )a!y "iffic'ltie0.
ocial refor) i! I!"ia ha0 few frie!"0 a!" )a!y critic0. The critic0 fall i!to two "i0ti!ct cla00e0. O!e
cla00 co!0i0t0 of political refor)er0 a!" the other of the 0ociali0t0.
It wa0 at o!e ti)e reco&!i8e" that witho't 0ocial efficie!cy !o per)a!e!t pro&re00 i! the other fiel"0
of acti5ity wa0 po00ible7 that owi!& to )i0chief wro'&ht by the e5il c'0to)07 Hi!"' ociety wa0 !ot i!
a 0tate of efficie!cy a!" that cea0ele00 effort0 )'0t be )a"e to era"icate the0e e5il0. It wa0 "'e to the
reco&!itio! of thi0 fact that the birth of the Natio!al /o!&re00 wa0 acco)pa!ie" by the fo'!"atio! of
the ocial /o!fere!ce. ?hile the /o!&re00 wa0 co!cer!e" with "efi!i!& the wea* poi!t0 i! the political
or&a!i0atio! of the co'!try7 the ocial /o!fere!ce wa0 e!&a&e" i! re)o5i!& the wea* poi!t0 i! the
0ocial or&a!i0atio! of the Hi!"' ociety. Cor 0o)e ti)e the /o!&re00 a!" the /o!fere!ce wor*e" a0
two wi!&0 of o!e co))o! acti5ity a!" they hel" their a!!'al 0e00io!0 i! the 0a)e pa!"al. B't 0oo! the
two wi!&0 "e5elope" i!to two partie07 a Political Refor) Party a!" a ocial Refor) Party7 betwee!
who) there ra&e" a fierce co!tro5er0y. The Political Refor) Party 0'pporte" the Natio!al /o!&re00
a!" ocial Refor) Party 0'pporte" the ocial /o!fere!ce. The two bo"ie0 th'0 beca)e two ho0tile
ca)p0. The poi!t at i00'e wa0 whether 0ocial refor) 0ho'l" prece"e political refor). Cor a "eca"e the
force0 were e5e!ly bala!ce" a!" the battle wa0 fo'&ht witho't 5ictory to either 0i"e. It wa0 howe5er
e5i"e!t that the fort'!e0 of theG ocial /o!fere!ce were ebbi!& fa0t. The &e!tle)e! who pre0i"e" o5er
the 0e00io!0 of the ocial /o!fere!ce la)e!te" that the )a6ority of the e"'cate" Hi!"'0 were for
political a"5a!ce)e!t a!" i!"iffere!t to 0ocial refor) a!" that while the !')ber of tho0e who atte!"e"
the /o!&re00 wa0 5ery lar&e a!" the !')ber who "i" !ot atte!" b't who 0y)pathi8e" with it e5e!
lar&er7 the !')ber of tho0e who atte!"e" the ocial /o!fere!ce wa0 5ery )'ch 0)aller. Thi0
i!"iffere!ce7 thi0 thi!!i!& of it0 ra!*0 wa0 0oo! followe" by acti5e ho0tility fro) the politicia!0. U!"er
the lea"er0hip of the late Mr. Tila*7 the co'rte0y with which the /o!&re00 allowe" the ocial
/o!fere!ce the '0e of it0 pa!"al wa0 with"raw! a!" the 0pirit of e!)ity we!t to 0'ch a pitch that whe!
the ocial /o!fere!ce "e0ire" to erect it0 ow! pa!"al a threat to b'r! the pa!"al wa0 hel" o't by it0
oppo!e!t0. Th'0 i! co'r0e of ti)e the party i! fa5o'r of political refor) wo! a!" the ocial
/o!fere!ce 5a!i0he" a!" wa0 for&otte!. The 0peech7 "eli5ere" by Mr. ?. /. Bo!!er6i i! 1H9$ at
Allahaba" a0 Pre0i"e!t of the ei&hth 0e00io! of the /o!&re007 0o'!"0 li*e a f'!eral oratio! at the "eath
of the ocial /o!fere!ce a!" i0 0o typical of the /o!&re00 attit'"e that I 5e!t're to <'ote fro) it the
followi!& e,tract. Mr. Bo!!er6i 0ai" -
; I for o!e ha5e !o patie!ce with tho0e who 0aw we 0hall !ot be fit for political refor) '!til we
refor) o'r 0ocial 0y0te). I fail to 0ee a!y co!!ectio! betwee! the two. . .Are we !ot fit Afor political
refor)B beca'0e o'r wi"ow0 re)ai! '!)arrie" a!" o'r &irl0 are &i5e! i! )arria&e earlier tha! i!
other co'!trie0 F beca'0e o'r wi5e0 a!" "a'&hter0 "o !ot "ri5e abo't with '0 5i0iti!& o'r frie!"0F
beca'0e we "o !ot 0e!" o'r "a'&hter0 to O,for" a!" /a)bri"&e F ; A/heer0BI
I ha5e 0tate" the ca0e for political refor) a0 p't by Mr. Bo!!er6i. There were )a!y who are happy
that the 5ictory we!t to the /o!&re00. B't tho0e who belie5e i! the i)porta!ce of 0ocial refor) )ay
a0*7 i0 the ar&')e!t 0'ch a0 that of Mr. Bo!!er6i fi!al F Doe0 it pro5e that the 5ictory we!t to tho0e
who were i! the ri&ht F Doe0 it pro5e co!cl'0i5ely that 0ocial refor) ha0 !o beari!& o! political refor)
F It will help '0 to '!"er0ta!" the )atter if I 0tate the other 0i"e of the ca0e. I will "raw 'po! the
treat)e!t of the '!to'chable0 for )y fact0.
U!"er the r'le of the Pe0hwa0 i! the Maratha co'!try the '!to'chable wa0 !ot allowe" to '0e the
p'blic 0treet0 if a Hi!"' wa0 co)i!& alo!& le0t he 0ho'l" poll'te the Hi!"' by hi0 0ha"ow. The
'!to'chable wa0 re<'ire" to ha5e a blac* threa" either o! hi0 wri0t or i! hi0 !ec* a0 a 0i&! or a )ar* to
pre5e!t the Hi!"'0 fro) &etti!& the)0el5e0 poll'te" by hi0 to'ch thro'&h )i0ta*e. I! Poo!a7 the
capital of the Pe0hwa7 the '!to'chable wa0 re<'ire" to carry7 0tr'!& fro) hi0 wai0t7 a broo) to 0weep
away fro) behi!" the "'0t he trea"e" o! le0t a Hi!"' wal*i!& o! the 0a)e 0ho'l" be poll'te". I!
Poo!a7 the '!to'chable wa0 re<'ire" to carry a! earthe! pot7 h'!& i! hi0 !ec* where5er he we!t7 for
hol"i!& hi0 0pit le0t hi0 0pit falli!& o! earth 0ho'l" poll'te a Hi!"' who )i&ht '!*!owi!&ly happe! to
trea" o! it. 4et )e ta*e )ore rece!t fact0. The tyra!!y practi0e" by the Hi!"'0 'po! the Balai07 a!
'!to'chable co))'!ity i! /e!tral I!"ia7 will 0er5e )y p'rpo0e. =o' will fi!" a report of thi0 i! the
Ti#es of India of (th 2a!'ary 19$H. ;The corre0po!"e!t of the Ti#es of India reporte" that hi&h ca0te
Hi!"'07 5i8. Ealota07 Ra6p't0 a!" Brah)i!0 i!cl'"i!& the Patel0 a!" Patwari0 of 5illa&e0 of Ea!aria7
Bicholi3Haf0i7 Bicholi3Mar"a!a a!" of abo't 1+ other 5illa&e0 i! the I!"ore "6i0trict Aof the I!"ore
tateB i!for)e" the Balai0 of their re0pecti5e 5illa&e0 that if they wi0he" to li5e a)o!& the) they )'0t
co!for) to the followi!& r'le0 -
A1B Balai0 )'0t !ot wear &ol"3lace3bor"ere" p'&ree0.
A$B They )'0t !ot wear "hoti0 with colo're" or fa!cy bor"er0.
A%B They )'0t co!5ey i!ti)atio! of the "eath of a!y Hi!"' to relati5e0 of the "ecea0e"!o )atter
how far away the0e relati5e0 )ay be li5i!&.
A(B I! all Hi!"' )arria&e07 Balai0 )'0t play )'0ic before the proce00io!0 a!" "'ri!& the )arria&e.
A+B Balai wo)e! )'0t !ot wear &ol" or 0il5er or!a)e!t0G they )'0t !ot wear fa!cy &ow!0 or 6ac*et0.
A1B Balai wo)e! )'0t atte!" all ca0e0 of co!fi!e)e!t of Hi!"' wo)e!.
A:B Balai0 )'0t re!"er 0er5ice0 witho't "e)a!"i!& re)'!eratio! a!" )'0t accept whate5er a Hi!"'
i0 plea0e" to &i5e.
AHB If the Balai0 "o !ot a&ree to abi"e by the0e ter)0 they )'0t clear o't of the 5illa&e0. The Balai0
ref'0e" to co)plyG a!" the Hi!"' ele)e!t procee"e" a&ai!0t the). Balai0 were !ot allowe" to
&et water fro) the 5illa&e well0G they were !ot allowe" to let &o their cattle to &ra8e. Balai0 were
prohibite" fro) pa00i!& thro'&h la!" ow!e" by a Hi!"'7 0o that if the fiel" of a Balai wa0
0'rro'!"e" by fiel"0 ow!e" by Hi!"'07 the Balai co'l" ha5e !o acce00 to hi0 ow! fiel". The
Hi!"'0 al0o let their cattle &ra8e "ow! the fiel"0 of Balai0. The Balai0 0'b)itte" petitio!0 to the
Darbar a&ai!0t the0e per0ec'tio!0 G b't a0 they co'l" &et !o ti)ely relief7 a!" the oppre00io!
co!ti!'e"7 h'!"re"0 of Balai0 with their wi5e0 a!" chil"re! were obli&e" to aba!"o! their ho)e0
i! which their a!ce0tor0 li5e" for &e!eratio!0 a!" to )i&rate to a"6oi!i!& tate07 5i8. to 5illa&e0
i! Dhar7 Dewa07 Ba&li7 Bhopal7 Gwalior a!" other tate0. ?hat happe!e" to the) i! their !ew
ho)e0 )ay for the pre0e!t be left o't of o'r co!0i"eratio!. The i!ci"e!t at Ea5itha i! G'6arat
happe!e" o!ly la0t year. The Hi!"'0 of Ea5itha or"ere" the '!to'chable0 !ot to i!0i0t 'po!
0e!"i!& their chil"re! to the co))o! 5illa&e 0chool )ai!tai!e" by Go5er!)e!t. ?hat 0'fferi!&0
the '!to'chable0 of Ea5itha ha" to '!"er&o for "ari!& to e,erci0e a ci5ic ri&ht a&ai!0t the wi0he0
of the Hi!"'0 i0 too well *!ow! to !ee" "etaile" "e0criptio!. A!other i!0ta!ce occ'rre" i! the
5illa&e of Ja!' i! the Ah)e"aba" "i0trict of G'6arat. I! No5e)ber 19%+ 0o)e '!to'chable
wo)e! of well3to3"o fa)ilie0 0tarte" fetchi!& water i! )etal pot0. The Hi!"'0 loo*e" 'po! the
'0e of )etal pot0 by '!to'chable0 a0 a! affro!t to their "i&!ity a!" a00a'lte" the '!to'chable
wo)e! for their i)p'"e!ce. A )o0t rece!t e5e!t i0 reporte" fro) the 5illa&e /ha*wara i! 2aip'r
tate. It 0ee)0 fro) the report0 that ha5e appeare" i! the !ew0paper0 that a! '!to'chable of
/ha*wara who ha" ret'r!e" fro) a pil&ri)a&e ha" arra!&e" to &i5e a "i!!er to hi0 fellow
'!to'chable0 of the 5illa&e a0 a! act of reli&io'0 piety. The ho0t "e0ire" to treat the &'e0t0 to a
0')pt'o'0 )eal a!" the ite)0 0er5e" i!cl'"e" ghee Ab'tterB al0o. B't while the a00e)bly of
'!to'chable0 wa0 e!&a&e" i! parta*i!& of the foo"7 the Hi!"'0 i! their h'!"re"7 ar)e" with
lathi07 r'0he" to the 0ce!e7 "e0poile" the foo" a!" belabo're" the '!to'chable0 who left the foo"
they were 0er5e" with a!" ra! away for their li5e0. A!" why wa0 thi0 )'r"ero'0 a00a'lt
co))itte" o! "efe!cele00 '!to'chable0 F The rea0o! &i5e! i0 that the '!to'chable ho0t wa0
i)p'"e!t e!o'&h to 0er5e &hee a!" hi0 '!to'chable &'e0t0 were fooli0h e!o'&h to ta0te it. Ghee
i0 '!"o'bte"ly a l','ry for the rich. B't !o o!e wo'l" thi!* that co!0')ptio! of &hee wa0 a
)ar* of hi&h 0ocial 0tat'0. The Hi!"'0 of /ha*wara tho'&ht otherwi0e a!" i! ri&hteo'0
i!"i&!atio! a5e!&e" the)0el5e0 for the wro!& "o!e to the) by the '!to'chable07 who i!0'lte"
the) by treati!& &hee a0 a! ite) of their foo" which they o'&ht to ha5e *!ow! co'l" !ot be
their07 co!0i0te!tly with the "i&!ity of the Hi!"'0. Thi0 )ea!0 that a! '!to'chable )'0t !ot '0e
&hee e5e! if he ca! affor" to b'y it7 0i!ce it i0 a! act of arro&a!ce towar"0 the Hi!"'0. Thi0
happe!e" o! or abo't the 10t of April 19%1 K
Ha5i!& 0tate" the fact07 let )e !ow 0tate the ca0e for 0ocial refor). I! "oi!& thi07 I will follow Mr.
Bo!!er6i7 a0 !early a0 I ca! a!" a0* the political3)i!"e" Hi!"'0 ; Are yo' fit for political power e5e!
tho'&h yo' "o !ot allow a lar&e cla00 of yo'r ow! co'!try)e! li*e the '!to'chable0 to '0e p'blic
0chool F Are yo' fit for political power e5e! tho'&h yo' "o !ot allow the) the '0e of p'blic well0 F
Are yo' fit for political power e5e! tho'&h yo' "o !ot allow the) the '0e of p'blic 0treet0 F Are yo' fit
for political power e5e! tho'&h yo' "o !ot allow the) to wear what apparel or or!a)e!t0 they li*e F
Are yo' fit for political power e5e! tho'&h yo' "o !ot allow the) to eat a!y foo" they li*e F ; I ca!
a0* a 0tri!& of 0'ch <'e0tio!0. B't the0e will 0'ffice7 I wo!"er what wo'l" ha5e bee! the reply of Mr.
Bo!!er6i. I a) 0're !o 0e!0ible )a! will ha5e the co'ra&e to &i5e a! affir)ati5e a!0wer. #5ery
/o!&re00)a! who repeat0 the "o&)a of Mill that o!e co'!try i0 !ot fit to r'le a!other co'!try )'0t
a")it that o!e cla00 i0 !ot fit to r'le a!other cla00.
How i0 it the! that the ocial Refor) Party la0t the battle F To '!"er0ta!" thi0 correctly it i0
!ece00ary7 to ta*e !ote of the *i!" of 0ocial refor) which the refor)er0 were a&itati!& for. I! thi0
co!!ectio! it i0 !ece00ary to )a*e a "i0ti!ctio! betwee! 0ocial refor) i! the 0e!0e of the refor) of the
Hi!"' Ca)ily a!" 0ocial refor) i! the 0e!0e of the reor&a!i8atio! a!" reco!0tr'ctio! of the Hi!"'
ociety. The for)er ha0 relatio! to wi"ow re)arria&e7 chil" )arria&e etc.7 while the latter relate0 to the
abolitio! of the /a0te y0te). The ocial /o!fere!ce wa0 a bo"y which )ai!ly co!cer!e" it0elf with
the refor) of the hi&h ca0te Hi!"' Ca)ily. It co!0i0te" )o0tly of e!li&hte!e" hi&h ca0te Hi!"'0 who
did !ot feel the !ece00ity for a&itati!& for the abolitio! of ca0te or ha" !ot the co'ra&e to a&itate for it.
They felt <'ite !at'rally a &reater 'r&e to re)o5e 0'ch e5il0 a0 e!force" wi"owhoo"7 chil" )arria&e0
etc.7 e5il0 which pre5aile" a)o!& the) a!" which were per0o!ally felt by the). They "i" !ot 0ta!" 'p
for the refor) of the Hi!"' 0ociety. The battle that wa0 fo'&ht ce!tere" ro'!" the <'e0tio! of the
refor) of the fa)ily. It "i" !ot relate to the 0ocial refor) i! the 0e!0e of the brea*3'p of the ca0te
0y0te). It wa0 !e5er p't i! i00'e by the refor)er0. That i0 the rea0o! why the ocial Refor) Party lo0t.
I a) aware that thi0 ar&')e!t ca!!ot alter the fact that political refor) "i" i! fact &ai! prece"e!ce o5er
0ocial refor). B't the ar&')e!t ha0 thi0 )'ch 5al'e if !ot )ore. It e,plai!0 why 0ocial refor)er0 lo0t
the battle. It al0o help0 '0 to '!"er0ta!" how li)ite" wa0 the 5ictory which the Political Refor) Party
obtai!e" o5er the ocial Refor) Party a!" that the 5iew that 0ocial refor) !ee" !ot prece"e political
refor) i0 a 5iew which )ay 0ta!" o!ly whe! by 0ocial refor) i0 )ea!t the refor) of the fa)ily. That
political refor) ca!!ot with i)p'!ity ta*e prece"e!ce o5er 0ocial refor) i! the 0e!0e of reco!0tr'ctio!
of 0ociety i0 a the0i0 which7 I a) 0're7 ca!!ot be co!tro5erte". That the )a*er0 of political co!0tit'tio!0
)'0t ta*e acco'!t of 0ocial force0 i0 a fact which i0 reco&!i8e" by !o le00 a per0o! tha! Cer"i!a!"
4a00alle7 the frie!" a!" co3wor*er of Earl Mar,. I! a""re00i!& a Pr'00ia! a'"ie!ce i! 1H1$ 4a00alle
0ai" -

; The +onstitutional 4uestions are in the first instan+e not 4uestions of right but 4uestions of #ight, The
a+tual +onstitution of a +ountr/ has its e1isten+e onl/ in the a+tual +ondition of for+e whi+h e1ists in the
+ountr/ 5 hen+e 0oliti+al +onstitutions ha!e !alue and 0er#anen+e onl/ when the/ a++uratel/ e10ress
those +onditions of for+es whi+h e1ist in 0ra+ti+e within a so+iet/"
B't it i0 !ot !ece00ary to &o to Pr'00ia. There i0 e5i"e!ce at ho)e. ?hat i0 the 0i&!ifica!ce of the
/o))'!al Awar" with it0 allocatio! of political power i! "efi!e" proportio!0 to "i5er0e cla00e0 a!"
co))'!itie0 F I! )y 5iew7 it0 0i&!ifica!ce lie0 i! thi0 that political co!0tit'tio! )'0t ta*e !ote of 0ocial
or&a!i0atio!. It 0how0 that the politicia!0 who "e!ie" that the 0ocial proble) i! I!"ia ha" a!y beari!&
o! the political proble) were force" to rec*o! with the 0ocial proble) i! "e5i0i!& the co!0tit'tio!. The
/o))'!al Awar" i0 0o to 0ay the !e)e0i0 followi!& 'po! the i!"iffere!ce a!" !e&lect of 0ocial refor).
It i0 a 5ictory for the ocial Refor) Party which 0how0 that tho'&h "efeate" they were i! the ri&ht i!
i!0i0ti!& 'po! the i)porta!ce of 0ocial refor). Ma!y7 I *!ow7 will !ot accept thi0 fi!"i!&. The 5iew i0
c'rre!t7 a!" it i0 plea0a!t to belie5e i! it7 that the /o))'!al Awar" i0 '!!at'ral a!" that it i0 the re0'lt
of a! '!holy allia!ce betwee! the )i!oritie0 a!" the b'rea'cracy. I "o !ot wi0h to rely o! the
/o))'!al Awar" a0 a piece of e5i"e!ce to 0'pport )y co!te!tio! if it i0 0ai" that it i0 !ot &oo"
e5i"e!ce. 4et '0 t'r! to Irela!". ?hat "oe0 the hi0tory of Iri0h Ho)e R'le 0how F It i0 well3*!ow! that
i! the co'r0e of the !e&otiatio!0 betwee! the repre0e!tati5e0 of Ul0ter a!" o'ther! Irela!"7 Mr.
Re")o!"7 the repre0e!tati5e of o'ther! Irela!"7 i! or"er to bri!& Ul0ter i! a Ho)e R'le /o!0tit'tio!
co))o! to the whole of Irela!" 0ai" to the repre0e!tati5e0 of Ul0ter - ; A0* a!y political 0afe&'ar"0
yo' li*e a!" yo' 0hall ha5e the).; ?hat wa0 the reply that Ul0ter)e! &a5e F Their reply wa0 ; Da)!
yo'r 0afe&'ar"07 we "o!It wa!t to be r'le" by yo' o! a!y ter)0.; People who bla)e the )i!oritie0 i!
I!"ia o'&ht to co!0i"er what wo'l" ha5e happe!e" to the political a0piratio!0 of the )a6ority if the
)i!oritie0 ha" ta*e! the attit'"e which Ul0ter too*. 2'"&e" by the attit'"e of Ul0ter to Iri0h Ho)e
R'le7 i0 it !oti!& that the )i!oritie0 a&ree" to be r'le" by the )a6ority which ha0 !ot 0how! )'ch 0e!0e
of 0tate0)a!0hip7 pro5i"e" 0o)e 0afe&'ar"0 were "e5i0e" for the) F B't thi0 i0 o!ly i!ci"e!tal. The
)ai! <'e0tio! i0 why "i" Ul0ter ta*e thi0 attit'"e F The o!ly a!0wer I ca! &i5e i0 that there wa0 a 0ocial
proble) betwee! Ul0ter a!" o'ther! Irela!" the proble) betwee! /atholic0 a!" Prote0ta!t07
e00e!tially a proble) of /a0te. That Ho)e R'le i! Irela!" wo'l" be Ro)e R'le wa0 the way i! which
the Ul0ter)e! ha" fra)e" their a!0wer. B't that i0 o!ly a!other way of 0tati!& that it wa0 the 0ocial
proble) of /a0te betwee! the /atholic0 a!" Prote0ta!t07 which pre5e!te" the 0ol'tio! of the political
proble). Thi0 e5i"e!ce a&ai! i0 0're to be challe!&e". It will be 'r&e" that here too the ha!" of the
I)periali0t wa0 at wor*. B't )y re0o'rce0 are !ot e,ha'0te". I will &i5e e5i"e!ce fro) the Hi0tory of
Ro)e. Here !o o!e ca! 0ay that a!y e5il &e!i'0 wa0 at wor*. A!y o!e who ha0 0t'"ie" the Hi0tory of
Ro)e will *!ow that the Rep'blica! /o!0tit'tio! of Ro)e bore )ar*0 ha5i!& 0tro!& re0e)bla!ce to
the /o))'!al Awar". ?he! the *i!&0hip i! Ro)e wa0 aboli0he"7 the Ei!&ly power or the I#0eriu#
wa0 "i5i"e" betwee! the /o!0'l0 a!" the Po!tife, Ma,i)'0. I! the /o!0'l0 wa0 5e0te" the 0ec'lar
a'thority of the Ei!&7 while the latter too* o5er the reli&io'0 a'thority of Ei!&. Thi0 Rep'blica!
/o!0tit'tio! ha" pro5i"e" that7 of the two /o!0'l0 o!e wa0 to be Patricia! a!" the other Plebia!. The
0a)e co!0tit'tio! ha" al0o pro5i"e" that7 of the Prie0t0 '!"er the Po!tife, Ma,i)'07 half were to be
Plebia!0 a!" the other half Patricia!0. ?hy i0 it that the Rep'blica! /o!0tit'tio! of Ro)e ha" the0e
pro5i0io!0 which7 a0 I 0ai"7 re0e)ble 0o 0tro!&ly the pro5i0io!0 of the /o))'!al Awar" F The o!ly
a!0wer o!e ca! &et i0 that the /o!0tit'tio! of Rep'blica! Ro)e ha" to ta*e acco'!t of the 0ocial
"i5i0io! betwee! the Patricia!0 a!" the Plebia!07 who for)e" two "i0ti!ct ca0te0. To 0') 'p7 let
political refor)er0 t'r! to a!y "irectio! they li*e7 they will fi!" that i! the )a*i!& of a co!0tit'tio!7
they ca!!ot i&!ore the proble) ari0i!& o't of the pre5aili!& 0ocial or"er.
The ill'0tratio!0 which I ha5e ta*e! i! 0'pport of the propo0itio! that 0ocial a!" reli&io'0 proble)0
ha5e a beari!& o! political co!0tit'tio!0 0ee) to be too partic'lar. Perhap0 they are. B't it 0ho'l" !ot be
0'ppo0e" that the beari!& of the o!e o! the other i0 li)ite". O! the other ha!" o!e ca! 0ay that
&e!erally 0pea*i!& Hi0tory bear0 o't the propo0itio! that political re5ol'tio!0 ha5e alway0 bee!
prece"e" by 0ocial a!" reli&io'0 re5ol'tio!0.
The reli&io'0 Refor)atio! 0tarte" by 4'ther wa0 the prec'r0or of the political e)a!cipatio! of the
#'ropea! people. I! #!&la!" P'rita!i0) le" to the e0tabli0h)e!t of political liberty. P'rita!i0)
fo'!"e" the !ew worl". It wa0 P'rita!i0) which wo! the war of A)erica! I!"epe!"e!ce a!"
P'rita!i0) wa0 a reli&io'0 )o5e)e!t. The 0a)e i0 tr'e of the M'0li) #)pire. Before the Arab0
beca)e a political power they ha" '!"er&o!e a thoro'&h reli&io'0 re5ol'tio! 0tarte" by the Prophet
Moha))a". #5e! I!"ia! Hi0tory 0'pport0 the 0a)e co!cl'0io!. The political re5ol'tio! le" by
/ha!"ra&'pta wa0 prece"e" by the reli&io'0 a!" 0ocial re5ol'tio! of B'""ha. The political re5ol'tio!
le" by hi5a6i wa0 prece"e" by the reli&io'0 a!" 0ocial refor) bro'&ht abo't by the 0ai!t0 of
Mahara0htra. The political re5ol'tio! of the i*h0 wa0 prece"e" by the reli&io'0 a!" 0ocial re5ol'tio!
le" by G'r' Na!a*. It i0 '!!ece00ary to a"" )ore ill'0tratio!0. The0e will 0'ffice to 0how that the
e)a!cipatio! of the )i!" a!" the 0o'l i0 a !ece00ary preli)i!ary for the political e,pa!0io! of the
people.

Ill
4et )e !ow t'r! to the ociali0t0. /a! the ociali0t0 i&!ore the proble) ari0i!& o't of the 0ocial
or"er F The ociali0t0 of I!"ia followi!& their fellow0 i! #'rope are 0ee*i!& to apply the eco!o)ic
i!terpretatio! of hi0tory to the fact0 of I!"ia. They propo'!" that )a! i0 a! eco!o)ic creat're7 that hi0
acti5itie0 a!" a0piratio!0 are bo'!" by eco!o)ic fact07 that property i0 the o!ly 0o'rce of power. They7
therefore7 preach that political a!" 0ocial refor)0 are b't &i&a!tic ill'0io!0 a!" that eco!o)ic refor)
by e<'ali8atio! of property )'0t ha5e prece"e!ce o5er e5ery other *i!" of refor). O!e )ay 6oi! i00'e
o! e5ery o!e of the0e pre)i0e0 o! which re0t0 the ociali0t0I ca0e for eco!o)ic refor) ha5i!& priority
o5er e5ery other *i!" of refor). O!e )ay co!te!" that eco!o)ic )oti5e i0 !ot the o!ly )oti5e by
which )a! i0 act'ate". That eco!o)ic power i0 the o!ly *i!" of power !o 0t'"e!t of h')a! 0ociety
ca! accept. That the 0ocial 0tat'0 of a! i!"i5i"'al by it0elf ofte! beco)e0 a 0o'rce of power a!"
a'thority i0 )a"e clear by the 0way which the Mahat)o0 ha5e hel" o5er the co))o! )a!. ?hy "o
)illio!aire0 i! I!"ia obey pe!!ile00 a"h'0 a!" Ca*ir0 F ?hy "o )illio!0 of pa'per0 i! I!"ia 0ell their
trifli!& tri!*et0 which co!0tit'te their o!ly wealth a!" &o to Be!are0 a!" Mecca F That7 reli&io! i0 the
0o'rce of power i0 ill'0trate" by the hi0tory of I!"ia where the prie0t hol"0 a 0way o5er the co))o!
)a! ofte! &reater tha! the )a&i0trate a!" where e5erythi!&7 e5e! 0'ch thi!&0 a0 0tri*e0 a!" electio!07
0o ea0ily ta*e a reli&io'0 t'r! a!" ca! 0o ea0ily be &i5e! a reli&io'0 twi0t. Ta*e the ca0e of the Plebia!0
of Ro)e a0 a f'rther ill'0tratio! of the power of reli&io! o5er )a!. It throw0 &reat li&ht o! thi0 poi!t.
The Pleb0 ha" fo'&ht for a 0hare i! the 0'pre)e e,ec'ti5e '!"er the Ro)a! Rep'blic a!" ha" 0ec're"
the appoi!t)e!t of a Plebia! /o!0'l electe" by a 0eparate electorate co!0tit'te" by the Co##itia
Centuriata) which wa0 a! a00e)bly of Piebia!0. They wa!te" a /o!0'l of their ow! beca'0e they felt
that the Patricia! /o!0'l0 '0e" to "i0cri)i!ate a&ai!0t the Plebia!0 i! carryi!& o! the a")i!i0tratio!.
They ha" appare!tly obtai!e" a &reat &ai! beca'0e '!"er the Rep'blica! /o!0tit'tio! of Ro)e o!e
/o!0'l ha" the power of 5etoi!& a! act of the other /o!0'l. B't "i" they i! fact &ai! a!ythi!& F The
a!0wer to thi0 <'e0tio! )'0t be i! the !e&ati5e. The Plebia!0 !e5er co'l" &et a Plebia! /o!0'l who
co'l" be 0ai" to be a 0tro!& )a! a!" who co'l" act i!"epe!"e!tly of the Patricia! /o!0'l. I! the
or"i!ary co'r0e of thi!&0 the Plebia!0 0ho'l" ha5e &ot a 0tro!& Plebia! /o!0'l i! 5iew of the fact that
hi0 electio! wa0 to be by a 0eparate electorate of Plebia!0. The <'e0tio! i0 why "i" they fail i! &etti!& a
0tro!& Plebia! to officiate a0 their /o!0'lF The a!0wer to thi0 <'e0tio! re5eal0 the "o)i!io! which
reli&io! e,erci0e0 o5er the )i!"0 of )e!. It wa0 a! accepte" cree" of the whole Ro)a! 0o0ulus that !o
official co'l" e!ter 'po! the "'tie0 of hi0 office '!le00 the Oracle of Delphi "eclare" that he wa0
acceptable to the Go""e00. The prie0t0 who were i! char&e of the te)ple of the Go""e00 of Delphi were
all Patricia!0. ?he!e5er therefore the Plebia!0 electe" a /o!0'l who wa0 *!ow! to be a 0tro!& party
)a! oppo0e" to the Patricia!0 or ; co))'!al ; to '0e the ter) that i0 c'rre!t i! I!"ia7 the Oracle
i!5ariably "eclare" that he wa0 !ot acceptable to the Go""e00. Thi0 i0 how the Plebia!0 were cheate"
o't of their ri&ht0. B't what i0 worthy of !ote i0 that the Plebia!0 per)itte" the)0el5e0 to be th'0
cheate" beca'0e they too li*e the Patricia!07 hel" fir)ly the belief that the appro5al of the Go""e00 wa0
a co!"itio! prece"e!t to the ta*i!& char&e by a! official of hi0 "'tie0 a!" that electio! by the people
wa0 !ot e!o'&h. If the Plebia!0 ha" co!te!"e" that electio! wa0 e!o'&h a!" that the appro5al by the
Go""e00 wa0 !ot !ece00ary they wo'l" ha5e "eri5e" the f'lle0t be!efit fro) the political ri&ht which
they ha" obtai!e". B't they "i" !ot. They a&ree" to elect a!other7 le00 0'itable to the)0el5e0 b't )ore
0'itable to the Go""e00 which i! fact )ea!t )ore a)e!able to the Patricia!0. Rather tha! &i5e 'p
reli&io!7 the Plebia!0 &i5e 'p )aterial &ai! for which they ha" fo'&ht 0o har". Doe0 thi0 !ot 0how that
reli&io! ca! be a 0o'rce of power a0 &reat a0 )o!ey if !ot &reater F The fallacy of the ociali0t0 lie0 i!
0'ppo0i!& that beca'0e i! the pre0e!t 0ta&e of #'ropea! ociety property a0 a 0o'rce of power i0
pre"o)i!a!t7 that the 0a)e i0 tr'e of I!"ia or that the 0a)e wa0 tr'e of #'rope i! the pa0t. Reli&io!7
0ocial 0tat'0 a!" property are all 0o'rce0 of power a!" a'thority7 which o!e )a! ha07 to co!trol the
liberty of a!other. O!e i0 pre"o)i!a!t at o!e 0ta&eG the other i0 pre"o)i!a!t at a!other 0ta&e. That i0
the o!ly "iffere!ce. If liberty i0 the i"eal7 if liberty )ea!0 the "e0tr'ctio! of the "o)i!io! which o!e
)a! hol"0 o5er a!other the! ob5io'0ly it ca!!ot be i!0i0te" 'po! that eco!o)ic refor) )'0t be the o!e
*i!" of refor) worthy of p'r0'it. If the 0o'rce of power a!" "o)i!io! i0 at a!y &i5e! ti)e or i! a!y
&i5e! 0ociety 0ocial a!" reli&io'0 the! 0ocial refor) a!" reli&io'0 refor) )'0t be accepte" a0 the
!ece00ary 0ort of refor).
O!e ca! th'0 attac* the "octri!e of #co!o)ic I!terpretatio! of Hi0tory a"opte" by the ociali0t0 of
I!"ia. B't I reco&!i8e that eco!o)ic i!terpretatio! of hi0tory i0 !ot !ece00ary for the 5ali"ity of the
ociali0t co!te!tio! that e<'ali8atio! of property i0 the o!ly real refor) a!" that it )'0t prece"e
e5erythi!& el0e. Howe5er7 what I li*e to a0* the ociali0t0 i0 thi0 - /a! yo' ha5e eco!o)ic refor)
witho't fir0t bri!&i!& abo't a refor) of the 0ocial or"er F The ociali0t0 of I!"ia "o !ot 0ee) to ha5e
co!0i"ere" thi0 <'e0tio!. I "o !ot wi0h to "o the) a! i!6'0tice. I &i5e below a <'otatio! fro) a letter
which a pro)i!e!t ociali0t wrote a few "ay0 a&o to a frie!" of )i!e i! which he 0ai"7 ; I "o !ot
belie5e that we ca! b'il" 'p a free 0ociety i! I!"ia 0o lo!& a0 there i0 a trace of thi0 ill3treat)e!t a!"
0'ppre00io! of o!e cla00 by a!other. Belie5i!& a0 I "o i! a 0ociali0t i"eal7 i!e5itably I belie5e i! perfect
e<'ality i! the treat)e!t of 5ario'0 cla00e0 a!" &ro'p0. I thi!* that ociali0) offer0 the o!ly tr'e
re)e"y for thi0 a0 well a0 other proble)0.; Now the <'e0tio! that I li*e to a0* i0 - I0 it e!o'&h for a
ociali0t to 0ay7 ; I belie5e i! perfect e<'ality i! the treat)e!t of the 5ario'0 cla00e0 F ; To 0ay that 0'ch
a belief i0 e!o'&h i0 to "i0clo0e a co)plete lac* of '!"er0ta!"i!& of what i0 i!5ol5e" i! ociali0). If
ociali0) i0 a practical pro&ra))e a!" i0 !ot )erely a! i"eal7 "i0ta!t a!" far off7 the <'e0tio! for a
ociali0t i0 !ot whether he belie5e0 i! e<'ality. The <'e0tio! for hi) i0 whether he #inds o!e cla00 ill3
treati!& a!" 0'ppre00i!& a!other cla00 a0 a )atter of 0y0te)7 a0 a )atter of pri!ciple a!" th'0 allow
tyra!!y a!" oppre00io! to co!ti!'e to "i5i"e o!e cla00 fro) a!other. 4et )e a!aly0e the factor0 that are
i!5ol5e" i! the reali8atio! of ociali0) i! or"er to e,plai! f'lly )y poi!t. Now it i0 ob5io'0 that the
eco!o)ic refor) co!te)plate" by the ociali0t0 ca!!ot co)e abo't '!le00 there i0 a re5ol'tio!
re0'lti!& i! the 0ei8're of power. That 0ei8're of power )'0t be by a proletariat. The fir0t <'e0tio! I a0*
i0 - ?ill the proletariat of I!"ia co)bi!e to bri!& abo't thi0 re5ol'tio! F ?hat will )o5e )e! to 0'ch
a! actio! F It 0ee)0 to )e that other thi!&0 bei!& e<'al the o!ly thi!& that will )o5e o!e )a! to ta*e
0'ch a! actio! i0 the feeli!& that other )a! with who) he i0 acti!& are act'ate" by feeli!& of e<'ality
a!" frater!ity a!" abo5e all of 6'0tice. Me! will !ot 6oi! i! a re5ol'tio! for the e<'ali8atio! of property
'!le00 they *!ow that after the re5ol'tio! i0 achie5e" they will be treate" e<'ally a!" that there will be
!o "i0cri)i!atio! of ca0te a!" cree". The a00'ra!ce of a 0ociali0t lea"i!& the re5ol'tio! that he "oe0 !ot
belie5e i! ca0te7 I a) 0're7 will !ot 0'ffice. The a00'ra!ce )'0t be the a00'ra!ce procee"i!& fro) )'ch
"eeper fo'!"atio!7 !a)ely7 the )e!tal attit'"e of the co)patriot0 towar"0 o!e a!other i! their 0pirit of
per0o!al e<'ality a!" frater!ity. /a! it be 0ai" that the proletariat of I!"ia7 poor a0 it i07 reco&!i0e !o
"i0ti!ctio!0 e,cept that of the rich a!" the poor F /a! it be 0ai" that the poor i! I!"ia reco&!i8e !o 0'ch
"i0ti!ctio!0 of ca0te or cree"7 hi&h or low F If the fact i0 that they "o7 what '!ity of fro!t ca! be
e,pecte" fro) 0'ch a proletariat i! it0 actio! a&ai!0t the rich F How ca! there be a re5ol'tio! if the
proletariat ca!!ot pre0e!t a '!ite" fro!tF 'ppo0e for the 0a*e of ar&')e!t that by 0o)e frea* of
fort'!e a re5ol'tio! "oe0 ta*e place a!" the ociali0t0 co)e i! power7 will they !ot ha5e to "eal with
the proble)0 create" by the partic'lar 0ocial or"er pre5ale!t i! I!"ia F I ca!It 0ee how a ociali0t tate
i! I!"ia ca! f'!ctio! for a 0eco!" witho't ha5i!& to &rapple with the proble)0 create" by the
pre6'"ice0 which )a*e I!"ia! people ob0er5e the "i0ti!ctio!0 of hi&h a!" low7 clea! a!" '!clea!. If
ociali0t0 are !ot to be co!te!t with the )o'thi!& of fi!e phra0e07 if the ociali0t0 wi0h to )a*e
ociali0) a "efi!ite reality the! they )'0t reco&!i8e that the proble) of 0ocial refor) i0 f'!"a)e!tal
a!" that for the) there i0 !o e0cape fro) it. That7 the 0ocial or"er pre5ale!t i! I!"ia i0 a )atter which a
ociali0t )'0t "eal with7 that '!le00 he "oe0 0o he ca!!ot achie5e hi0 re5ol'tio! a!" that if he "oe0
achie5e it a0 a re0'lt of &oo" fort'!e he will ha5e to &rapple with it if he wi0he0 to reali8e hi0 i"eal7 i0 a
propo0itio! which i! )y opi!io! i0 i!co!tro5ertible. He will be co)pelle" to ta*e acco'!t of ca0te after
re5ol'tio! if he "oe0 !ot ta*e acco'!t of it before re5ol'tio!. Thi0 i0 o!ly a!other way of 0ayi!& that7
t'r! i! a!y "irectio! yo' li*e7 ca0te i0 the )o!0ter that cro00e0 yo'r path. =o' ca!!ot ha5e political
refor)7 yo' ca!!ot ha5e eco!o)ic refor)7 '!le00 yo' *ill thi0 )o!0ter.
I.
It i0 a pity that /a0te e5e! to"ay ha0 it0 "efe!"er0. The "efe!ce0 are )a!y. It i0 "efe!"e" o! the
&ro'!" that the /a0te y0te) i0 b't a!other !a)e for "i5i0io! of labo'r a!" if "i5i0io! of labo'r i0 a
!ece00ary feat're of e5ery ci5ili8e" 0ociety the! it i0 ar&'e" that there i0 !othi!& wro!& i! the /a0te
y0te). Now the fir0t thi!& i0 to be 'r&e" a&ai!0t thi0 5iew i0 that /a0te y0te) i0 !ot )erely "i5i0io!
of labo'r. It is also a di!ision of labourers, /i5ili8e" 0ociety '!"o'bte"ly !ee"0 "i5i0io! of labo'r. B't
i! !o ci5ili8e" 0ociety i0 "i5i0io! of labo'r acco)pa!ie" by thi0 '!!at'ral "i5i0io! of labo'rer0 i!to
waterti&ht co)part)e!t0. /a0te y0te) i0 !ot )erely a "i5i0io! of labo'rer0 which i0 <'ite "iffere!t
fro) "i5i0io! of labo'rit i0 a! hierarchy i! which the "i5i0io!0 of labo'rer0 are &ra"e" o!e abo5e the
other. I! !o other co'!try i0 the "i5i0io! of labo'r acco)pa!ie" by thi0 &ra"atio! of labo'rer0. There i0
al0o a thir" poi!t of critici0) a&ai!0t thi0 5iew of the /a0te y0te). Thi0 "i5i0io! of labo'r i0 !ot
0po!ta!eo'0G it i0 !ot ba0e" o! !at'ral aptit'"e0. ocial a!" i!"i5i"'al efficie!cy re<'ire0 '0 to "e5elop
the capacity of a! i!"i5i"'al to the poi!t of co)pete!cy to choo0e a!" to )a*e hi0 ow! career. Thi0
pri!ciple i0 5iolate" i! the /a0te y0te) i! 0o far a0 it i!5ol5e0 a! atte)pt to appoi!t ta0*0 to
i!"i5i"'al0 i! a"5a!ce7 0electe" !ot o! the ba0i0 of trai!e" ori&i!al capacitie07 b't o! that of the 0ocial
0tat'0 of the pare!t0. 4oo*e" at fro) a!other poi!t of 5iew thi0 0tratificatio! of occ'patio!0 which i0
the re0'lt of the /a0te y0te) i0 po0iti5ely per!icio'0. I!"'0try i0 !e5er 0tatic. It '!"er&oe0 rapi" a!"
abr'pt cha!&e0. ?ith 0'ch cha!&e0 a! i!"i5i"'al )'0t be free to cha!&e hi0 occ'patio!. ?itho't 0'ch
free"o) to a"6'0t hi)0elf to cha!&i!& circ')0ta!ce0 it wo'l" be i)po00ible for hi) to &ai! hi0
li5elihoo". Now the /a0te y0te) will !ot allow Hi!"'0 to ta*e to occ'patio!0 where they are wa!te"
if they "o !ot belo!& to the) by here"ity. If a Hi!"' i0 0ee! to 0tar5e rather tha! ta*e to !ew
occ'patio!0 !ot a00i&!e" to hi0 /a0te7 the rea0o! i0 to be fo'!" i! the /a0te y0te). By !ot per)itti!&
rea"6'0t)e!t of occ'patio!07 ca0te beco)e0 a "irect ca'0e of )'ch of the '!e)ploy)e!t we 0ee i! the
co'!try. A0 a for) of "i5i0io! of labo'r the /a0te 0y0te) 0'ffer0 fro) a!other 0erio'0 "efect. The
"i5i0io! of labo'r bro'&ht abo't by the /a0te y0te) i0 !ot a "i5i0io! ba0e" o! choice. I!"i5i"'al
0e!ti)e!t7 i!"i5i"'al prefere!ce ha0 !o place i! it. It i0 ba0e" o! the "o&)a of pre"e0ti!atio!.
/o!0i"eratio!0 of 0ocial efficie!cy wo'l" co)pel '0 to reco&!i8e that the &reate0t e5il i! the i!"'0trial
0y0te) i0 !ot- 0o )'ch po5erty a!" the 0'fferi!& that it i!5ol5e0 a0 the fact that 0o )a!y per0o!0 ha5e
calli!&0 which )a*e !o appeal to tho0e who are e!&a&e" i! the). 'ch calli!&0 co!0ta!tly pro5o*e o!e
to a5er0io!7 ill will a!" the "e0ire to e5a"e. There are )a!y occ'patio!0 i! I!"ia which o! acco'!t of
the fact that they are re&ar"e" a0 "e&ra"e" by the Hi!"'0 pro5o*e tho0e who are e!&a&e" i! the) to
a5er0io!. There i0 a co!0ta!t "e0ire to e5a"e a!" e0cape fro) 0'ch occ'patio!0 which ari0e0 0olely
beca'0e of the bli&hti!& effect which they pro"'ce 'po! tho0e who follow the) owi!& to the 0li&ht a!"
0ti&)a ca0t 'po! the) by the Hi!"' reli&io!. ?hat efficie!cy ca! there be i! a 0y0te) '!"er which
!either )e!I0 heart0 !or their )i!"0 are i! their wor*F A0 a! eco!o)ic or&a!i8atio! /a0te i0 therefore a
har)f'l i!0tit'tio!7 i!a0)'ch a07 it i!5ol5e0 the 0'bor"i!atio! of )a!I0 !at'ral power0 a!" i!cli!atio!0
to the e,i&e!cie0 of 0ocial r'le0
.
o)e ha5e "'& a biolo&ical tre!ch i! "efe!ce of the /a0te y0te). It i0 0ai" that the ob6ect of /a0te
wa0 to pre0er5e p'rity of race a!" p'rity of bloo". Now eth!olo&i0t0 are of opi!io! that )e! of p're
race e,i0t !owhere a!" that there ha0 bee! a )i,t're of all race0 i! all part0 of the worl". #0pecially i0
thi0 the ca0e with the people of I!"ia. Mr. D. R. Bha!"ar*ar i! hi0 paper o! 6oreign le#ents in the
Hindu "o0ulation ha0 0tate" that ; There i0 har"ly a cla007 or /a0te i! I!"ia which ha0 !ot a forei&!
0trai! i! it. There i0 a! a")i,t're of alie! bloo" !ot o!ly a)o!& the warrior cla00e0the Ra6p't0 a!"
the Maratha0b't al0o a)o!& the Brah)i!0 who are '!"er the happy "el'0io! that they are free fro)
all forei&! ele)e!t0.; The /a0te 0y0te) ca!!ot be 0ai" to ha5e &row! a0 a )ea!0 of pre5e!ti!& the
a")i,t're of race0 or a0 a )ea!0 of )ai!tai!i!& p'rity of bloo". A0 a )atter of fact /a0te 0y0te) ca)e
i!to bei!& lo!& after the "iffere!t race0 of I!"ia ha" co))i!&le" i! bloo" a!" c'lt're. To hol" that
"i0ti!ctio!0 of /a0te0 or really "i0ti!ctio!0 of race a!" to treat "iffere!t /a0te0 a0 tho'&h they were 0o
)a!y "iffere!t race0 i0 a &ro00 per5er0io! of fact0. ?hat racial affi!ity i0 there betwee! the Brah)i! of
the P'!6ab a!" the Brah)i! of Ma"ra0 F ?hat racial affi!ity i0 there betwee! the '!to'chable of
Be!&al a!" the '!to'chable of Ma"ra0 F ?hat racial "iffere!ce i0 there betwee! the Brah)i! of the
P'!6ab a!" the /ha)ar of the P'!6ab F ?hat racial "iffere!ce i0 there betwee! the Brah)i! of Ma"ra0
a!" the Pariah of Ma"ra0 F The Brah)i! of the P'!6ab i0 racially of the 0a)e 0toc* a0 the /ha)ar of
the P'!6ab a!" the Brah)i! of Ma"ra0 i0 of the 0a)e race a0 the Pariah of Ma"ra0. /a0te 0y0te) "oe0
!ot "e)arcate racial "i5i0io!. /a0te 0y0te) i0 a 0ocial "i5i0io! of people of the 0a)e race. A00')i!& it7
howe5er7 to be a ca0e of racial "i5i0io!0 o!e )ay a0* - ?hat har) co'l" there be if a )i,t're of race0
a!" of bloo" wa0 per)itte" to ta*e place i! I!"ia by i!ter)arria&e0 betwee! "iffere!t /a0te0 F Me! are
!o "o'bt "i5i"e" fro) a!i)al0 by 0o "eep a "i0ti!ctio! that 0cie!ce reco&!i8e0 )e! a!" a!i)al0 a0 two
"i0ti!ct 0pecie0. B't e5e! 0cie!ti0t0 who belie5e i! p'rity of race0 "o !ot a00ert that the "iffere!t race0
co!0tit'te "iffere!t 0pecie0 of )e!. They are o!ly 5arietie0 of o!e a!" the 0a)e 0pecie0. A0 0'ch they
ca! i!terbree" a!" pro"'ce a! off0pri!& which i0 capable of bree"i!& a!" which i0 !ot 0terile. A!
i))e!0e lot of !o!0e!0e i0 tal*e" abo't here"ity a!" e'&e!ic0 i! "efe!ce of the /a0te y0te). Cew
wo'l" ob6ect to the /a0te y0te) if it wa0 i! accor" with the ba0ic pri!ciple of e'&e!ic0 beca'0e few
ca! ob6ect to the i)pro5e)e!t of the race by 6'"icio'0 !oti!&. B't o!e fail0 to '!"er0ta!" how the
/a0te y0te) 0ec're0 6'"icio'0 )ati!&. /a0te y0te) i0 a !e&ati5e thi!&. It )erely prohibit0 per0o!0
belo!&i!& to "iffere!t /a0te0 fro) i!ter)arryi!&. It i0 !ot a po0iti5e )etho" of 0electi!& which two
a)o!& a &i5e! /a0te 0ho'l" )arry. If /a0te i0 e'&e!ic i! ori&i! the! the ori&i! of 0'b3/a0te0 )'0t al0o
be e'&e!ic. B't ca! a!y o!e 0erio'0ly )ai!tai! that the ori&i! of 0'b3/a0te0 i0 e'&e!ic F I thi!* it
wo'l" be ab0'r" to co!te!" for 0'ch a propo0itio! a!" for a 5ery ob5io'0 rea0o!. If /a0te )ea!0 race
the! "iffere!ce0 of 0'b3/a0te0 ca!!ot )ea! "iffere!ce0 of race beca'0e 0'b3/a0te0 beco)e e1
h/0othesia 0'b3"i5i0io!0 of o!e a!" the 0a)e race. /o!0e<'e!tly the bar a&ai!0t i!ter)arryi!& a!"
i!ter"i!i!& betwee! 0'b3/a0te0 ca!!ot be for the p'rpo0e of )ai!tai!i!& p'rity of race or of bloo". If
0'b3/a0te0 ca!!ot be e'&e!ic i! ori&i! there ca!!ot be a!y 0'b0ta!ce i! the co!te!tio! that /a0te i0
e'&e!ic i! ori&i!. A&ai! if /a0te i0 e'&e!ic i! ori&i! o!e ca! '!"er0ta!" the bar a&ai!0t i!ter)arria&e.
B't what i0 the p'rpo0e of the i!ter"ict place" o! i!ter"i!i!& betwee! /a0te0 a!" 0'b3/a0te0 ali*e F
I!ter"i!i!& ca!!ot i!fect bloo" a!" therefore ca!!ot be the ca'0e either of the i)pro5e)e!t or of
"eterioratio! of the race. Thi0 0how0 that /a0te ha0 !o 0cie!tific ori&i! a!" that tho0e who are
atte)pti!& to &i5e it a! e'&e!ic ba0i0 are tryi!& to 0'pport by 0cie!ce what i0 &ro00ly '!0cie!tific. #5e!
to"ay e'&e!ic0 ca!!ot beco)e a practical po00ibility '!le00 we ha5e "efi!ite *!owle"&e re&ar"i!& the
law0 of here"ity. Prof. Bate0o! i! hi0 *endel7s "rin+i0les of Heredit/ 0ay07 ; There i0 !othi!& i! the
"e0ce!t of the hi&her )e!tal <'alitie0 to 0'&&e0t that they follow a!y 0i!&le 0y0te) of tra!0)i00io!. It
i0 li*ely that both they a!" the )ore )ar*e" "e5elop)e!t0 of phy0ical power0 re0'lt rather fro) the
coi!ci"e!ce of !')ero'0 factor0 tha! fro) the po00e00io! of a!y o!e &e!etic ele)e!t.; To ar&'e that
the /a0te y0te) wa0 e'&e!ic i! it0 co!ceptio! i0 to attrib'te to the forefather0 of pre0e!t3"ay Hi!"'0 a
*!owle"&e of here"ity which e5e! the )o"er! 0cie!ti0t0 "o !ot po00e00. A tree 0ho'l" be 6'"&e" by the
fr'it0 it yiel"0. If ca0te i0 e'&e!ic what 0ort of a race of )e! it 0ho'l" ha5e pro"'ce" F Phy0ically
0pea*i!& the Hi!"'0 are a /% people. They are a race of Py&)ie0 a!" "warf0 0t'!te" i! 0tat're a!"
wa!ti!& i! 0ta)i!a. It i0 a !atio! 9L1Oth0 of which i0 "eclare" to be '!fit for )ilitary 0er5ice. Thi0
0how0 that the /a0te y0te) "oe0 !ot e)bo"y the e'&e!ic0 of )o"e) 0cie!ti0t0. It i0 a 0ocial 0y0te)
which e)bo"ie0 the arro&a!ce a!" 0elfi0h!e00 of a per5er0e 0ectio! of the Hi!"'0 who were 0'perior
e!o'&h i! 0ocial 0tat'0 to 0et it i! fa0hio! a!" who ha" a'thority to force it o! their i!ferior0.
"I
/a0te "oe0 !ot re0'lt i! eco!o)ic efficie!cy. /a0te ca!!ot a!" ha0 !ot i)pro5e" the race. /a0te ha0
howe5er "o!e o!e thi!&. It ha0 co)pletely "i0or&a!i8e" a!" "e)orali8e" the Hi!"'0.
The fir0t a!" fore)o0t thi!& that )'0t be reco&!i8e" i0 that Hi!"' ociety i0 a )yth. The !a)e
Hi!"' i0 it0elf a forei&! !a)e. It wa0 &i5e! by the Moha))e"a!0 to the !ati5e0 for the p'rpo0e of
"i0ti!&'i0hi!& the)0el5e0. It "oe0 !ot occ'r i! a!y a!0*rit wor* prior to the Moha))e"a! i!5a0io!.
They "i" !ot feel the !ece00ity of a co))o! !a)e beca'0e they ha" !o co!ceptio! of their ha5i!&
co!0tit'te" a co))'!ity. Hi!"' 0ociety a0 0'ch "oe0 !ot e,i0t. It i0 o!ly a collectio! of ca0te0. #ach
ca0te i0 co!0cio'0 of it0 e,i0te!ce. It0 0'r5i5al i0 the be all a!" e!" all of it0 e,i0te!ce. /a0te0 "o !ot
e5e! for) a fe"eratio!. A ca0te ha0 !o feeli!& that it i0 affiliate" to other ca0te0 e,cept whe! there i0 a
Hi!"'3M'0li) riot. O! all other occa0io!0 each ca0te e!"ea5o'r0 to 0e&re&ate it0elf a!" to "i0ti!&'i0h
it0elf fro) other ca0te0. #ach ca0te !ot o!ly "i!e0 a)o!& it0elf a!" )arrie0 a)o!& it0elf b't each ca0te
pre0cribe0 it0 ow! "i0ti!cti5e "re00. ?hat other e,pla!atio! ca! there be of the i!!')erable 0tyle0 of
"re00 wor! by the )e! a!" wo)e! of I!"ia which 0o a)'0e the to'ri0t0 F I!"ee" the i"eal Hi!"' )'0t
be li*e a rat li5i!& i! hi0 ow! hole ref'0i!& to ha5e a!y co!tact with other0. There i0 a! 'tter lac*
a)o!& the Hi!"'0 of what the 0ociolo&i0t0 call ; co!0cio'0!e00 of *i!" ;. There i0 !o Hi!"'
co!0cio'0!e00 of *i!". I! e5ery Hi!"' the co!0cio'0!e00 that e,i0t0 i0 the co!0cio'0!e00 of hi0 ca0te.
That i0 the rea0o! why the Hi!"'0 ca!!ot be 0ai" to for) a 0ociety or a !atio!. There are howe5er
)a!y I!"ia!0 who0e patrioti0) "oe0 !ot per)it the) to a")it that I!"ia!0 are !ot a !atio!7 that they
are o!ly a! a)orpho'0 )a00 of people. They ha5e i!0i0te" that '!"erlyi!& the appare!t "i5er0ity there
i0 a f'!"a)e!tal '!ity which )ar*0 the life of the Hi!"'0 i! a0 )'ch a0 there i0 a 0i)ilarity of habit0
a!" c'0to)07 belief0 a!" tho'&ht0 which obtai! all o5er the co!ti!e!t of I!"ia. i)ilarity i! habit0 a!"
c'0to)07 belief0 a!" tho'&ht0 there i0. B't o!e ca!!ot accept the co!cl'0io! that therefore7 the Hi!"'0
co!0tit'te a 0ociety. To "o 0o i0 to )i0'!"er0ta!" the e00e!tial0 which &o to )a*e 'p a 0ociety. Me! "o
!ot beco)e a 0ociety by li5i!& i! phy0ical pro,i)ity a!y )ore tha! a )a! cea0e0 to be a )e)ber of hi0
0ociety by li5i!& 0o )a!y )ile0 away fro) other )e!. eco!"ly 0i)ilarity i! habit0 a!" c'0to)07
belief0 a!" tho'&ht0 i0 !ot e!o'&h to co!0tit'te )e! i!to 0ociety. Thi!&0 )ay be pa00e" phy0ically fro)
o!e to a!other li*e bric*0. I! the 0a)e way habit0 a!" c'0to)07 belief0 a!" tho'&ht0 of o!e &ro'p )ay
be ta*e! o5er by a!other &ro'p a!" there )ay th'0 appear a 0i)ilarity betwee! the two. /'lt're 0prea"0
by "iff'0io! a!" that i0 why o!e fi!"0 0i)ilarity betwee! 5ario'0 pri)iti5e tribe0 i! the )atter of their
habit0 a!" c'0to)07 belief0 a!" tho'&ht07 altho'&h they "o !ot li5e i! pro,i)ity. B't !o o!e co'l" 0ay
that beca'0e there wa0 thi0 0i)ilarity the pri)iti5e tribe0 co!0tit'te" o!e 0ociety. Thi0 i0 beca'0e
0i)ilarly i! certai! thi!&0 i0 !ot e!o'&h to co!0tit'te a 0ociety. Me! co!0tit'te a 0ociety beca'0e they
ha5e thi!&0 which they po00e00 i! co))o!. To ha5e 0i)ilar thi!& i0 totally "iffere!t fro) po00e00i!&
thi!&0 i! co))o!. A!" the o!ly way by which )e! ca! co)e to po00e00 thi!&0 i! co))o! with o!e
a!other i0 by bei!& i! co))'!icatio! with o!e a!other. Thi0 i0 )erely a!other way of 0ayi!& that
ociety co!ti!'e0 to e,i0t by co))'!icatio! i!"ee" i! co))'!icatio!. To )a*e it co!crete7 it i0 !ot
e!o'&h if )e! act i! a way which a&ree0 with the act0 of other0. Parallel acti5ity7 e5e! if 0i)ilar7 i0 !ot
0'fficie!t to bi!" )e! i!to a 0ociety. Thi0 i0 pro5e" by the fact that the fe0ti5al0 ob0er5e" by the
"iffere!t /a0te0 a)o!&0t the Hi!"'0 are the 0a)e. =et the0e parallel perfor)a!ce0 of 0i)ilar fe0ti5al0
by the "iffere!t ca0te0 ha5e !ot bo'!" the) i!to o!e i!te&ral whole. Cor that p'rpo0e what i0 !ece00ary
i0 for a )a! to 0hare a!" participate i! a co))o! acti5ity 0o that the 0a)e e)otio!0 are aro'0e" i! hi)
that a!i)ate the other0. Ma*i!& the i!"i5i"'al a 0harer or part!er i! the a00ociate" acti5ity 0o that he
feel0 it0 0'cce00 a0 hi0 0'cce007 it0 fail're a0 hi0 fail're i0 the real thi!& that bi!"0 )e! a!" )a*e0 a
0ociety of the). The /a0te y0te) pre5e!t0 co))o! acti5ity a!" by pre5e!ti!& co))o! acti5ity it ha0
pre5e!te" the Hi!"'0 fro) beco)i!& a 0ociety with a '!ifie" life a!" a co!0cio'0!e00 of it0 ow! bei!&.
.II
The Hi!"'0 ofte! co)plai! of the i0olatio! a!" e,cl'0i5e!e00 of a &a!& or a cli<'e a!" bla)e the)
for a!ti30ocial 0pirit. B't they co!5e!ie!tly for&et that thi0 a!ti30ocial 0pirit i0 the wor0t feat're of their
ow! /a0te y0te). O!e ca0te e!6oy0 0i!&i!& a hy)! of hate a&ai!0t a!other ca0te a0 )'ch a0 the
Ger)a!0 "i" i! 0i!&i!& their hy)! of hate a&ai!0t the #!&li0h "'ri!& the la0t war. The literat're of the
Hi!"'0 i0 f'll of ca0te &e!ealo&ie0 i! which a! atte)pt i0 )a"e to &i5e a !oble ori&i! to o!e ca0te a!"
a! i&!oble ori&i! to other ca0te0. The -ah/adri8hand i0 a !otorio'0 i!0ta!ce of thi0 cla00 of literat're.
Thi0 a!ti30ocial 0pirit i0 !ot co!fi!e" to ca0te alo!e. It ha0 &o!e "eeper a!" ha0 poi0o!e" the )'t'al
relatio!0 of the 0'b3ca0te0 a0 well. I! )y pro5i!ce the Gola* Brah)i!07 Deor'*ha Brah)i!07 Eara"a
Brah)i!07 Pal0he Brah)i!0 a!" /hitpa5a! Brah)i!07 all clai) to be 0'b3"i5i0io!0 of the Brah)i!
/a0te. B't the a!ti30ocial 0pirit that pre5ail0 betwee! the) i0 <'ite a0 )ar*e" a!" <'ite a0 5ir'le!t a0
the a!ti30ocial 0pirit that pre5ail0 betwee! the) a!" other !o!3Brah)i! ca0te0. There i0 !othi!& 0tra!&e
i! thi0. A! a!ti30ocial 0pirit i0 fo'!" where5er o!e &ro'p ha0 ; i!tere0t0 of it0 ow! ; which 0h't it o't
fro) f'll i!teractio! with other &ro'p07 0o that it0 pre5aili!& p'rpo0e i0 protectio! of what it ha0 &ot.
Thi0 a!ti30ocial 0pirit7 thi0 0pirit of protecti!& it0 ow! i!tere0t0 i0 a0 )'ch a )ar*e" feat're of the
"iffere!t ca0te0 i! their i0olatio! fro) o!e a!other a0 it i0 of !atio!0 i! their i0olatio!. The Brah)i!I0
pri)ary co!cer! i0 to protect ; hi0 i!tere0t ; a&ai!0t tho0e of the !o!3Brah)i!0 a!" the !o!3Brah)i!I0
pri)ary co!cer! i0 to protect their i!tere0t0 a&ai!0t tho0e of the Brah)i!0. The Hi!"'07 therefore7 are
!ot )erely a! a00ort)e!t of ca0te0 b't they are 0o )a!y warri!& &ro'p0 each li5i!& for it0elf a!" for it0
0elfi0h i"eal. There i0 a!other feat're of ca0te which i0 "eplorable. The a!ce0tor0 of the pre0e!t3"ay
#!&li0h fo'&ht o! o!e 0i"e or the other i! the war0 of the Ro0e0 a!" the /ro)wellia! ?ar. B't the
"ece!"e!t0 of tho0e who fo'&ht o! the o!e 0i"e "o !ot bear a!y a!i)o0ity a!y &r'"&e a&ai!0t the
"e0ce!"e!t0 of tho0e who fo'&ht o! the other 0i"e. The fe'" i0 for&otte!. B't the pre0e!t3"ay !o!3
Brah)i!0 ca!!ot for&i5e the pre0e!t3"ay Brah)i!0 for the i!0'lt their a!ce0tor0 &a5e to hi5a6i. The
pre0e!t3"ay Eaya0tha0 will !ot for&i5e the pre0e!t3"ay Brah)i!0 for the i!fa)y ca0t 'po! their
forefather0 by the forefather0 of the latter. To what i0 thi0 "iffere!ce "'e F Ob5io'0ly to the /a0te
y0te). The e,i0te!ce of /a0te a!" /a0te /o!0cio'0!e00 ha0 0er5e" to *eep the )e)ory of pa0t fe'"0
betwee! ca0te0 &ree! a!" ha0 pre5e!te" 0oli"arity.
.III
The rece!t "i0c'00io! abo't the e,cl'"e" a!" partially i!cl'"e" area0 ha0 0er5e" to "raw atte!tio! to
the po0itio! of what are calle" the abori&i!al tribe0 i! I!"ia. They !')ber abo't 1% )illio!0 if !ot
)ore. Apart fro) the <'e0tio!0 whether their e,cl'0io! fro) the !ew /o!0tit'tio! i0 proper or
i)proper7 the fact 0till re)ai!0 that the0e abori&i!e0 ha5e re)ai!e" i! their pri)iti5e '!ci5ili8e" tate
i! a la!" which boa0t0 of a ci5ili8atio! tho'0a!"0 of year0 ol". Not o!ly are they !ot ci5ili8e" b't 0o)e
of the) follow p'r0'it0 which ha5e le" to their bei!& cla00ifie" a0 cri)i!al0. Thirtee! )illio!0 of
people li5i!& i! the )i"0t of ci5ili8atio! are 0till i! a 0a5a&e 0tate a!" are lea"i!& the life of here"itary
cri)i!al0K K B't the Hi!"'0 ha5e !e5er felt a0ha)e" of it. Thi0 i0 a phe!o)e!o! which i! )y 5iew i0
<'ite '!parallele". ?hat i0 the ca'0e of thi0 0ha)ef'l 0tate of affair0 F ?hy ha0 !o atte)pt bee! )a"e
to ci5ili8e the0e abori&i!e0 a!" to lea" the) to ta*e to a )ore ho!o'rable way of )a*i!& a li5i!& F The
Hi!"'0 will probably 0ee* to acco'!t for thi0 0a5a&e 0tate of the abori&i!e0 by attrib'ti!& to the)
co!&e!ital 0t'pi"ity. They will probably !ot a")it that the abori&i!e0 ha5e re)ai!e" 0a5a&e0 beca'0e
they ha" )a"e !o effort to ci5ili8e the)7 to &i5e the) )e"ical ai"7 to refor) the)7 to )a*e the) &oo"
citi8e!0. B't 0'ppo0i!& a Hi!"' wi0he" to "o what the /hri0tia! )i00io!ary i0 "oi!& for the0e
abori&i!e07 co'l" he ha5e "o!e it F I 0'b)it !ot. /i5ili8i!& the abori&i!e0 )ea!0 a"opti!& the) a0 yo'r
ow!7 li5i!& i! their )i"0t7 a!" c'lti5ati!& fellow3feeli!&7 i! 0hort lo5i!& the). How i0 it po00ible for a
Hi!"' to "o thi0 F Hi0 whole life i0 o!e a!,io'0 effort to pre0er5e hi0 ca0te. /a0te i0 hi0 precio'0
po00e00io! which he )'0t 0a5e at a!y co0t. He ca!!ot co!0e!t to lo0e it by e0tabli0hi!& co!tact with the
abori&i!e0 the re)!a!t0 of the hatef'l A!ary a0 of the .edi+ "ay0. Not that a Hi!"' co'l" !ot be ta'&ht
the 0e!0e of "'ty to falle! h')a!ity7 b't the tro'ble i0 that !o a)o'!t of 0e!0e of "'ty ca! e!able hi)
to o5erco)e hi0 "'ty to pre0er5e hi0 ca0te. /a0te i07 therefore7 the real e,pla!atio! a0 to why the Hi!"'
ha0 let the 0a5a&e re)ai! a 0a5a&e i! the )i"0t of hi0 ci5ili8atio! witho't bl'0hi!& or witho't feeli!&
a!y 0e!0e of re)or0e or repe!ta!ce. The Hi!"' ha0 !ot reali8e" that the0e abori&i!e0 are a 0o'rce of
pote!tial "a!&er. If the0e 0a5a&e0 re)ai! 0a5a&e0 they )ay !ot "o a!y har) to the Hi!"'0. B't if they
are reclai)e" by !o!3Hi!"'0 a!" co!5erte" to their faith0 they will 0well the ra!*0 of the e!e)ie0 of
the Hi!"'0. If thi0 happe!0 the Hi!"' will ha5e to tha!* hi)0elf a!" hi0 /a0te y0te).
I@
Not o!ly ha0 the Hi!"' )a"e !o effort for the h')a!itaria! ca'0e of ci5ili8i!& the 0a5a&e0 b't the
hi&her3ca0te Hi!"'0 ha5e "eliberately pre5e!te" the lower ca0te0 who are withi! the pale of Hi!"'i0)
fro) ri0i!& to the c'lt'ral le5el of the hi&her ca0te0. 1. will &i5e two i!0ta!ce07 o!e of the o!ar0 a!"
the other of the Pathare Prabh'0. Both are co))'!itie0 <'ite well3*!ow! i! Mahara0htra. 4i*e the re0t
of the co))'!itie0 "e0iri!& to rai0e their 0tat'0 the0e two co))'!itie0 were at o!e ti)e e!"ea5o'ri!&
to a"opt 0o)e of the way0 a!" habit0 of the Brah)i!0. The o!ar0 were 0tyli!& the)0el5e0 Dai5a"!ya
Brah)i!0 a!" were weari!& their ; "hoti0 ; with fol"0 o! a!" '0i!& the wor" na#as8ar for 0al'tatio!.
Both7 the fol"e" way of weari!& the ; "hoti ; a!" the na#as8ar were 0pecial to the Brah)i!0. The
Brah)i!0 "i" !ot li*e thi0 i)itatio! a!" thi0 atte)pt by o!ar0 to pa00 off a0 Brah)i!0. U!"er the
a'thority of the Pe0hwa0 the Brah)i!0 0'cce00f'lly p't "ow! thi0 atte)pt o! the part. of the o!ar0 to
a"opt the way0 of the Brah)i!0. They e5e! &ot the Pre0i"e!t of the /o'!cil0 of the #a0t I!"ia
/o)pa!yI0 0ettle)e!t i! Bo)bay to i00'e a. prohibitory or"er a&ai!0t the o!ar0 re0i"i!& i! Bo)bay.
At o!e ti)e the Pathare Prabh'0 ha" wi"ow3re)arria&e a0 a c'0to) of their ca0te. Thi0 c'0to) of
wi"ow3re)arria&e wa0 later o! loo*e" 'po! a0 a)ar* of 0ocial i!feriority by 0o)e )e)ber0 of the
ca0te e0pecially beca'0e it wa0 co!trary to the c'0to) pre5ale!t a)o!& the Brah)i!0. ?ith the ob6ect
of rai0i!& the 0tat'0 of their co))'!ity 0o)e Pathare Prabh'0 0o'&ht to 0top thi0 practice of wi"ow3
re)arria&e that wa0 pre5ale!t i! their ca0te. The co))'!ity wa0 "i5i"e" i!to two ca)p07 o!e for a!"
the other a&ai!0t the i!!o5atio!. The Pe0hwa0 too* the 0i"e of tho0e i! fa5o'r of wi"ow3re)arria&e a!"
th'0 5irt'ally prohibite" the Pathare Prabh'0 fro) followi!& the way0 of the Brah)i!0. The Hi!"'0
critici0e the Moha))e"a!0 for ha5i!& 0prea" their reli&io! by the '0e of the 0wor". They al0o ri"ic'le
/hri0tia!ity o! the 0core of the i!<'i0itio!. B't really 0pea*i!& who i0 better a!" )ore worthy of o'r
re0pectthe Moha))e"a!0 a!" /hri0tia!0 who atte)pte" to thr'0t "ow! the throat0 of '!willi!&
per0o!0 what they re&ar"e" a0 !ece00ary for their 0al5atio! or the Hi!"' who wo'l" !ot 0prea" the
li&ht7 who wo'l" e!"ea5o'r to *eep other0 i! "ar*!e007 who wo'l" !ot co!0e!t to 0hare hi0 i!tellect'al
a!" 0ocial i!herita!ce with tho0e who are rea"y a!" willi!& to )a*e it a part of their ow! )a*e3'p F I
ha5e !o he0itatio! i! 0ayi!& that if the Moha))e"a! ha0 bee! cr'el the Hi!"' ha0 bee! )ea! a!"
)ea!!e00 i0 wor0e tha! cr'elty.
@
?hether the Hi!"' reli&io! wa0 or wa0 !ot a )i00io!ary reli&io! ha0 bee! a co!tro5er0ial i00'e.
o)e hol" the 5iew that it wa0 !e5er a )i00io!ary reli&io!. Other0 hol" that it wa0. That the Hi!"'
reli&io! wa0 o!ce a )i00io!ary reli&io! )'0t be a")itte". It co'l" !ot ha5e 0prea" o5er the face of
I!"ia7 if it wa0 !ot a )i00io!ary reli&io!. That to"ay it i0 !ot a )i00io!ary reli&io! i0 al0o a fact which
)'0t be accepte". The <'e0tio! therefore i0 !ot whether or !ot the Hi!"' reli&io! wa0 a )i00io!ary
reli&io!. The real <'e0tio! i0 why "i" the Hi!"' reli&io! cea0e to be a )i00io!ary reli&io! F My a!0wer
i0 thi0. Hi!"' reli&io! cea0e" to be a )i00io!ary reli&io! whe! the /a0te y0te) &rew 'p a)o!& the
Hi!"'0. /a0te i0 i!co!0i0te!t with co!5er0io!. I!c'lcatio! of belief0 a!" "o&)a0 i0 !ot the o!ly
proble) that i0 i!5ol5e" i! co!5er0io!. To fi!" a place for the co!5ert i! the 0ocial life of the
co))'!ity i0 a!other a!" a )'ch )ore i)porta!t proble) that ari0e0 i! co!!ectio! with co!5er0io!.
That proble) i0 where to place the co!5ert7 i! what ca0te F It i0 a proble) which )'0t baffle e5ery
Hi!"' wi0hi!& to )a*e alie!0 co!5ert0 to hi0 reli&io!. U!li*e the cl'b the )e)ber0hip of a ca0te i0 !ot
ope! to all a!" 0'!"ry. The law of ca0te co!fi!e0 it0 )e)ber0hip to per0o! bor! i! the ca0te. /a0te0 are
a'to!o)o'0 a!" there i0 !o a'thority a!ywhere to co)pel a ca0te to a")it a !ew3co)er to it0 0ocial
life. Hi!"' ociety bei!& a collectio! of ca0te0 a!" each ca0te bei!& a clo0e corporatio! there i0 !o
place for a co!5ert. Th'0 it i0 the ca0te which ha0 pre5e!te" the Hi!"'0 fro) e,pa!"i!& a!" fro)
ab0orbi!& other reli&io'0 co))'!itie0. o lo!& a0 ca0te re)ai!7 Hi!"' reli&io! ca!!ot be )a"e a
)i00io!ary reli&io! a!" -hudhi will be both a folly a!" a f'tility.
@I
The rea0o!0 which ha5e )a"e -hudhi i)po00ible for Hi!"'0 are al0o re0po!0ible for )a*i!&
-anghatan i)po00ible. The i"ea '!"erlyi!& -anghalan i0 to re)o5e fro) the )i!" of the Hi!"' that
ti)i"ity a!" cowar"ice which 0o pai!f'lly )a*e hi) off fro) the Moha))e"a! a!" the i*h a!"
which ha5e le" hi) to a"opt the low way0 of treachery a!" c'!!i!& for protecti!& hi)0elf. The
<'e0tio! !at'rally ari0e0 - Cro) where "oe0 the i*h or the Moha))e"a! "eri5e hi0 0tre!&th which
)a*e0 hi) bra5e a!" fearle00 F I a) 0're it i0 !ot "'e to relati5e 0'periority of phy0ical 0tre!&th7 "iet or
"rill. It i0 "'e to the 0tre!&th ari0i!& o't of the feeli!& that all i*h0 will co)e to the re0c'e of a i*h
whe! he i0 i! "a!&er a!" that all Moha))e"a!0 will r'0h to 0a5e a M'0li) if he i0 attac*e". The
Hi!"' ca! "eri5e !o 0'ch 0tre!&th. He ca!!ot feel a00're" that hi0 fellow0 will co)e to hi0 help. Bei!&
o!e a!" fate" to be alo!e he re)ai!0 powerle007 "e5elop0 ti)i"ity a!" cowar"ice a!" i! a fi&ht
0'rre!"er0 or r'!0 away. The i*h a0 well a0 the M'0li) 0ta!"0 fearle00 a!" &i5e0 battle beca'0e he
*!ow0 that tho'&h o!e he will !ot be alo!e. The pre0e!ce of thi0 belief i! the o!e help0 hi) to hol" o't
a!" the ab0e!ce of it i! the other )a*e0 hi) to &i5e way. If yo' p'r0'e thi0 )atter f'rther a!" a0* what
i0 it that e!able0 the i*h a!" the Moha))e"a! to feel 0o a00're" a!" why i0 the Hi!"' fille" with
0'ch "e0pair i! the )atter of help a!" a00i0ta!ce yo' will fi!" that the rea0o!0 for thi0 "iffere!ce lie i!
the "iffere!ce i! their a00ociate" )o"e of li5i!&. The a00ociate" )o"e of life practi0e" by the i*h0 a!"
the Moha))e"a!0 pro"'ce0 fellow3feeli!&. The a00ociate" )o"e of life of the Hi!"'0 "oe0 !ot.
A)o!& i*h0 a!" M'0li)0 there i0 a 0ocial ce)e!t which )a*e0 the) 9hais, A)o!& Hi!"'0 there i0
!o 0'ch ce)e!t a!" o!e Hi!"' "oe0 !ot re&ar" a!other Hi!"' a0 hi0 9hai, Thi0 e,plai!0 why a i*h
0ay0 a!" feel0 that o!e i*h7 or o!e Ehal0a i0 e<'al to -a!a La8h )e!. Thi0 e,plai!0 why o!e
Moha))e"a! i0 e<'al to a crow" of Hi!"'0. Thi0 "iffere!ce i0 '!"o'bte"ly a "iffere!ce "'e to ca0te.
o lo!& a0 ca0te re)ai!07 there will be !o -anghalan a!" 0o lo!& a0 there i0 !o -anghatan the Hi!"'
will re)ai! wea* a!" )ee*. The Hi!"'0 clai) to be a 5ery tolera!t people. I! )y opi!io! thi0 i0 a
)i0ta*e. O! )a!y occa0io!0 they ca! be i!tolera!t a!" if o! 0o)e occa0io!0 they are tolera!t that i0
beca'0e they are too wea* to oppo0e or too i!"iffere!t to oppo0e. Thi0 i!"iffere!ce of the Hi!"'0 ha0
beco)e 0o )'ch a part of their !at're that a Hi!"' will <'ite )ee*ly tolerate a! i!0'lt a0 well a0 a
wro!&. =o' 0ee a)o!&0t the)7 to '0e the wor"0 of Morri07 ; The great reading down the little) the
strong beating down the wea8) +ruel #en fearing not) 8ind #en daring not and wise #en +aring not,"
?ith the Hi!"' Go"0 all forbeari!&7 it i0 !ot "iffic'lt to i)a&i!e the pitiable co!"itio! of the wro!&e"
a!" the oppre00e" a)o!& the Hi!"'0. I!"iffere!ti0) i0 the wor0t *i!" of "i0ea0e that ca! i!fect a
people. ?hy i0 the Hi!"' 0o i!"iffere!tF I! )y opi!io! thi0 i!"iffere!ti0) i0 the re0'lt of /a0te y0te)
which ha0 )a"e -anghatan a!" co3operatio! e5e! for a &oo" ca'0e i)po00ible.
@II
The a00ertio! by the i!"i5i"'al of hi0 ow! opi!io!0 a!" belief07 hi0 ow! i!"epe!"e!ce a!" i!tere0t a0
o5er a&ai!0t &ro'p 0ta!"ar"07 &ro'p a'thority a!" &ro'p i!tere0t0 i0 the be&i!!i!& of all refor). B't
whether the refor) will co!ti!'e "epe!"0 'po! what 0cope the &ro'p affor"0 for 0'ch i!"i5i"'al
a00ertio!. If the &ro'p i0 tolera!t a!" fair3)i!"e" i! "eali!& with 0'ch i!"i5i"'al0 they will co!ti!'e to
a00ert a!" i! the e!" 0'ccee" i! co!5erti!& their fellow0. O! the other ha!" if the &ro'p i0 i!tolera!t
a!" "oe0 !ot bother abo't the )ea!0 it a"opt0 to 0tifle 0'ch i!"i5i"'al0 they will peri0h a!" the refor)
will "ie o't. Now a ca0te ha0 a! '!<'e0tio!e" ri&ht to e,co))'!icate a!y )a! who i0 &'ilty of
brea*i!& the r'le0 of the ca0te a!" whe! it i0 reali8e" that e,co))'!icatio! i!5ol5e0 a co)plete ce00er
of 0ocial i!terco'r0e it will be a&ree" that a0 a for) of p'!i0h)e!t there i0 really little to choo0e
betwee! e,co))'!icatio! a!" "eath. No wo!"er i!"i5i"'al Hi!"'0 ha5e !ot ha" the co'ra&e to a00ert
their i!"epe!"e!ce by brea*i!& the barrier0 of ca0te. It i0 tr'e that )a! ca!!ot &et o! with hi0 fellow0.
B't it i0 al0o tr'e that he ca!!ot "o witho't the). He wo'l" li*e to ha5e the 0ociety of hi0 fellow0 o!
hi0 ter)0. If be ca!!ot &et it o! hi0 ter)0 the! he will be rea"y to ha5e it o! a!y ter)0 e5e! a)o'!ti!&
to co)plete 0'rre!"er. Thi0 i0 beca'0e he ca!!ot "o witho't 0ociety. A ca0te i0 e5er rea"y to ta*e
a"5a!ta&e of the helple00!e00 of a )a! a!" i!0i0t 'po! co)plete co!for)ity to it0 co"e i! letter a!" i!
0pirit. A ca0te ca! ea0ily or&a!i8e it0elf i!to a co!0piracy to )a*e the life of a refor)er a hell a!" if a
co!0piracy i0 a cri)e I "o !ot '!"er0ta!" why 0'ch a !efario'0 act a0 a! atte)pt to e,co))'!icate a
per0o! for "ari!& to act co!trary to the r'le0 of ca0te 0ho'l" !ot be )a"e a! offe!ce p'!i0hable i! law.
B't a0 it i07 e5e! law &i5e0 each ca0te a! a'to!o)y to re&'late it0 )e)ber0hip a!" p'!i0h "i00e!ter0
with e,co))'!icatio!. /a0te i! the ha!"0 of the ortho"o, ha0 bee! a powerf'l weapo! for per0ec'ti!&
the refor)0 a!" for *illi!& all refor).
@III
The effect of ca0te o! the ethic0 of the Hi!"'0 i0 0i)ply "eplorable. /a0te ha0 *ille" p'blic 0pirit.
/a0te ha0 "e0troye" the 0e!0e of p'blic charity. /a0te ha0 )a"e p'blic opi!io! i)po00ible. A Hi!"'I0
p'blic i0 hi0 ca0te. Hi0 re0po!0ibility i0 o!ly to hi0 ca0te. Hi0 loyalty i0 re0tricte" o!ly to hi0 ca0te.
.irt'e ha0 beco)e ca0te3ri""e! a!" )orality ha0 beco)e7 ca0te3bo'!". There i0 !o 0y)pathy to the
"e0er5i!&. There i0 !o appreciatio! of the )eritorio'0. There i0 !o charity to the !ee"y. 'fferi!& a0
0'ch call0 for !o re0po!0e. There i0 charity b't it be&i!0 with the ca0te a!" e!"0 with the ca0te. There is
0y)pathy b't !ot for )e! of other ca0te. ?o'l" a Hi!"' ac*!owle"&e a!" follow the lea"er0hip of a
&reat a!" &oo" )a!F The ca0e of a Mahat)a apart7 the a!0wer )'0t be that he will follow a lea"er if he
i0 a )a! of hi0 ca0te. A Brah)i! will follow a lea"er o!ly if he i0 a Brah)i!7 a Eaya0tha if he i0 a
Eaya0tha a!" 0o o!. The capacity to appreciate )erit0 i! a )a! apart fro) hi0 ca0te "oe0 !ot e,i0t i! a
Hi!"'. There i0 appreciatio! of 5irt'e b't o!ly whe! the )a! i0 a fellow ca0te3)a!. The whole
)orality i0 a0 ba" a0 tribal )orality. My ca0te3)a!7 ri&ht or wro!&G )y ca0te3)a!7 &oo" or ba". It i0 !ot
a ca0e of 0ta!"i!& by 5irt'e a!" !ot 0ta!"i!& by 5ice. It i0 a ca0e of 0ta!"i!& or !ot 0ta!"i!& by the
ca0te. Ha5e !ot Hi!"'0 co))itte" trea0o! a&ai!0t their co'!try i! the i!tere0t0 of their ca0teF
@I.
I wo'l" !ot be 0'rpri0e" if 0o)e of yo' ha5e &row! weary li0te!i!& to thi0 tire0o)e tale of the 0a"
effect0 which ca0te ha0 pro"'ce". There i0 !othi!& !ew i! it. I will therefore t'r! to the co!0tr'cti5e
0i"e of the proble). ?hat i0 yo'r i"eal 0ociety if yo' "o !ot wa!t ca0te i0 a <'e0tio! that i0 bo'!" to be
a0*e" of yo'. If yo' a0* )e7 )y i"eal wo'l" be a 0ociety ba0e" o! Libert/) 4ualit/ a!" 6raternit/,
A!" why !ot F ?hat ob6ectio! ca! there be to Crater!ity F I ca!!ot i)a&i!e a!y. A! i"eal 0ociety
0ho'l" be )obile7 0ho'l" be f'll of cha!!el0 for co!5eyi!& a cha!&e ta*i!& place i! o!e part to other
part0. I! a! i"eal 0ociety there 0ho'l" be )a!y i!tere0t0 co!0cio'0ly co))'!icate" a!" 0hare". There
0ho'l" be 5arie" a!" free poi!t0 of co!tact with other )o"e0 of a00ociatio!. I! other wor"0 there )'0t
be 0ocial e!"o0)o0i0. Thi0 i0 frater!ity7 which i0 o!ly a!other !a)e for "e)ocracy. De)ocracy i0 !ot
)erely a for) of Go5er!)e!t. It i0 pri)arily a )o"e of a00ociate" li5i!&7 of co!6oi!t co))'!icate"
e,perie!ce. It i0 e00e!tially a! attit'"e of re0pect a!" re5ere!ce towar"0 fellow)e!. A!y ob6ectio! to
4iberty F Cew ob6ect to liberty i! the 0e!0e of a ri&ht to free )o5e)e!t7 i! the 0e!0e of a ri&ht to life
a!" li)b. There i0 !o ob6ectio! to liberty i! the 0e!0e of a ri&ht to property7 tool0 a!" )aterial0 a0 bei!&
!ece00ary for ear!i!& a li5i!& to *eep the bo"y i! "'e 0tate of health. ?hy !ot allow liberty to be!efit
by a! effecti5e a!" co)pete!t '0e of a per0o!I0 power0 F The 0'pporter0 of ca0te who wo'l" allow
liberty i! the 0e!0e of a ri&ht to life7 li)b a!" property7 wo'l" !ot rea"ily co!0e!t to liberty i! thi0
0e!0e7 i!a0)'ch a0 it i!5ol5e0 liberty to choo0e o!eI0 profe00io!. B't to ob6ect to thi0 *i!" of liberty i0
to perpet'ate 0la5ery. Cor 0la5ery "oe0 !ot )erely )ea! a le&ali8e" for) of 0'b6ectio!. It )ea!0 a 0tate
of 0ociety i! which 0o)e )e! are force" to accept fro) other the p'rpo0e0 which co!trol their co!"'ct.
Thi0 co!"itio! obtai!0 e5e! where there i0 !o 0la5ery i! the le&al 0e!0e. It i0 fo'!" where7 a0 i! the
/a0te y0te)7 0o)e per0o!0 are co)pelle" to carry o! certai! pre0cribe" calli!&0 which are !ot of their
choice. A!y ob6ectio! to e<'ality F Thi0 ha0 ob5io'0ly bee! the )o0t co!te!tio'0 part of the 0lo&a! of
the Cre!ch Re5ol'tio!. The ob6ectio!0 to e<'ality )ay be 0o'!" a!" o!e )ay ha5e to a")it that all
)e! are !ot e<'al. B't what of that F #<'ality )ay be a fictio! b't !o!ethele00 o!e )'0t accept it a0
the &o5er!i!& pri!ciple. A. )a!I0 power i0 "epe!"e!t 'po! A1B phy0ical here"ity7 A$B 0ocial i!herita!ce
or e!"ow)e!t i! the for) of pare!tal care7 e"'catio!7 acc')'latio! of 0cie!tific *!owle"&e7
e5erythi!& which e!able0 hi) to be )ore efficie!t tha! the 0a5a&e7 a!" fi!ally7 A%B o! hi0 ow! effort0.
I! all the0e three re0pect0 )e! are '!"o'bte"ly '!e<'al. B't the <'e0tio! i07 0hall we treat the) a0
'!e<'al beca'0e they are '!e<'al F Thi0 i0 a <'e0tio! which the oppo!e!t0 of e<'ality )'0t a!0wer.
Cro) the 0ta!"poi!t of the i!"i5i"'ali0t it )ay be 6'0t to treat )e! '!e<'ally 0o far a0 their effort0 are
'!e<'al. It )ay be "e0irable to &i5e a0 )'ch i!ce!ti5e a0 po00ible to the f'll "e5elop)e!t of e5ery
o!eI0 power0. B't what wo'l" happe! if )e! were treate" '!e<'ally a0 they are7 i! the fir0t two
re0pect0 F It i0 ob5io'0 that tho0e i!"i5i"'al0 al0o i! who0e fa5o'r there i0 birth7 e"'catio!7 fa)ily
!a)e7 b'0i!e00 co!!ectio!0 a!" i!herite" wealth wo'l" be 0electe" i! the race. B't 0electio! '!"er
0'ch circ')0ta!ce0 wo'l" !ot be a 0electio! of the able. It wo'l" be the 0electio! of the pri5ile&e". The
rea0o! therefore7 which force0 that i! the thir" re0pect we 0ho'l" treat )e! '!e<'ally "e)a!"0 that i!
the fir0t two re0pect0 we 0ho'l" treat )e! a0 e<'ally a0 po00ible. O! the other ha!" it ca! be 'r&e" that
if it i0 &oo" for the 0ocial bo"y to &et the )o0t o't of it0 )e)ber07 it ca! &et )o0t o't of the) o!ly by
)a*i!& the) e<'al a0 far a0 po00ible at the 5ery 0tart of the race. That i0 o!e rea0o! why we ca!!ot
e0cape e<'ality. B't there i0 a!other rea0o! why we )'0t accept e<'ality. A tate0)a! i0 co!cer!e"
with 5a0t !')ber0 of people. He ha0 !either the ti)e !or the *!owle"&e to "raw fi!e "i0ti!ctio!0 a!" to
treat each e<'itably i,e, accor"i!& to !ee" or accor"i!& to capacity. Howe5er "e0irable or rea0o!able a!
e<'itable treat)e!t of )e! )ay be7 h')a!ity i0 !ot capable of a00ort)e!t a!" cla00ificatio!. The
0tate0)a!7 therefore7 )'0t follow 0o)e ro'&h a!" rea"y r'le a!" that ro'&h a!" rea"y r'le i0 to treat all
)e! ali*e !ot beca'0e they are ali*e b't beca'0e cla00ificatio! a!" a00ort)e!t i0 i)po00ible. The
"octri!e of e<'ality i0 &lari!&ly fallacio'0 b't ta*i!& all i! all it i0 the o!ly way a 0tate0)a! ca!
procee" i! politic0 which i0 a 0e5erely practical affair a!" which "e)a!"0 a 0e5erely practical te0t.
@.
B't there i0 a 0et of refor)er0 who hol" o't a "iffere!t i"eal. They &o by the !a)e of the Arya
a)a6i0t0 a!" their i"eal of 0ocial or&a!i8atio! i0 what i0 calle" /hat'r5ar!ya or the "i5i0io! of 0ociety
i!to fo'r cla00e0 i!0tea" of the fo'r tho'0a!" ca0te0 that we ha5e i! I!"ia. To )a*e it )ore attracti5e
a!" to "i0ar) oppo0itio! the prota&o!i0t0 of /hat'r5ar!ya ta*e &reat care to poi!t o't that their
/hat'r5ar!ya i0 ba0e" !ot o! birth b't o! guna AworthB. At the o't0et7 I )'0t co!fe00 that
!otwith0ta!"i!& the worth3ba0i0 of thi0 /hat'r5ar!ya7 it i0 a! i"eal to which I ca!!ot reco!cile )y0elf.
I! the fir0t place7 if '!"er the /hat'r5ar!ya of the Arya a)a6i0t0 a! i!"i5i"'al i0 to ta*e hi0 place i!
the Hi!"' ociety accor"i!& to hi0 worth. I "o !ot '!"er0ta!" why the Arya a)a6i0t0 i!0i0t 'po!
labelli!& )e! a0 Brah)i!7 E0hatriya7 .ai0hya a!" h'"ra. A lear!e" )a! wo'l" be ho!o're" witho't
hi0 bei!& labelle" a Brah)i!. A 0ol"ier wo'l" be re0pecte" witho't hi0 bei!& "e0i&!ate" a E0hatriya. If
#'ropea! 0ociety ho!o'r0 it0 0ol"ier0 a!" it0 0er5a!t0 witho't &i5i!& the) per)a!e!t label07 why
0ho'l" Hi!"' ociety fi!" it "iffic'lt to "o 0o i0 a <'e0tio!7 which Arya a)a6i0t0 ha5e !ot care" to
co!0i"er. There i0 a!other ob6ectio! to the co!ti!'a!ce of the0e label0. All refor) co!0i0t0 i! a cha!&e
i! the !otio!07 0e!ti)e!t a!" )e!tal attit'"e0 of the people towar"0 )e! a!" thi!&0. It i0 co))o!
e,perie!ce that certai! !a)e0 beco)e a00ociate" with certai! !otio!0 a!" 0e!ti)e!t07 which "eter)i!e
a per0o!I0 attit'"e towar"0 )e! a!" thi!&0. The !a)e07 Brah)i!7 E0hatriya7 .ai0hya a!" h'"ra7 are
!a)e0 which are a00ociate" with a "efi!ite a!" fi,e" !otio! i! the )i!" of e5ery Hi!"'. That !otio! i0
that of a hierarchy ba0e" o! birth. o lo!& a0 the0e !a)e0 co!ti!'e7 Hi!"'0 will co!ti!'e to thi!* of
the Brah)i!7 E0hatriya7 .ai0hya a!" h'"ra a0 hierarchical "i5i0io!0 of hi&h a!" low7 ba0e" o! birth7
a!" act accor"i!&ly. The Hi!"' )'0t be )a"e to '!lear! all thi0. B't how ca! thi0 happe! if the ol"
label0 re)ai! a!" co!ti!'e to recall to hi0 )i!" ol" !otio!0. If !ew !otio!0 are to be i!c'lcate" i! the
)i!"0 of people it i0 !ece00ary to &i5e the) !ew !a)e0. To co!ti!'e the ol" !a)e i0 to )a*e the
refor) f'tile. To allow thi0 /hat'r5ar!ya7 ba0e" o! worth to be "e0i&!ate" by 0'ch 0ti!*i!& label0 of
Brah)i!7 E0hatriya7 .ai0hya7 h'"ra7 i!"icati5e of 0ocial "i5i0io!0 ba0e" o! birth7 i0 a 0!are.
@.I
To )e thi0 /hat'r5ar!ya with it0 ol" label0 i0 'tterly repelle!t a!" )y whole bei!& rebel0 a&ai!0t it.
B't I "o !ot wi0h to re0t )y ob6ectio! to /hat'r5ar!ya o! )ere &ro'!"0 of 0e!ti)e!t0. There are )ore
0oli" &ro'!"0 o! which I rely for )y oppo0itio! to it. A clo0e e,a)i!atio! of thi0 i"eal ha0 co!5i!ce"
)e that a0 a 0y0te) of 0ocial or&a!i8atio!7 /hat'r5ar!ya i0 i)practicable7 har)f'l a!" ha0 t'r!e" o't to
be a )i0erable fail're. Cro) a practical poi!t of 5iew7 the 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya rai0e0 0e5eral
"iffic'ltie0 which it0 prota&o!i0t0 "o !ot 0ee) to ha5e ta*e! i!to acco'!t. The pri!ciple '!"erlyi!&
ca0te i0 f'!"a)e!tally "iffere!t fro) the pri!ciple '!"erlyi!& .arna, Not o!ly are they f'!"a)e!tally
"iffere!t b't they are al0o f'!"a)e!tally oppo0e". The for)er i0 ba0e" o! worth . How are yo' &oi!&
to co)pel people who ha5e ac<'ire" a hi&her 0tat'0 ba0e" o! birth witho't refere!ce to their worth to
5acate that 0tat'0 F How are yo' &oi!& to co)pel people to reco&!i8e the 0tat'0 "'e to a )a! i!
accor"a!ce with hi0 worth7 who i0 occ'pyi!& a lower 0tat'0 ba0e" o! hi0 birth F Cor thi0 yo' )'0t fir0t
brea* 'p the ca0te y0te)7 i! or"er to be able to e0tabli0h the .arna 0y0te). How are yo' &oi!& to
re"'ce the fo'r tho'0a!" ca0te07 ba0e" oil birth7 to the fo'r .arnas) ba0e" o! worth F Thi0 i0 the fir0t
"iffic'lty which the prota&o!i0t0 of the /hat'r5ar!ya )'0t &rapple with. There i0 a 0eco!" "iffic'lty
which the prota&o!i0t0 of /hat'r5ar!ya )'0t &rapple with7 if they wi0h to )a*e the e0tabli0h)e!t of
/hat'r5ar!ya a 0'cce00.
/hat'r5ar!ya pre30'ppo0e0 that yo' ca! cla00ify people i!to fo'r "efi!ite cla00e0. I0 thi0 po00ible F I!
thi0 re0pect7 the i"eal of /hat'r5ar!ya ha07 a0 yo' will 0ee7 a clo0e affi!ity to the Plato!ic i"eal. To
Plato7 )e! fell by !at're i!to three cla00e0. I! 0o)e i!"i5i"'al07 he belie5e" )ere appetite0 "o)i!ate".
He a00i&!e" the) to the labo'ri!& a!" tra"i!& cla00e0. Other0 re5eale" to hi) that o5er a!" abo5e
appetite07 they ha5e a co'ra&eo'0 "i0po0itio!. He cla00e" the) a0 "efe!"er0 i! war a!" &'ar"ia!0 of
i!ter!al peace. Other0 0howe" a capacity to &ra0p the '!i5er0al rea0o! '!"erlyi!& thi!&0. He )a"e
the) the law3&i5er0 of the people. The critici0) to which PlatoI0 Rep'blic i0 0'b6ect7 i0 al0o the
critici0) which )'0t apply to the 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya7 i! 0o far a0 it procee"0 'po! the po00ibility
of a! acc'rate cla00ificatio! of )e! i!to fo'r "i0ti!ct cla00e0. The chief critici0) a&ai!0t Plato i0 that
hi0 i"ea of l')pi!& of i!"i5i"'al0 i!to a few 0harply )ar*e"3off cla00e0 i0 a 5ery 0'perficial 5iew of
)a! a!" hi0 power0. Plato ha" !o perceptio! of the '!i<'e!e00 of e5ery i!"i5i"'al7 of hi0
i!co))e!0'rability with other07 of each i!"i5i"'al for)i!& a cla00 of hi0 ow!. He ha" !o reco&!itio!
of the i!fi!ite "i5er0ity of acti5e te!"e!cie0 a!" co)bi!atio! of te!"e!cie0 of which a! i!"i5i"'al i0
capable. To hi)7 there were type0 of fac'ltie0 or power0 i! the i!"i5i"'al co!0tit'tio!. All thi0 i0
"e)o!0trably wro!&. Mo"e) 0cie!ce ha0 0how! that l')pi!& to&ether of i!"i5i"'al0 i!to a few
0harply )ar*e"3off cla00e0 i0 a 0'perficial 5iew of )a! !ot worthy of 0erio'0 co!0i"eratio!.
/o!0e<'e!tly7 the 'tili8atio! of the <'alitie0 of i!"i5i"'al0 i0 i!co)patible with their 0tratificatio! by
cla00e07 0i!ce the <'alitie0 of i!"i5i"'al0 are 0o 5ariable. /hat'r5ar!ya )'0t fail for the 5ery rea0o! for
which PlatoI0 Rep'blic )'0t fail7 !a)ely that it i0 !ot po00ible to pi&eo! )e! i!to hole07 accor"i!& a0
he belo!&0 to o!e cla00 or the other. That it i0 i)po00ible to acc'rately cla00ify people i!to fo'r "efi!ite
cla00e0 i0 pro5e" by the fact that the ori&i!al fo'r cla00e0 ha5e !ow beco)e fo'r tho'0a!" ca0te0.
There i0 a thir" "iffic'lty i! the way of the e0tabli0h)e!t of the 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya. How are
yo' &oi!& to )ai!tai! the 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya7 0'ppo0i!& it wa0 e0tabli0he" F O!e i)porta!t
re<'ire)e!t for the 0'cce00f'l wor*i!& of /hat'r5ar!ya i0 the )ai!te!a!ce of the pe!al 0y0te) which
co'l" )ai!tai! it by it0 0a!ctio!. The 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya )'0t perpet'ally face the proble) of the
tra!0&re00or. U!le00 there i0 a pe!alty attache" to the act of tra!0&re00io!7 )e! will !ot *eep to their
re0pecti5e cla00e0. The whole 0y0te) will brea* "ow!7 bei!& co!trary to h')a! !at're. /hat'r5ar!ya
ca!!ot 0'b0i0t by it0 ow! i!here!t &oo"!e00. It )'0t be e!force" by law.
That7 witho't pe!al 0a!ctio! the i"eal of /hat'r5ar!ya ca!!ot be reali8e"7 i0 pro5e" by the 0tory i!
the Ra)aya!a of Ra)a *illi!& ha)b'*a. o)e people 0ee) to bla)e Ra)a beca'0e he wa!to!ly a!"
witho't rea0o! *ille" ha)b'*a. B't to bla)e Ra)a for *illi!& ha)b'*a i0 to )i0'!"er0ta!" the
whole 0it'atio!. Ra) Ra6 wa0 a Ra6 ba0e" o! /hat'r5ar!ya. A0 a *i!&7 Ra)a wa0 bo'!" to )ai!tai!
/hat'r5ar!ya. It wa0 hi0 "'ty therefore to *ill ha)b'*a7 the h'"ra7 who ha" tra!0&re00e" hi0 cla00
a!" wa!te" to be a Brah)i!. Thi0 i0 the rea0o! why Ra)a *ille" ha)b'*a. B't thi0 al0o 0how0 that
pe!al 0a!ctio! i0 !ece00ary for the )ai!te!a!ce of /hat'r5ar!ya. Not o!ly pe!al 0a!ctio! i0 !ece00ary7
b't pe!alty of "eath i0 !ece00ary. That i0 why Ra)a "i" !ot i!flict o! ha)b'*a a le00er p'!i0h)e!t.
That i0 why Ma!'3)riti pre0cribe0 0'ch hea5y 0e!te!ce0 a0 c'tti!& off the to!&'e or po'ri!& of
)olte! lea" i! the ear0 of the h'"ra7 who recite0 or hear0 the .eda, The 0'pporter0 of /hat'r5ar!ya
)'0t &i5e a! a00'ra!ce that they co'l" 0'cce00f'lly cla00ify )e! a!" they co'l" i!"'ce )o"er! 0ociety
i! the twe!tieth ce!t'ry to refor&e the pe!al 0a!ctio!0 of Ma!'3)riti.
The prota&o!i0t0 of /hat'r5ar!ya "o !ot 0ee) to ha5e co!0i"ere" what i0 to happe! to wo)e! i!
their 0y0te). Are they al0o to be "i5i"e" i!to fo'r cla00e07 Brah)i!7 E0hatriya7 .ai0hya a!" h'"raF Or
are they to be allowe" to ta*e the 0tat'0 of their h'0ba!"0. If the 0tat'0 of the wo)a! i0 to be the
co!0e<'e!ce of )arria&e what beco)e0 of the '!"erlyi!& pri!ciple of /hat'r5ar!ya7 !a)ely7 that the
0tat'0 of a per0o! 0ho'l" be ba0e" 'po! the worth of that per0o! F If they are to be cla00ifie" accor"i!&
to their worth i0 their cla00ificatio! to be !o)i!al or real F If it i0 to be !o)i!al the! it i0 '0ele00 a!"
the! the prota&o!i0t0 of /hat'r5ar!ya )'0t a")it that their 0y0te) "oe0 !ot apply to wo)e!. If it i0
real7 are the prota&o!i0t0 of /hat'r5ar!ya prepare" to follow the lo&ical co!0e<'e!ce0 of applyi!& it to
wo)e! F They )'0t be prepare" to ha5e wo)e! prie0t0 a!" wo)e! 0ol"ier0. Hi!"' 0ociety ha0 &row!
acc'0to)e" to wo)e! teacher0 a!" wo)e! barri0ter0. It )ay &row acc'0to)e" to wo)e! brewer0 a!"
wo)e! b'tcher0. B't he wo'l" be a bol" per0o!7 who wo'l" 0ay that it will allow wo)e! prie0t0 a!"
wo)e! 0ol"ier0. B't that will be the lo&ical o'tco)e of applyi!& /hat'r5ar!ya to wo)e!. Gi5e! the0e
"iffic'ltie07 I thi!* !o o!e e,cept a co!&e!ital i"iot co'l" hope a!" belie5e i! a 0'cce00f'l re&e!eratio!
of the /hat'r5ar!ya.
@.II
A00')i!& that /hat'r5ar!ya i0 practicable7 I co!te!" that it i0 the )o0t 5icio'0 0y0te). That the
Brah)i!0 0ho'l" c'lti5ate *!owle"&e7 that the E0hatriya 0ho'l" bear ar)07 that the .ai0hya. 0ho'l"
tra"e a!" that the h'"ra 0ho'l" 0er5e 0o'!"0 a0 tho'&h it wa0 a 0y0te) of "i5i0io! of labo'r. ?hether
the theory wa0 i!te!"e" to 0tate that the h'"ra need not or that whether it wa0 i!te!"e" to lay "ow!
that he #ust not) i0 a! i!tere0ti!& <'e0tio!. The "efe!"er0 of /hat'r5ar!ya &i5e it the fir0t )ea!i!&.
They 0ay7 why 0ho'l" the h'"ra !ee" tro'ble to ac<'ire wealth7 whe! the three .a#as are there to
0'pport hi) F ?hy !ee" the h'"ra bother to ta*e to e"'catio!7 whe! there i0 the Brah)i! to who) he
ca! &o whe! the occa0io! for rea"i!& or writi!& ari0e0 F ?hy !ee" the h'"ra worry to ar) hi)0elf
beca'0e there i0 the E0hatriya to protect hi) F The theory of /hat'r5ar!ya7 '!"er0too" i! thi0 0e!0e7
)ay be 0ai" to loo* 'po! the h'"ra a0 the war" a!" the three .a#as as hi0 &'ar"ia!0. Th'0
i!terprete"7 it i0 a 0i)ple7 ele5ati!& a!" all'ri!& theory. A00')i!& thi0 to be the correct 5iew of the
'!"erlyi!& co!ceptio! of /hat'r5ar!ya7 it 0ee)0 to )e that the 0y0te) i0 !either fool3proof !or *!a5e3
proof. ?hat i0 to happe!7 if the Brah)i!07 .ai0hya0 a!" E0hatriya0 fail to p'r0'e *!owle"&e7 to e!&a&e
i! eco!o)ic e!terpri0e a!" to be efficie!t 0ol"ier0 which are their re0pecti5e f'!ctio!0 F /o!trary3wi0e7
0'ppo0e that they "i0char&e their f'!ctio!0 b't flo't their "'ty to the h'"ra or to o!e a!other7 what i0
to happe! to the h'"ra if the three cla00e0 ref'0e to 0'pport hi) o! fair ter)0 or co)bi!e to *eep hi)
"ow! F ?ho i0 to 0afe&'ar" the i!tere0t0 of the h'"ra or for the )atter of that of the .ai0hya a!"
E0hatriya whe! the per0o!7 who i0 tryi!& to ta*e a"5a!ta&e of hi0 i&!ora!ce i0 the Brah)i!F ?ho i0 to
"efe!" the liberty of the h'"ra a!" for the )atter of that7 of the Brah)i! a!" the .ai0hya whe! the
per0o! who i0 robbi!& hi) of it i0 the E0hatriya F I!ter3"epe!"e!ce of o!e cla00 o! a!other cla00 i0
i!e5itable. #5e! "epe!"e!ce of o!e cla00 'po! a!other )ay 0o)eti)e0 beco)e allowable. B't why
)a*e o!e per0o! "epe!" 'po! a!other i! the )atter of hi0 5ital !ee"0 F #"'catio! e5eryo!e )'0t ha5e.
Mea!0 of "efe!ce e5eryo!e )'0t ha5e. The0e are the para)o'!t re<'ire)e!t0 of e5ery )a! for hi0 0elf3
pre0er5atio!. How ca! the fact that hi0 !ei&hbo'r i0 e"'cate" a!" ar)e" help a )a! who i0 '!e"'cate"
a!" "i0ar)e". The whole theory i0 ab0'r". The0e are the <'e0tio!07 which the "efe!"er0 of
/hat'r5ar!ya "o !ot 0ee) to be tro'ble" abo't. B't they are 5ery perti!e!t <'e0tio!0. A00')i!& their
co!ceptio! of /hat'r5ar!ya that the relatio!0hip betwee! the "iffere!t cla00e0 i0 that of war" a!"
&'ar"ia! i0 the real co!ceptio! '!"erlyi!& /hat'r5ar!ya7 it )'0t be a")itte" that it )a*e0 !o pro5i0io!
to 0afe&'ar" the i!tere0t0 of the war" fro) the )i0"ee"0 of the &'ar"ia!. ?hether the relatio!0hip of
&'ar"ia! a!" war" wa0 the real '!"erlyi!& co!ceptio!7 o! which /hat'r5ar!ya wa0 ba0e"7 there i0 !o
"o'bt that i! practice the relatio! wa0 that of )a0ter a!" 0er5a!t0. The three cla00e07 Brah)i!07
E0hatriya0 a!" .ai0hya0 altho'&h !ot 5ery happy i! their )'t'al relatio!0hip )a!a&e" to wor* by
co)pro)i0e. The Brah)i! flattere" the E0hatriya a!" both let the .ai0hya li5e i! or"er to be able to
li5e 'po! hi). B't the three a&ree" to beat "ow! the h'"ra. He wa0 !ot allowe" to ac<'ire wealth le0t
he 0ho'l" be i!"epe!"e!t of the three .arn+us, He wa0 prohibite" fro) ac<'iri!& *!owle"&e le0t he
0ho'l" *eep a 0tea"y 5i&il re&ar"i!& hi0 i!tere0t0. He wa0 prohibite" fro) beari!& ar)0 le0t he 0ho'l"
ha5e the )ea!0 to rebel a&ai!0t their a'thority. That thi0 i0 how the h'"ra0 were treate" by the
Trya5ar!i*a0 i0 e5i"e!ce" by the 4aw0 of Ma!'. There i0 !o co"e of law0 )ore i!fa)o'0 re&ar"i!&
0ocial ri&ht0 tha! the 4aw0 of Ma!'. A!y i!0ta!ce fro) a!ywhere of 0ocial i!6'0tice )'0t pale before
it. ?hy ha5e the )a00 of people tolerate" the 0ocial e5il0 to which they ha5e bee! 0'b6ecte"F There
ha5e bee! 0ocial re5ol'tio!0 i! other co'!trie0 of the worl". ?hy ha5e there !ot bee! 0ocial
re5ol'tio!0 i! I!"ia i0 a <'e0tio! which ha0 i!ce00a!tly tro'ble" )e. There i0 o!ly o!e a!0wer7 which I
ca! &i5e a!" it i0 that the lower cla00e0 of Hi!"'0 ha5e bee! co)pletely "i0able" for "irect actio! o!
acco'!t of thi0 wretche" 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya. They co'l" !ot bear ar)0 a!" witho't ar)0 they
co'l" !ot rebel. They were all plo'&h)e! or rather co!"e)!e" to be plo'&h)e! a!" they !e5er were
allowe" to co!5ert their plo'&h0hare i!to 0wor"0. They ha" !o bayo!et0 a!" therefore e5eryo!e who
cho0e co'l" a!" "i" 0it 'po! the). O! acco'!t of the /hat'r5ar!ya7 they co'l" recei5e !o e"'catio!.
They co'l" !ot thi!* o't or *!ow the way to their 0al5atio!. They were co!"e)!e" to be lowly a!" !ot
*!owi!& the way of e0cape a!" !ot ha5i!& the )ea!0 of e0cape7 they beca)e reco!cile" to eter!al
0er5it'"e7 which they accepte" a0 their i!e0capable fate. It i0 tr'e that e5e! i! #'rope the 0tro!& ha0 !ot
0hr'!* fro) the e,ploitatio!7 !ay the 0poliatio! of the wea*. B't i! #'rope7 the 0tro!& ha5e !e5er
co!tri5e" to )a*e the wea* helple00 a&ai!0t e,ploitatio! 0o 0ha)ele00ly a0 wa0 the ca0e i! I!"ia a)o!&
the Hi!"'0. ocial war ha0 bee! ra&i!& betwee! the 0tro!& a!" the wea* far )ore 5iole!tly i! #'rope
tha! it ha0 e5er bee! i! I!"ia. =et7 the wea* i! #'rope ha0 ha" i! hi0 free"o) of )ilitary 0er5ice hi0
0h/si+al wea0on) i! 0'fferi!& hi0 0oliti+al wea0on a!" i! e"'catio! hi0 #oral wea0on, The0e three
weapo!0 for e)a!cipatio! were !e5er withhel" by the 0tro!& fro) the wea* i! #'rope. All the0e
weapo!0 were7 howe5er7 "e!ie" to the )a00e0 i! I!"ia by /hat'r5ar!ya. There ca!!ot be a )ore
"e&ra"i!& 0y0te) of 0ocial or&a!i8atio! tha! the /hat'r5ar!ya. It i0 the 0y0te) which "ea"e!07
paraly0e0 a!" cripple0 the people fro) helpf'l acti5ity. Thi0 i0 !o e,a&&eratio!. Hi0tory bear0 a)ple
e5i"e!ce. There i0 o!ly o!e perio" i! I!"ia! hi0tory which i0 a perio" of free"o)7 &reat!e00 a!" &lory.
That i0 the perio" of the Mo'rya #)pire. At all other ti)e0 the co'!try 0'ffere" fro) "efeat a!"
"ar*!e00. B't the Mo'rya perio" wa0 a perio" whe! /hat'r5ar!ya wa0 co)pletely a!!ihilate"7 whe!
the h'"ra07 who co!0tit'te" the )a00 of the people7 ca)e i!to their ow! a!" beca)e the r'ler0 of the
co'!try. The perio" of "efeat a!" "ar*!e00 i0 the perio" whe! /hat'r5ar!ya flo'ri0he" to the
"a)!atio! of the &reater part of the people of the co'!try.
@.III
/hat'r5ar!ya i0 !ot !ew. It i0 a0 ol" a0 the .edas, That i0 o!e of the rea0o!0 why we are a0*e" by the
Arya a)a6i0t0 to co!0i"er it0 clai)0. 2'"&i!& fro) the pa0t a0 a 0y0te) of 0ocial or&a!i8atio!7 it ha0
bee! trie" a!" it ha0 faile". How )a!y ti)e0 ha5e the Brah)i!0 a!!ihilate" the 0ee" of the E0hatriya0K
How )a!y ti)e0 ha5e the E0hatriya0 a!!ihilate" the Brah)i!0K The Mahabharata a!" the P'ra!a0 are
f'll of i!ci"e!t0 of the 0trife betwee! the Brah)i!0 a!" the E0hatriya0. They e5e! <'arrele" o5er 0'ch
petty <'e0tio!0 a0 to who 0ho'l" 0al'te fir0t7 a0 to who 0ho'l" &i5e way fir0t7 the Brah)i!0 or the
E0hatriya07 whe! the two )et i! the 0treet. Not o!ly wa0 the Brah)i! a! eye0ore to "ie E0hatriya a!"
the E0hatriya a! eye0ore to the Brah)i!7 it 0ee)0 that the E0hatriya0 ha" beco)e tyra!!ical a!" the
)a00e07 "i0ar)e" a0 they were '!"er the 0y0te) of /hat'r5ar!ya7 were prayi!& Al)i&hty Go" for
relief fro) their tyra!!y. The Bha&wat tell0 '0 5ery "efi!itely that Eri0h!a ha" ta*e! A5tar for o!e
0acre" p'rpo0e a!" that wa0 to a!!ihilate the E0hatriya0. ?ith the0e i!0ta!ce0 of ri5alry a!" e!)ity
betwee! the "iffere!t .urnas before '07 I "o !ot '!"er0ta!" how a!y o!e ca! hol" o't /hat'r5ar!ya a0
a! i"eal to be ai)e" at or a0 a patter!7 o! which the Hi!"' ociety 0ho'l" be re)o"elle".
@I@
I ha5e "ealt with tho0e7 who are witho't yo' a!" who0e ho0tility to yo'r i"eal i0 <'ite ope!. There
appear to be other07 who are !either witho't yo' !or with yo'. I wa0 he0itati!& whether I 0ho'l" "eal
with their poi!t of 5iew. B't o! f'rther co!0i"eratio! I ha5e co)e to the co!cl'0io! that I )'0t a!" that
for two rea0o!0. Cir0tly7 their attit'"e to the proble) of ca0te i0 !ot )erely a! attit'"e of !e'trality7 b't
i0 a! attit'"e of ai)e" !e'trality. eco!"ly7 they probably repre0e!t a co!0i"erable bo"y of people. Of
the0e7 there i0 o!e 0et which fi!"0 !othi!& pec'liar !or o"io'0 i! the /a0te y0te) of the Hi!"'0. 'ch
Hi!"'0 cite the ca0e of M'0li)07 i*h0 a!" /hri0tia!0 a!" fi!" co)fort i! the fact that they too ha5e
ca0te0 a)o!&0t the). I! co!0i"eri!& thi0 <'e0tio! yo' )'0t a.t the o't0et bear i! )i!" that !owhere i0
h')a! 0ociety one 0i!&le whole. It i0 alway0 pl'ral. I! the worl" of actio!7 the i!"i5i"'al i0 o!e li)it
a!" 0ociety the other. Betwee! the) lie all 0ort0 of a00ociati5e arra!&e)e!t0 of le00er a!" lar&er 0cope7
fa)ilie07 frie!"0hip7 co3operati5e a00ociatio!07 b'0i!e00 co)bi!e07 political partie07 ba!"0 of thie5e0
a!" robber0. The0e 0)all &ro'p0 are '0'ally fir)ly wel"e" to&ether a!" are ofte! a0 e,cl'0i5e a0 ca0te0.
They ha5e a !arrow a!" i!te!0i5e co"e7 which i0 ofte! a!ti30ocial. Thi0 i0 tr'e of e5ery 0ociety7 i!
#'rope a0 well a0 i! A0ia7 The <'e0tio! to be a0*e" i! "eter)i!i!& whether a &i5e! 0ociety i0 a! i"eal
0ociety G i0 !ot whether there are &ro'p0 i! it7 beca'0e &ro'p0 e,i0t i! all 0ocietie0. The. <'e0tio!0 to be
a0*e" i! "eter)i!i!& what i0 a! i"eal 0ociety are - How !')ero'0 a!" 5arie" are the i!tere0t0 which are
co!0cio'0ly 0hare" by the &ro'p0 F How f'll a!" free i0 the i!terplay with other for)0 of a00ociatio!0 F
Are the force0 that 0eparate &ro'p0 a!" cla00e0 )ore !')ero'0 tha! the force0 that '!ite F ?hat 0ocial
0i&!ifica!ce i0 attache" to thi0 &ro'p life F I0 it0 e,cl'0i5e!e00 a )atter of c'0to) a!" co!5e!ie!ce or i0
it a )atter of reli&io! F It i0 i! the li&ht of the0e <'e0tio!0 that o!e )'0t "eci"e whether ca0te a)o!&
No!3Hi!"'0 i0 the 0a)e a0 ca0te a)o!& Hi!"'0. If we apply the0e co!0i"eratio!0 to ca0te0 a)o!&
Moha))e"a!07 i*h0 a!" /hri0tia!0 o! the o!e ha!" a!" to ca0te0 a)o!& Hi!"'0 o! the other7 yo'
will fi!" that ca0te a)o!& No!3Hi!"'0 i0 f'!"a)e!tally "iffere!t fro) ca0te a)o!& Hi!"'0. Cir0t7 the
tie07 which co!0cio'0ly )a*e the Hi!"'0 hol" to&ether7 are !o!3e,i0te!t7 while a)o!& No!3Hi!"'0
there are )a!y that hol" the) to&ether. The 0tre!&th of a 0ociety "epe!"0 'po! the pre0e!ce of poi!t0
of co!tact7 po00ibilitie0 of i!teractio! betwee! "iffere!t &ro'p0 which e,i0t i! it. The0e are what /arlyle
call0 ; or&a!ic fila)e!t0 ; i,e, the ela0tic threa"0 which help to bri!& the "i0i!te&rati!& ele)e!t0
to&ether a!" to re'!ite the). There i0 !o i!te&rati!& farce a)o!& the Hi!"'0 to co'!teract the
"i0i!te&ratio! ca'0e" by ca0te. ?hile a)o!& the No!3Hi!"'0 there are ple!ty of the0e or&a!ic
fila)e!t0 which bi!" the) to&ether. A&ai! it )'0t be bor!e i! )i!" that altho'&h there are ca0te0
a)o!& No!3Hi!"'07 a0 there are a)o!& Hi!"'07 ca0te ha0 !ot the 0a)e 0ocial 0i&!ifica!ce for No!3
Hi!"'0 a0 it ha0 for Hi!"'0. A0* Moha))e"a! or a i*h7 who he i0F He tell0 yo' that he i0 a
Moha))e"a! or a i*h a0 the ca0e )ay be. He "oe0 !ot tell yo' hi0 ca0te altho'&h he ha0 o!e a!" yo'
are 0ati0fie" with hi0 a!0wer. ?he! he tell0 yo' that he i0 a M'0li)7 yo' "o !ot procee" to a0* hi)
whether he i0 a hiya or a '!iG hei*h or aiya" G Ehati* or Pi!6ari. ?he! he tell0 yo' he i0 a i*h7
yo' "o !ot a0* hi) whether he i0 2at or Ro"a G Ma8bi or Ra)"a0i. B't yo' are !ot 0ati0fie"7 if a per0o!
tell0 yo' that he i0 a Hi!"'. =o' feel bo'!" to i!<'ire i!to hi0 ca0te. ?hy F Beca'0e 0o e00e!tial i0
ca0te i! the ca0e of a Hi!"' that witho't *!owi!& it yo' "o !ot feel 0're what 0ort of a bei!& he i0. That
ca0te ha0 !ot the 0a)e 0ocial 0i&!ifica!ce a)o!& No!3Hi!"'0 a0 it ha0 a)o!& Hi!"'0 i0 clear if yo'
ta*e i!to co!0i"eratio! the co!0e<'e!ce0 which follow breach of ca0te. There )ay be ca0te0 a)o!&
i*h0 a!" Moha))e"a!0 b't the i*h0 a!" the Moha))e"a!0 will !ot o'tca0t a i*h or a
Moha))e"a! if he bro*e hi0 ca0te. I!"ee"7 the 5ery i"ea of e,co))'!icatio! i0 forei&! to the i*h0
a!" the Moha))e"a!0. B't with the Hi!"'0 the ca0e i0 e!tirely "iffere!t. He i0 0're to be o'tca0te" if
he bro*e ca0te. Thi0 0how0 the "iffere!ce i! the 0ocial 0i&!ifica!ce of ca0te to Hi!"'0 a!" No!3Hi!"'0.
Thi0 i0 the 0eco!" poi!t of "iffere!ce. B't there i0 al0o a thir" a!" a )ore i)porta!t o!e. /a0te a)o!&
the !o!3Hi!"'0 ha0 !o reli&io'0 co!0ecratio!G b't a)o!& the Hi!"'0 )o0t "eci"e"ly it ha0. A)o!& the
No!3Hi!"'07 ca0te i0 o!ly a practice7 !ot a 0acre" i!0tit'tio!. They "i" !ot ori&i!ate it. ?ith the) it i0
o!ly a 0'r5i5al. They "o !ot re&ar" ca0te a0 a reli&io'0 "o&)a. Reli&io! co)pel0 the Hi!"'0 to treat
i0olatio! a!" 0e&re&atio! of ca0te0 a0 a 5irt'e. Reli&io! "oe0 !ot co)pel the No!3Hi!"'0 to ta*e the
0a)e attit'"e towar"0 ca0te. If Hi!"'0 wi0h to brea* ca0te7 their reli&io! will co)e i! their way. B't it
will !ot be 0o i! the ca0e of No!3Hi!"'0. It i07 therefore7 a "a!&ero'0 "el'0io! to ta*e co)fort i! the
)ere e,i0te!ce of ca0te a)o!& No!3Hi!"'07 witho't cari!& to *!ow what place ca0te occ'pie0 i! their
life a!" whether there are other ; or&a!ic fila)e!t0 ;7 which 0'bor"i!ate the feeli!& of ca0te to the
feeli!& of co))'!ity. The 0oo!er the Hi!"'0 are c're" of thi0 "el'0io! the b'tter.
The other 0et "e!ie0 that ca0te pre0e!t0 a!y proble) at all for the .Hi!"'0
to co!0i"er. 'ch Hi!"'0 0ee* co)fort i! the 5iew that the Hi!"'0 ha5e 0'r5i5e" a!" ta*e thi0 a0 a
proof of their fit!e00 to 0'r5i5e. Thi0 poi!t of 5iew i0 well e,pre00e" by Prof. . Ra"ha*ri0h!a! i! hi0
Hindu !iew of life, Referri!& to Hi!"'i0) he 0ay07 ; The ci5ili8atio! it0elf ha0 !ot7 bee! a 0hort3li5e"
o!e. it0 hi0toric recor"0 "ate bac* for o5er fo'r tho'0a!" year0 a!" e5e! the! it ha" reache" a 0ta&e of
ci5ili8atio! which ha0 co!ti!'e" it0 '!bro*e!7 tho'&h at ti)e0 0low a!" 0tatic7 co'r0e '!til the pre0e!t
"ay. It ha0 0too" the 0tre00 a!" 0trai! of )ore tha! fo'r or fi5e )ille!!i')0 of 0pirit'al tho'&ht a!"
e,perie!ce. Tho'&h people0 of "iffere!t race0 a!" c'lt're0 ha5e been po'ri!& i!to I!"ia fro) the "aw!
of Hi0tory7 Hi!"'i0) ha0 bee! able to )ai!tai! it0 0'pre)acy a!" e5e! the pro0elyti0i!& cree"0 bac*e"
by political power ha5e !ot bee! able to coerce the lar&e )a6ority of Hi!"'0 to their 5iew0. The Hi!"'
c'lt're po00e00e0 0o)e 5itality which 0ee)0 to be "e!ie" to 0o)e other )ore forcef'l c'rre!t . It i0 !o
)ore !ece00ary to "i00ect Hi!"'i0) tha! to ope! a tree to 0ee whether the 0ap 0till r'!0.; The !a)e of
Prof. Ra"ha*ri0h!a! i0 bi& e!o'&h to i!5e0t with prof'!"ity whate5er he 0ay0 a!" i)pre00 the )i!"0 of
hi0 rea"er0. B't I )'0t !ot he0itate to 0pea* o't )y )i!". Cor7 I fear that hi0 0tate)e!t )ay beco)e the
ba0i0 of a 5icio'0 ar&')e!t that the fact of 0'r5i5al i0 proof of fit!e00 to 0'r5i5e. It 0ee)0 to )e that the
<'e0tio! i0. !ot whether a co))'!ity li5e0 or "ie0 G the <'e0tio! i0 o! what pla!e "oe0 it li5e. There are
"iffere!t )o"e0 of 0'r5i5al. B't all are !ot e<'ally ho!o'rable. Cor a! i!"i5i"'al a0 well a0 for a
0ociety7 there i0 a &'lf betwee! )erely li5i!& a!" li5i!& worthily. To fi&ht i! a battle a!" to li5e i! &lory
i0 o!e )o"e. To beat a retreat7 to 0'rre!"er a!" to li5e the life of a capti5e i0. al0o a )o"e of 0'r5i5al. It
i0 '0ele00 for a Hi!"' to ta*e co)fort i! the fact that he a!" hi0 people ha5e 0'r5i5e". ?hat he )'0t
co!0i"er i0 what i0 the <'ality of their 0'r5i5al. If he "oe0 that7 I a) 0're he will cea0e to ta*e pri"e i!
the )ere fact of 0'r5i5al. A Hi!"'I0 life ha0 bee! a life of co!ti!'o'0 "efeat a!" what appear0 to hi) to
be life e5erla0ti!& i0 !ot li5i!& e5erla0ti!&ly b't i0 really a life which i0 peri0hi!& e5erla0ti!&ly. It i0 a
)o"e of 0'r5i5al of which e5ery ri&ht3)i!"e" Hi!"'7 who i0 !ot afrai" to ow! 'p the tr'th7 will feel
a0ha)e".
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There i0 !o "o'btG i! )y opi!io!7 that '!le00 yo' cha!&e yo'r 0ocial or"er yo' ca! achie5e little by
way of pro&re00. =o' ca!!ot )obili8e the co))'!ity either for "efe!ce or for offe!ce. =o'
ca!!ot b'il" a!ythi!& o! the fo'!"atio!0 of ca0te. =o' ca!!ot b'il" 'p a !atio!7 yo' ca!!ot b'il" 'p a
)orality. A!ythi!& that yo' will b'il" o! the fo'!"atio!0 of ca0te will crac* a!" will !e5er be a whole.
The o!ly <'e0tio! that re)ai!0 to be co!0i"ere" i0How to bring about the refor# of the Hindu
so+ial order : How to abolish +aste : Thi0 i0 a <'e0tio! of 0'pre)e i)porta!ce. There i0 a 5iew that i!
the refar) of ca0te7 the fir0t 0tep to ta*e7 i0 to aboli0h 0'b3ca0te0. Thi0 5iew i0 ba0e" 'po! the
0'ppo0itio! that there i0 a &reater 0i)ilarity i! )a!!er0 a!" 0tat'0 betwee! 0'b3ca0te tha! there i0
betwee! ca0te0. I thi!*7 thi0 i0 a! erro!eo'0 0'ppo0itio!. The Brah)i!0 of Northe) a!" /e!tral I!"ia
are 0ocially of lower &ra"e7 a0 co)pare" with the Brah)i!0 of the Decca! a!" o'ther! I!"ia. The
for)er are o!ly coo*0 a!" water3carrier0 while the latter occ'py a hi&h 0ocial po0itio!. O! the other
ha!"7 i! Norther! I!"ia7 the .ai0hya0 a!" Eaya0tha0 are i!tellect'ally a!" 0ocially o! a par with the
Brah)i!0 of the Decca! a!" o'ther! I!"ia. A&ai!7 i! the )atter of foo" there i0 !o 0i)ilarity betwee!
the Brah)i!0 of the Decca! a!" o'ther! I!"ia7 who are 5e&etaria!0 a!" the Brah)i!0 of Ea0h)ir a!"
Be!&al who are !o!35e&etaria!0. O! the other ha!"7 the Brah)i!0 of the3 Decca! a!" o'ther! I!"ia
ha5e )ore i! co))o! 0o far a0 foo" i0 co!cer!e" with 0'ch !o!3Brah)i!0 a0 the G'6arati07 Marwari07
Ba!ia0 a!" 2ai!0. There i0 !o "o'bt that fro) the 0ta!"poi!t of )a*i!& the tra!0it fro) o!e ca0te to
a!other ea0y7 the f'0io! of the Eaya0tha0 of Norther! I!"ia a!" the other No!3Brah)i!0 of o'ther!
I!"ia with the No!3Brah)i!0 of the Decca! a!" the Dra5i" co'!try i0 )ore practicable tha! the f'0io!
of the Brah)i!0 of the o'th with the Brah)i!0 of the North. B't a00')i!& that the f'0io! of 0'b3
/a0te0 i0 po00ible7 what &'ara!tee i0 there that the abolitio! of 0'b3/a0te0 will !ece00arily lea" to the
abolitio! of /a0te0 F O! the co!trary7 it )ay happe! that the proce00 )ay 0top with the abolitio! of 0'b3
/a0te0. I! that ca0e7 the abolitio! of 0'b3/a0te0 will o!ly help to 0tre!&the! the /a0te0 a!" )a*e the)
)ore powerf'l a!" therefore )ore )i0chie5o'0. Thi0 re)e"y i0 therefore !either practicable !or
effecti5e a!" )ay ea0ily pro5e to be a wro!& re)e"y. A!other pla! of actio! for the abolitio! of /a0te
i0 to be&i! with i!ter3ca0te "i!!er0. Thi0 al0o7 i! )y opi!io!7 i0 a! i!a"e<'ate re)e"y. There are )a!y
/a0te0 which allow i!ter3"i!i!&. B't it i0 a co))o! e,perie!ce that i!ter3"i!i!& ha0 !ot 0'ccee"e" i!
*illi!& the 0pirit of /a0te a!" the co!0cio'0!e00 of /a0te. I a) co!5i!ce" that the real re)e"y i0 i!ter3
)arria&e. C'0io! of bloo" ca! alo!e create the feeli!& of bei!& *ith a!" *i! a!" '!le00 thi0 feeli!& of
*i!0hip7 of bei!& *i!"re"7 beco)e0 para)o'!t the 0eparati0t feeli!&the feeli!& of bei!& alie!0
create" by /a0te will !ot 5a!i0h. A)o!& the Hi!"'0 i!ter3)arria&e )'0t !ece00arily be a factor of
&reater force i! 0ocial life tha! it !ee" be i! the life of the !o!3Hi!"'0. ?here 0ociety i0 alrea"y well3
*!it by other tie07 )arria&e i0 a! or"i!ary i!ci"e!t of life. B't where 0ociety c't a0'!"er7 )arria&e a0 a
bi!"i!& force beco)e0 a )atter of 'r&e!t !ece00ity. The real re#ed/ for brea8ing Caste is inter;
#arriage, Nothing else will ser!e as the sol!ent of Caste, =o'r 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al ha0 a"opte" thi0
li!e of attac*.
It i0 a "irect a!" fro!tal attac*7 a!" I co!&rat'late yo' 'po! a collect "ia&!o0i0 a!" )ore 'po! yo'r
ha5i!& 0how! the co'ra&e to tell the Hi!"'0 what i0 really wro!& with the). Political tyra!!y i0
!othi!& co)pare" to 0ocial tyra!!y a!" a refor)er7 who "efie0 0ociety7 i0 a )'ch )ore co'ra&eo'0 )a!
tha! a politicia!7 who "efie0 Go5er!)e!t. =o' are ri&ht i! hol"i!& that /a0te will cea0e to be a!
operati5e farce o!ly whe! i!ter3"i!i!& a!" i!ter3)arria&e ha5e beco)e )atter0 of co))o! co'r0e. =o'
ha5e locate" the 0o'rce of the "i0ea0e. B't i0 yo'r pre0criptio! the ri&ht pre0criptio! for the "i0ea0e F
A0* yo'r0el5e0 thi0 <'e0tio! G ?hy i0 it that a lar&e )a6ority of Hi!"'0 "o !ot i!ter3"i!e a!" "o !ot
i!ter3)arry F ?hy i0 it that yo'r ca'0e i0 !ot pop'lar F There ca! be o!ly o!e a!0wer to thi0 <'e0tio!
a!" it i0 that i!ter3"i!i!& a!" i!ter3)arria&e are rep'&!a!t to the belief0 a!" "o&)a0 which the Hi!"'0
re&ar" a0 0acre". /a0te i0 !ot a phy0ical ob6ect li*e a wall of bric*0 or a li!e of barbe" wire which
pre5e!t0 the Hi!"'0 fro) co3)i!&li!& a!" which ha07 therefore7 to be p'lle" "ow!. /a0te i0 a !otio!7 it
i0 a 0tate of the )i!". The "e0tr'ctio! of /a0te "oe0 !ot therefore )ea! the "e0tr'ctio! of a phy0ical
barrier. It )ea!0 a notional cha!&e. /a0te )ay be ba". /a0te )ay lea" to co!"'ct 0o &ro00 a0 to be
calle" )a!I0 i!h')a!ity to )a!. All the 0a)e7 it )'0t be reco&!i8e" that the Hi!"'0 ob0er5e /a0te !ot
beca'0e they are i!h')a! or wro!& hea"e". They ob0er5e /a0te beca'0e they are "eeply reli&io'0.
People are !ot wro!& i! ob0er5i!& /a0te. I! )y 5iew7 what i0 wro!& i0 their reli&io!7 which ha0
i!c'lcate" thi0 !otio! of /a0te. If thi0 i0 correct7 the! ob5io'0ly the e!e)y7 yo' )'0t &rapple with7 i0
!ot the people who ob0er5e /a0te7 b't the -hastras which teach the) thi0 reli&io! of /a0te. /ritici0i!&
a!" ri"ic'li!& people for !ot i!ter3"i!i!& or i!ter3)arryi!& or occa0io!ally hol"i!& i!ter3ca0te "i!!er0
a!" celebrati!& i!ter3ca0te )arria&e07 i0 a f'tile )etho" of achie5i!& the "e0ire" e!". The real re)e"y
i0 to "e0troy the belief i! the 0a!ctity of the -hastras, How "o yo' e,pect to 0'ccee"7 if yo' allow the
-hastras to co!ti!'e to )o'l" the belief0 a!" opi!io!0 of the people F Not to <'e0tio! the a'thority of
the -hastras ) to per)it the people to belie5e i! their 0a!ctity a!" their 0a!ctio!0 a!" to bla)e the) a!"
to critici0e the) for their act0 a0 bei!& irratio!al a!" i!h')a! i0 a i!co!&r'o'0 way of carryi!& o!
0ocial refor). Refor)er0 wor*i!& for the re)o5al of '!to'chability i!cl'"i!& Mahat)a Ga!"hi7 "o !ot
0ee) to reali8e that the act0 of the people are )erely the re0'lt0 of their belief0 i!c'lcate" 'po! their
)i!"0 by the -hastras a!" that people will !ot cha!&e their co!"'ct '!til they cea0e to belie5e i! the
0a!ctity of the -hastras o! which their co!"'ct i0 fo'!"e". No wo!"er that 0'ch effort0 ha5e !ot
pro"'ce" a!y re0'lt0. =o' al0o 0ee) to be erri!& i! the 0a)e way a0 the refor)er0 wor*i!& i! the ca'0e
of re)o5i!& '!to'chability. To a&itate for a!" to or&a!i0e i!ter3ca0te "i!!er0 a!" i!ter3ca0te )arria&e0
i0 li*e force" fee"i!& bro'&ht abo't by artificial )ea!0. Ma*e e5ery )a! a!" wo)a! free fro) the
thral"o) of the -hastras ) clea!0e their )i!"0 of the per!icio'0 !otio!0 fo'!"e" o! the -hastras) a!"
he or 0he will i!ter3"i!e a!" i!ter3)arry7 witho't yo'r telli!& hi) or her to "o 0o.
It i0 !o '0e 0ee*i!& ref'&e i! <'ibble0. It i0 !o '0e telli!& people that the -hastras "o !ot 0ay what
they are belie5e" to 0ay7 &ra))atically rea" or lo&ically i!terprete". ?hat )atter0 i0 how the -hastras
ha5e bee! '!"er0too" by the people. =o' )'0t ta*e the 0ta!" that B'""ha too*. =o' )'0t ta*e the 0ta!"
which G'r' Na!a* too*. =o' )'0t !ot o!ly "i0car" the -hastras) yo' )'0t "e!y their a'thority7 a0 "i"
B'""ha a!" Na!a*. =o' )'0t ha5e co'ra&e to tell the Hi!"'07 that what i0 wro!& with the) i0 their
reli&io! the reli&io! which ha0 pro"'ce" i! the) thi0 !otio! of the 0acre"!e00 of /a0te. ?ill yo'
0how that co'ra&e F
@@I
?hat are yo'r cha!ce0 of 0'cce00 F ocial refor)0 fall i!to "iffere!t 0pecie0. There i0 a 0pecie0 of
refor)7 which "oe0 !ot relate to the reli&io'0 !otio! of people b't i0 p'rely 0ec'lar i! character. There
i0 al0o a 0pecie0 of refor)7 which relate0 to the reli&io'0 !otio!0 of people. Of 0'ch a 0pecie0 of refor)7
there are two 5arietie0. I! o!e7 the refor) accor"0 with the pri!ciple0 of the reli&io! a!" )erely i!5ite0
people7 who ha5e "eparte" fro) it7 to re5ert to the) a!" to follow the). The 0eco!" i0 a refor) which
!ot o!ly to'che0 the reli&io'0 pri!ciple0 b't i0 "ia)etrically oppo0e" to tho0e pri!ciple0 a!" i!5ite0
people to "epart fro) a!" to "i0car" their a'thority a!" to act co!trary to tho0e pri!ciple0. /a0te i0 the
!at'ral o'tco)e of certai! reli&io'0 belief0 which ha5e the 0a!ctio! of the -hastras) which are belie5e"
to co!tai! the co))a!" of "i5i!ely i!0pire" 0a&e0 who were e!"owe" with a 0'per!at'ral wi0"o) a!"
who0e co))a!"07 therefore7 ca!!ot be "i0obeye" witho't co))itti!& 0i!. The "e0tr'ctio! of /a0te i0 a
refor) which fall0 '!"er the thir" cate&ory. To a0* people to &i5e 'p /a0te i0 to a0* the) to &o co!trary
to their f'!"a)e!tal reli&io'0 !otio!0. It i0 ob5io'0 that the fir0t a!" 0eco!" 0pecie0 of refor) are ea0y.
B't the thir" i0 a 0t'pe!"o'0 ta0*7 well !i&h i)po00ible. The Hi!"'0 hol" to the 0acre"!e00 of the 0ocial
or"er. /a0te ha0 a "i5i!e ba0i0. =o' )'0t therefore "e0troy the 0acre"!e00 a!" "i5i!ity with which
/a0te ha0 beco)e i!5e0te". I! the la0t a!aly0i07 thi0 )ea!0 yo' )'0t "e0troy the a'thority of the
-hastras a!" the .edas,
I ha5e e)pha0i8e" thi0 <'e0tio! of the way0 a!" )ea!0 of "e0troyi!& /a0te7 beca'0e I thi!* that
*!owi!& the proper way0 a!" )ea!0 i0 )ore i)porta!t tha! *!owi!& the i"eal. If yo' "o !ot *!ow the
real way0 a!" )ea!07 all yo'r 0hot0 are 0're to be )i0fire0. If )y a!aly0i0 i0 correct the! yo'r ta0* i0
herc'lea!. =o' alo!e ca! 0ay whether yo' are capable of achie5i!& it.
pea*i!& for )y0elf7 I 0ee the ta0* to be well !i&h i)po00ible. Perhap0 yo' wo'l" li*e to *!ow why I
thi!* 0o. O't of the )a!y rea0o!07 which ha5e le" )e to ta*e thi0 5iew7 I will )e!tio! 0o)e7 which I
re&ar" )'ch i)porta!t. O!e of the0e rea0o!0 i0 the attit'"e of ho0tility7 which the Brah)i!0 ha5e
0how! towar"0 thi0 <'e0tio!. The Brah)i!0 for) the 5a!&'ar" of the )o5e)e!t for political refor)
a!" i! 0o)e ca0e0 al0o of eco!o)ic refor). B't they are !ot to be fo'!" e5e! a0 ca)p follower0 i! the
ar)y rai0e" to brea* "ow! the barrica"e0 of /a0te. I0 there a!y hope of the Brah)i!0 e5er ta*i!& 'p a
lea" i! the f't're i! thi0 )atterF I 0ay !o. =o' )ay a0* why F =o' )ay ar&'e that there i0 !o rea0o!
why Brah)i!0 0ho'l" co!ti!'e to 0h'! 0ocial refor). =o' )ay ar&'e that the Brah)i!0 *!ow that the
ba!e of Hi!"' ociety i0 /a0te a!" a0 a! e!li&hte!e" cla00 co'l" !ot be e,pecte" to be i!"iffere!t to it0
co!0e<'e!ce0. =o' )ay ar&'e that there are 0ec'lar Brah)i!0 a!" prie0tly Brah)i!0 a!" if the latter "o
!ot ta*e 'p the c'"&el0 o! behalf of tho0e who wa!t to brea* /a0te7 the for)er will. All thi0 of co'r0e
0o'!"0 5ery pla'0ible. B't i! all thi0 it i0 for&otte! that the brea* 'p of the /a0te 0y0te) i0 bo'!" to
affect a"5er0ely the Brah)i! /a0te. Ha5i!& re&ar" to thi07 i0 it rea0o!able to e,pect that the Brah)i!0
will e5er co!0e!t to lea" a )o5e)e!t the 'lti)ate re0'lt of which i0 to "e0troy the power a!" pre0ti&e
of the Brah)i! /a0te F I0 it rea0o!able to e,pect the 0ec'lar Brah)i!0 to ta*e part i! a )o5e)e!t
"irecte" a&ai!0t the prie0tly Brah)i!0 F I! )y 6'"&)e!t7 it i0 '0ele00 to )a*e a "i0ti!ctio! betwee! the
0ec'lar Brah)i!0 a!" prie0tly Brah)i!0. Both are *ith a!" *i!. They are two ar)0 of the 0a)e bo"y
a!" o!e bo'!" to fi&ht for the e,i0te!ce of the other. I! thi0 co!!ectio!7 I a) re)i!"e" of 0o)e 5ery
pre&!a!t re)ar*0 )a"e by Prof. Dicey i! hi0 nglish Constitution, pea*i!& of the act'al li)itatio! o!
the le&i0lati5e 0'pre)acy of Parlia)e!t7 Dicey 0ay0 - ; The act'al e,erci0e of a'thority by a!y
0o5erei&! whate5er7 a!" !otably by Parlia)e!t7 i0 bo'!"e" or co!trolle" by two li)itatio!0. Of the0e
the o!e i0 a! e,ter!al7 a!" the other i0 a! i!ter!al li)itatio!. The e,ter!al li)it to the real power of a
0o5erei&! co!0i0t0 i! the po00ibility or certai!ty that hi0 0'b6ect0 or a lar&e !')ber of the) will "i0obey
or re0i0t hi0 law0. . . The i!ter!al li)it to the e,erci0e of 0o5erei&!ty ari0e0 fro) the !at're of the
0o5erei&! power it0elf. #5e! a "e0pot e,erci0e0 hi0 power0 i! accor"a!ce with hi0 character7 which i0
it0elf )o'l"e" by the circ')0ta!ce '!"er which he li5e07 i!cl'"i!& '!"er that hea" the )oral feeli!&0
of the ti)e a!" the 0ociety to which he belo!&0. The 'lta! co'l" !ot7 if he wo'l"7 cha!&e the reli&io!
of the Moha))e"a! worl"7 b't e5e! if he co'l" "o 0o7 it i0 i! the 5ery hi&he0t "e&ree i)probable that
the hea" of Moha))e"a!i0) 0ho'l" wi0h to o5erthrow the reli&io! of Moha))e" G the i!ter!al chec*
o! the e,erci0e of the 'lta!I0 power i0 at lea0t a0 0tro!& a0 the e,ter!al li)itatio!. People 0o)eti)e0
a0* the i"le <'e0tio!7 why the Pope "oe0 !ot i!tro"'ce thi0 or that refor)F The tr'e a!0wer i0 that a
re5ol'tio!i0t i0 !ot the *i!" of )a! who beco)e0 a Pope a!" that a )a! who beco)e0 a Pope ha0 !o
wi0h to be a re5ol'tio!i0t.; I thi!*7 the0e re)ar*0 apply e<'ally to the Brah)i!0 of I!"ia a!" o!e ca!
0ay with e<'al tr'th that if a )a! who beco)e0 a Pope ha0 !o wi0h to beco)e a re5ol'tio!ary7 a )a!
who i0 bor! a Brah)i! ha0 )'ch le00 "e0ire to beco)e a re5ol'tio!ary. I!"ee"7 to e,pect a Brah)i! to
be a re5ol'tio!ary i! )atter0 of 0ocial refor) i0 a0 i"le a0 to e,pect the Briti0h Parlia)e!t7 a0 wa0 0ai"
by 4e0lie tephe!7 to pa00 a! Act re<'iri!& all bl'e3eye" babie0 to be )'r"ere".
o)e of yo' will 0ay that it i0 a )atter of 0)all co!cer! whether the Brah)i!0 co)e forwar" to lea"
the )o5e)e!t a&ai!0t /a0te or whether they "o !ot. To ta*e thi0 5iew i0 i! )y 6'"&)e!t to i&!ore the
part playe" by the i!tellect'al cla00 i! the co))'!ity. ?hether yo' accept the theory of the &reat )a!
a0 the )a*er of hi0tory or whether yo' "o !ot7 thi0 )'ch yo' will ha5e to co!ce"e that i! e5ery co'!try
the i!tellect'al cla00 i0 the )o0t i!fl'e!tial cla007 if !ot the &o5er!i!& cla00. The i!tellect'al cla00 i0 the
cla00 which ca! fore0ee7 it i0 the cla00 which ca! a"5i0e a!" &i5e lea". I! !o co'!try "oe0 the )a00 of
the people li5e the life of i!telli&e!t tho'&ht a!" actio!. It i0 lar&ely i)itati5e a!" follow0 the
i!tellect'al cla00. There i0 !o e,a&&eratio! i! 0ayi!& that the e!tire "e0ti!y of a co'!try "epe!"0 'po!
it0 i!tellect'al cla00. If the i!tellect'al cla00 i0 ho!e0t7 i!"epe!"e!t a!" "i0i!tere0te" it ca! be tr'0te" to
ta*e the i!itiati5e a!" &i5e a proper lea" whe! a cri0i0 ari0e0. It i0 tr'e that i!tellect by it0elf i0 !o
5irt'e. It i0 o!ly a )ea!0 a!" the '0e of )ea!0 "epe!"0 'po! the e!"0 which a! i!tellect'al per0o!
p'r0'e0. A! i!tellect'al )a! ca! be a &oo" )a! b't he ca! ea0ily be a ro&'e. i)ilarly a! i!tellect'al
cla00 )ay be a ba!" of hi&h30o'le" per0o!07 rea"y to help7 rea"y to e)a!cipate erri!& h')a!ity or it
)ay ea0ily be a &a!& of croo*0 or a bo"y of a"5ocate0 of a !arrow cli<'e fro) which it "raw0 it0
0'pport. =o' )ay thi!* it a pity that the i!tellect'al cla00 i! I!"ia i0 0i)ply a!other !a)e for the
Brah)i! ca0te. =o' )ay re&ret that the two are o!e.G that the e,i0te!ce of the i!tellect'al cla00 0ho'l"
be bo'!" with o!e 0i!&le ca0te7 that thi0 i!tellect'al cla00 0ho'l" 0hare the i!tere0t a!" the a0piratio!0
of that Brah)i! ca0te7 which ha0 re&ar"e" it0elf the c'0to"ia! of the i!tere0t of that ca0te7 rather tha! of
the i!tere0t0 of the co'!try. All thi0 )ay be 5ery re&rettable. B't the fact re)ai!07 that the Brah)i!0
for) the i!tellect'al cla00 of the Hi!"'0. It i0 !ot o!ly a! i!tellect'al cla00 b't it i0 a cla00 which i0 hel"
i! &reat re5ere!ce by the re0t of the Hi!"'0. The Hi!"'0 are ta'&ht that the Brah)i!0 are 9hude!as
AGo"0 o! earthB !ernana# brah#na# guruh < - The Hi!"'0 are ta'&ht that Brah)i!0 alo!e ca! be
their teacher0. Ma!' 0ay07 ;If it be a0*e" how it 0ho'l" be with re0pect to poi!t0 of the Dhar)a which
ha5e !ot bee! 0pecially )e!tio!e"7 the a!0wer i0 that which Brah)i!0 who are hi0htha0 propo'!"
0hall "o'btle00 ha5e le&al force.; -

ANA*NAT-HU DHAR*HU KATHA* -=ADITI CHD9H.TA <
=A* -HI-HTA 9RAHNA* 9RU=UH -A DHAR*AH -=ADA-HNKITAH <<
?he! 0'ch a! i!tellect'al cla007 which hol"0 the re0t of the co))'!ity i! it0 &rip7 i0 oppo0e" to the
refor) of /a0te7 the cha!ce0 of 0'cce00 i! a )o5e)e!t for the brea*3'p of the /a0te 0y0te) appear to
)e 5ery7 5ery re)ote.
The 0eco!" rea0o!7 why I 0ay the ta0* i0 i)po00ible7 will be clear if yo' will bear i! )i!" that the
/a0te 0y0te) ha0 two a0pect0. I! o!e of it0 a0pect07 it "i5i"e0 )e! i!to 0eparate co))'!itie0. I! it0
0eco!" a0pect7 it place0 the0e co))'!itie0 i! a &ra"e" or"er o!e abo5e the other i! 0ocial 0tat'0. #ach
ca0te ta*e0 it0 pri"e a!" it0 co!0olatio! i! the fact that i! the 0cale of ca0te0 it i0 abo5e 0o)e other ca0te.
A0 a! o'twar" )ar* of thi0 &ra"atio!7 there i0 al0o a &ra"atio! of 0ocial a!" reli&io'0 ri&ht0 tech!ically
0po*e! of a! Ashta;dhi8aras a!" -ans8aras, The hi&her the &ra"e of a ca0te7 the &reater the !')ber of
the0e ri&ht0 a!" the lower the &ra"e7 the le00er their !')ber. Now thi0 &ra"atio!7 thi0 0cali!& of ca0te07
)a*e0 it i)po00ible to or&a!i0e a co))o! fro!t a&ai!0t the /a0te y0te). If a ca0te clai)0 the ri&ht to
i!ter3"i!e a!" i!ter3)arry with a!other ca0te place" abo5e it7 it i0 fro8e!7 i!0ta!tly it i0 tol" by
)i0chief3)o!&er07 a!" there are )a!y Brah)i!0 a)o!&0t 0'ch )i0chief3)o!&er07 that it will ha5e to
co!ce"e i!ter3"i!i!& a!" i!ter3)arria&e with ca0te0 below it K All are 0la5e0 of the /a0te y0te). B't
all the 0la5e0 are !ot e<'al i! 0tat'0. To e,cite the proletariat to bri!& abo't a! eco!o)ic re5ol'tio!7
Earl Mar, tol" the) - ; =o' ha5e !othi!& to lo0e e,cept yo'r chai!0.; B't the artf'l way i! which the
0ocial a!" reli&io'0 ri&ht0 are "i0trib'te" a)o!& the "iffere!t ca0te0 whereby 0o)e ha5e )ore a!"
0o)e ha5e le007 )a*e0 the 0lo&a! of Earl Mar, <'ite '0ele00 to e,cite the Hi!"'0 a&ai!0t the /a0te
y0te). /a0te0 for) a &ra"e" 0y0te) of 0o5erei&!tie07 hi&h a!" low7 ?hich are 6ealo'0 of their 0tat'0
a!" which *!ow that if a &e!eral "i00ol'tio! ca)e7 0o)e of the) 0ta!" to lo0e )ore of their pre0ti&e
a!" power tha! other0 "o. =o' ca!!ot7 therefore7 ha5e a &e!eral )obili8atio! of the Hi!"'07 to '0e a
)ilitary e,pre00io!7 for a! attac* o! the /a0te y0te).

@@II
/a! yo' appeal to rea0o! a!" a0* the Hi!"'0 to "i0car" /a0te a0 bei!& co!trary to rea0o! F That
rai0e0 the <'e0tio! - I0 a Hi!"' free to follow hi0 rea0o!F Ma!' ha0 lai" "ow! three 0a!ctio!0 to which
e5ery Hi!"' )'0t co!for) i! the )atter of hi0 beha5io'r !edah s#ritih sada+harah u!as/ +ha
0ri/a#at#anah Here there i0 !o place for rea0o! to play it0 part. A Hi!"' )'0t follow either .eda)
-#riti or -ada+har, He ca!!ot follow a!ythi!& el0e. I! the fir0t place how are the te,t0 of the .edas a!"
-#ritis to be i!terprete" whe!e5er a!y "o'bt ari0e0 re&ar"i!& their )ea!i!& F O! thi0 i)porta!t
<'e0tio! the 5iew of Ma!' i0 <'ite "efi!ite. He 0ay0 -

/o!a#an/et te #oole hetushrashra/a dwi>ah
sa sadhubhirbahish8ar/o nashti8o !edandi8ah
Accor"i!& to thi0 r'le7 ratio!ali0) a0 a ca!o! of i!terpreti!& the .edas a!" -#ritis) i0 ab0ol'tely
co!"e)!e". It i0 re&ar"e" to be a0 wic*e" a0 athei0) a!" the p'!i0h)e!t pro5i"e" for it i0 e,3
co))'!icatio!. Th'07 where a )atter i0 co5ere" by the .eda or the -#riti) a Hi!"' ca!!ot re0ort to
ratio!al thi!*i!&. #5e! whe! there i0 a co!flict betwee! .edas a!" -#ritis o! )atter0 o! which they
ha5e &i5e! a po0iti5e i!6'!ctio!7 the 0ol'tio! i0 !ot left to rea0o!. ?he! there i0 a co!flict betwee! two
-hrutis) both are to be re&ar"e" a0 of e<'al a'thority. #ither of the) )ay be followe". No atte)pt i0 to
be )a"e to fi!" o't which of the two accor"0 with rea0o!. Thi0 i0 )a"e clear by *anu5

shrutidwadha# tu /atra s/a0tatra dhar!ar!udhau s#ritau
;?he! there i0 a co!flict betwee! -hruti and -inriti ) the -hruti )'0t pre5ail.; B't here too7 !o
atte)pt )'0t be )a"e to fi!" o't which of the two accor"0 with rea0o!. Thi0 i0 lai" "ow! by Ma!' i!
the followi!& hlo*a -

/a !edabah/ah snrit/o /ash+h 8ash+h 8ridrishtah i
sar!asta nish0halah 0ret/ ta#onishtha hi tah s#ritah ii
A&ai!7 whe! there i0 a co!flict betwee! two -#ritis) the Ma!'3)riti )'0t pre5ail7 b't !o atte)pt i0
to be )a"e to fi!" o't which of the two accor"0 with rea0o!. Thi0 i0 the r'li!& &i5e! by Briha0pati-

!eda/at!o0anibandhrita!at 0ra#an/a# hi #anoah s#ritah
#an!rtha!i0arita tu /a s#ritih sa na shash/ate
It i07 therefore7 clear that i! a!y )atter o! which the -hrutis a!" -#ritis ha5e &i5e! a po0iti5e
"irectio!7 a Hi!"' i0 !ot free to '0e hi0 rea0o!i!& fac'lty. The 0a)e r'le i0 lai" "ow! i! the Mahabharat
-

0urana# #an!o dhar#ah sango !edash+hi8itsita#
agasidhani +hat!ari na hanta!/ani hetubhih
He )'0t abi"e by their "irectio!0. The /a0te a!" .arna are )atter07 which are "ealt with by the
.edas a!" the -#ritis a!" co!0e<'e!tly7 appeal to rea0o! ca! ha5e !o effect o! a Hi!"'. o far a0 /a0te
a!" .arna are co!cer!e"7 !ot o!ly the -hastras "o !ot per)it the Hi!"' to '0e hi0 rea0o! i! the
"eci0io! of the <'e0tio!7 b't they ha5e ta*e! care to 0ee that !o occa0io! i0 left to e,a)i!e i! a ratio!al
way the fo'!"atio!0 of hi0 belief i! /a0te a!" .arna, It )'0t be a 0o'rce of 0ile!t a)'0e)e!t to )a!y a
No!3Hi!"' to fi!" h'!"re"0 a!" tho'0a!"0 of Hi!"'0 brea*i!& /a0te o! certai! occa0io!07 0'ch a0
railway 6o'r!ey a!" forei&! tra5el a!" yet e!"ea5o'ri!& to )ai!tai! /a0te for the re0t of their li5e0 K
The e,pla!atio! of thi0 phe!o)e!o! "i0clo0e0 a!other fetter o! the rea0o!i!& fac'ltie0 of the Hi!"'0.
Ma!I0 life i0 &e!erally habit'al a!" '!reflecti5e. Reflecti5e tho'&ht7 i! the 0e!0e of acti5e7 per0i0te!t
a!" caref'l co!0i"eratio! of a!y belief or 0'ppo0e" for) or *!owle"&e i! the li&ht of the &ro'!"0 that
0'pport it a!" f'rther co!cl'0io!0 to which it te!"07 i0 <'ite rare a!" ari0e0 o!ly i! a 0it'atio! which
pre0e!t0 a "ile))aa /ri0i03Railway 6o'r!ey0 a!" forei&! tra5el0 are really occa0io!0 of cri0i0 i! the
life of a Hi!"' a!" it i0 !at'ral to e,pect a Hi!"' to a0* hi)0elf why he 0ho'l" )ai!tai! /a0te at all7 if
he ca!!ot )ai!tai! it at all ti)e0. B't he "oe0 !ot. He brea*0 /a0te at o!e 0tep a!" procee"0 to ob0er5e
it at the !e,t witho't rai0i!& a!y <'e0tio!. The rea0o! for thi0 a0to!i0hi!& co!"'ct i0 to be fo'!" i! the
r'le of the -hastras) which "irect0 hi) to )ai!tai! /a0te a0 far a0 po00ible a!" to '!"er&o 0ra/ns+hitia
whe! he ca!!ot. By thi0 theory of 0ra/as+hitta ) the -hastras by followi!& a 0pirit of co)pro)i0e ha5e
&i5e! ca0te a perpet'al lea0e of life a!" ha5e 0)othere" reflecti5e tho'&ht which wo'l" ha5e otherwi0e
le" to the "e0tr'ctio! of the !otio! of /a0te.
There ha5e bee! )a!y who ha5e wor*e" i! the ca'0e of the abolitio! of /a0te a!" U!to'chability.
Of tho0e7 who ca! be )e!tio!e"7 Ra)a!'6a7 Eabir a!" other0 0ta!" o't pro)i!e!tly. /a! yo' appeal to
the act0 of the0e refor)er0 a!" e,hort the Hi!"'0 to follow the) F It i0 tr'e that Ma!' ha0 i!cl'"e"
-ada+har 2sada+har3 a0 o!e of the 0a!ctio!0 alo!& with -hruti a!" -#riti, I!"ee"7 -ada+har ha0 bee!
&i5e! a hi&her place tha! -hastras 5

/addwa+har/ate /en dhar#/a !adhar#a#e! !a
deshas/a+harana# nit/a# +haritra# tadwi8irtata#
accor"i!& to thi07 sada+har) whether7 it i0 dhar#/a or adhar#/a i! accor"a!ce with -hastras or
co!trary to -hastras) )'0t be followe". B't what i0 the )ea!i!& of -ada+har F If a!y o!e were to
0'ppo0e that -ada+har )ea!0 ri&ht or &oo" act0 i,e, act0 of &oo" a!" ri&hteo'0 )e! he wo'l" fi!"
hi)0elf &reatly )i0ta*e!. -ada+har "oe0 !ot )ea!0 &oo" act0 or act0 of &oo" )e!. It )ea!0 a!cie!t
c'0to) good or bad, The followi!& 5er0e )a*e0 thi0 clear -

ya0)i! "e0he ya acharah par)paya*ra)a&atah
5ar!a!i *il 0ar5e0ha) 0a 0a"achar 'chyate
A0 tho'&h to war! people a&ai!0t the 5iew that -ada+har )ea!0 &oo" a+ts or act0 of &oo" )e! a!"
feari!& that people )i&ht '!"er0ta!" it that way a!" follow the act0 of &oo" )e!7 the -#rities ha5e
co))a!"e" the Hi!"'0 i! '!)i0ta*able ter)0 !ot to follow e5e! Go"0 i! their &oo" "ee"07 if they are
co!trary to -hruti) -#rili a!" -ada+har, Thi0 )ay 0o'!" to be )o0t e,traor"i!ary7 )o0t per5er0e7 b't
the. fact re)ai!0 that na de!a+harita# +haret i0 a! i!6'!ctio!7 i00'e" to the Hi!"'0 by their -hastras,
Rea0o! a!" )orality are the two )o0t powerf'l weapo!0 i! the ar)o'ry of a Refor)er. To "epri5e hi)
of the '0e of the0e weapo!0 i0 to "i0able hi) for actio! .How are yo' &oi!& to brea* 'p /a0te7 if people
are !ot free to co!0i"er whether it accor"0 with rea0o! F How are yo' &oi!& to brea* 'p /a0te if people
are !ot free to co!0i"er whether it accor"0 with )orality F The wall b'ilt aro'!" /a0te i0 i)pre&!able
a!" the )aterial7 of which it i0 b'ilt7 co!tai!0 !o!e of the co)b'0tible 0t'ff of rea0o! a!" )orality. A""
to thi0 the fact that i!0i"e thi0 wall 0ta!"0 the ar)y of Brah)i!07 who for) the i!tellect'al cla007
Brah)i!0 who are the !at'ral lea"er0 of the Hi!"'07 Brah)i!0 who are there !ot a0 )ere )erce!ary
0ol"ier0 b't a0 a! ar)y fi&hti!& for it0 ho)ela!" a!" yo' will &et a! i"ea why I thi!* that brea*i!&3'p
of /a0te a)o!&0t the Hi!"'0 i0 well3!i&h i)po00ible. At a!y rate7 it wo'l" ta*e a&e0 before a breach i0
)a"e. B't whether the "oi!& of the "ee" ta*e0 ti)e or whether it ca! be done <'ic*ly7 yo' )'0t !ot
for&et that if yo' wi0h to bri!& abo't ? breach i! the 0y0te) the! yo' ha5e &ot to apply the "y!a)ite
to the .edas a!" the -hastras) which "e!y a!y part to rea0o!7 to .edas a!" -hastras) which "e!y a!y
part to )orality. =o' )'0t "e0troy the Reli&io! of the -hrutis a!" the -#ritis, Nothi!& el0e will a5ail.
Thi0 i0 )y co!0i"ere" 5iew of the )atter.
@@III
o)e )ay !ot '!"er0ta!" what I )ea! by "e0tr'ctio! of Reli&io!G 0o)e )ay fi!" the i"ea re5olti!&
to the) a!" 0o)e )ay fi!" it re5ol'tio!ary. 4et )e therefore e,plai! )y po0itio!. I "o !ot *!ow
whether yo' "raw a "i0ti!ctio! betwee! pri!ciple0 a!" r'le0, B't I "o. Not o!ly I )a*e a "i0ti!ctio! b't
I 0ay that thi0 "i0ti!ctio! i0 real a!" i)porta!t. R'le0 are practical G they are habit'al way0 of "oi!&
thi!&0 accor"i!& to pre0criptio!. B't pri!ciple0 are i!tellect'alG they are '0ef'l )etho"0 of 6'"&i!&
thi!&0. R'le0 0ee* to tell a! a&e!t 6'0t what co'r0e of actio! to p'r0'e. Pri!ciple0 "o !ot pre0cribe a
0pecific co'r0e of actio!. R'le07 li*e coo*i!& recipe07 "o tell 6'0t what to "o a!" how to "o it. A
pri!0iple7 0'ch a0 that of 6'0tice7 0'pplie0 a )ai! hea" by refere!ce to which he i0 to co!0i"er the
beari!&0 of hi0 "e0ire0 a!" p'rpo0e07 it &'i"e0 hi) i! hi0 thi!*i!& by 0'&&e0ti!& to hi) the i)porta!t
co!0i"eratio! which he 0ho'l" bear i! )i!". Thi0 "iffere!ce betwee! r'le0 a!" pri!ciple0 )a*e0 the
act0 "o!e i! p'r0'it of the) "iffere!t i! <'ality a!" i! co!te!t. Doi!& what i0 0ai" to be) &oo" by 5irt'e
of a r'le a!" "oi!& &oo" i! the li&ht of a pri!ciple are two "iffere!t thi!&0. The pri!ciple )ay be wro!&
b't the act i0 co!0cio'0 a!" re0po!0ible. The r'le )ay be ri&ht b't the act i0 )echa!ical. A reli&io'0 act
)ay !ot be a correct act b't )'0t at lea0t be a re0po!0ible act. To per)it of thi0 re0po!0ibility7 Reli&io!
)'0t )ai!ly be a )atter of pri!ciple0 o!ly. It ca!!ot be a )atter of r'le0. The )o)e!t it "e&e!erate0
i!to r'le0 it cea0e0 to be Reli&io!7 a0 it *ill0 re0po!0ibility which i0 the e00e!ce of a tr'ly reli&io'0 act.
?hat i0 thi0 Hi!"' Reli&io! F I0 it a 0et of pri!ciple0 or i0 it a co"e of r'le0 F Now the Hi!"' Reli&io!7
a0 co!tai!e" i! the .edas a!" the -#ritis) i0 !othi!& b't a )a00 of 0acrificial7 0ocial7 political a!"
0a!itary r'le0 a!" re&'latio!07 all )i,e" 'p. ?hat i0 calle" Reli&io! by the Hi!"'0 i0 !othi!& b't a
)'ltit'"e of co))a!"0 a!" prohibitio!0. Reli&io!7 i! the 0e!0e of 0pirit'al pri!ciple07 tr'ly '!i5er0al7
applicable to all race07 to all co'!trie07 to all ti)e07 i0 !ot to be fo'!" i! the)7 a!" if it i07 it "oe0 !ot
for) the &o5er!i!& part of a Hi!"'I0 life. That for a Hi!"'7 Dhar)a )ea!0 co))a!"0 a!" prohibitio!0
i0 clear fro) the way the wor" Dhar)a i0 '0e" i! .edas a!" the -inritis a!" '!"er0too" by the
co))e!tator0. The wor" Dhar)a a0 '0e" i! the .edas i! )o0t ca0e0 )ea!0 reli&io'0 or"i!a!ce0 or
rite0. #5e! 2ai)i!i i! hi0 P'r5a3Mi)a!0a "efi!e0 Dhar)a a0 ;a "e0irable &oal or re0'lt that i0 i!"icate"
by i!6'!cti5e 2.edi+3 pa00a&e0 ;. To p't it i! plai! la!&'a&e7 what the Hi!"'0 call Reli&io! i0 really
4aw or at be0t le&ali8e" cla003ethic0. Cra!*ly7 I ref'0e to c'll thi0 co"e of or"i!a!ce07 a0 Reli&io!. The
fir0t e5il of 0'ch a co"e of or"i!a!ce07 )i0repre0e!te" to the people a0 Reli&io!7 i0 that it te!"0 to
"epri5e )oral life of free"o) a!" 0po!ta!eity a!" to re"'ce it Afor the co!0cie!tio'0 at a!y rateB to a
#ore or le00 a!,io'0 a!" 0er5ile co!for)ity to e,ter!ally i)po0e" r'le0. U!"er it7 there i0 !o loyalty to
i"eal07 there i0 o!ly co!for)ity to co))a!"0. B't the wor0t e5il of thi0 co"e of or"i!a!ce0 i0 that the
law0 it co!tai!0 )'0t be the 0a)e ye0ter"ay7 to"ay a!" fore5er. They are i!i<'ito'0 i! that they are !ot
the 0a)e for o!e cla00 a0 for a!other. B't thi0 i!i<'ity i0 )a"e perpet'al i! that they are pre0cribe" to
be the 0a)e for all &e!eratio!0. The ob6ectio!able part of 0'ch a 0che)e i0 !ot that they are )a"e by
certai! per0o!0 calle" Prophet0 or 4aw3&i5er0. The ob6ectio!able part i0 that thi0 co"e ha0 bee!
i!5e0te" with the character of fi!ality a!" fi,ity. Happi!e00 !otorio'0ly 5arie0 with the co!"itio!0 a!"
circ')0ta!ce0 of a per0o!7 a0 well a0 with the co!"itio!0 of "iffere!t people a!" epoch0. That bei!& the
ca0e7 how ca! h')a!ity e!"'re thi0 co"e of eter!al law07 witho't bei!& cra)pe" a!" witho't bei!&
cripple" F I ha5e7 therefore7 !o he0itatio! i! 0ayi!& that 0'ch a reli&io! )'0t be "e0troye" a!" I 0ay7
there i0 !othi!& irreli&io'0 i! wor*i!& for the "e0tr'ctio! of 0'ch a reli&io!. I!"ee" I hol" that it i0 yo'r
bo'!"e! "'ty to tear the )a0*7 to re)o5e the )i0repre0e!tatio! that a0 ca'0e" by )i0!a)i!& thi0 4aw
a0 Reli&io!. Thi0 i0 a! e00e!tial 0tep for yo'. O!ce yo' clear the )i!"0 of the people of thi0
)i0co!ceptio! a!" e!able the) to reali8e that what they are tol" a0 Reli&io! i0 !ot Reli&io! b't that it
i0 really 4aw7 yo' will be i! a po0itio! to 'r&e for it0 a)e!")e!t or abolitio!. o lo!& a0 people loo*
'po! it a0 Reli&io! they will !ot be rea"y for a cha!&e7 beca'0e the i"ea of Reli&io! i0 &e!erally
0pea*i!& !ot a00ociate" with the i"ea of cha!&e. B't the i"ea of law i0 a00ociate" with the i"ea of
cha!&e a!" whe! people co)e to *!ow that what i0 calle" Reli&io! i0 really 4aw7 ol" a!" archaic7 they
will be rea"y for a cha!&e7 for people *!ow a!" accept that law ca! be cha!&e".
@@I.
?hile I co!"e)! a Reli&io! of R'le07 I )'0t !ot be '!"er0too" to hol" the opi!io! that there i0 !o
!ece00ity for a reli&io!. O! the co!trary7 I a&ree with B'r*e whe! he 0ay0 that7 ; Tr'e reli&io! i0 the
fo'!"atio! of 0ociety7 the ba0i0 o! which all tr'e /i5il Go5er!)e!t re0t07 a!" both their 0a!ctio!.;
/o!0e<'e!tly7 whe! I 'r&e that the0e a!cie!t r'le0 of life be a!!'lle"7 I a) a!,io'0 that it0 place 0hall
be ta*e! by a Reli&io! of Pri!ciple07 which alo!e ca! lay clai) to bei!& a tr'e Reli&io!. I!"ee"7 I a)
0o co!5i!ce" of the !ece00ity of Reli&io! that I feel I o'&ht to tell yo' i! o'tli!e what I re&ar" a0
!ece00ary ite)0 i! thi0 reli&io'0 refor). The followi!& i! )y opi!io! 0ho'l" be the car"i!al ite)0 i!
thi0 refor) - A 1 B There 0ho'l" be o!e a!" o!ly o!e 0ta!"ar" boo* of Hi!"' Reli&io!7 acceptable to all
Hi!"'0 a!" reco&!i8e" by all Hi!"'0. Thi0 of co'r0e )ea!0 that all other boo*0 of Hi!"' reli&io! 0'ch
a0 .edas) -hastras a!" "uranas) which are treate" a0 0acre" a!" a'thoritati5e7 )'0t by law cea0e to be
0o a!" the preachi!& of a!y "octri!e7 reli&io'0 or 0ocial co!tai!e" i! the0e boo*0 0ho'l" be pe!ali8e".
A$B It 0ho'l" be better if prie0thoo" a)o!& Hi!"'0 wa0 aboli0he". B't a0 thi0 0ee)0 to be i)po00ible7
the prie0thoo" )'0t at lea0t cea0e to be here"itary. #5ery per0o! who profe00e0 to be a Hi!"' )'0t be
eli&ible for bei!& a prie0t. It 0ho'l" be pro5i"e" by law that !o Hi!"' 0hall be e!title" to be a prie0t
'!le00 he ha0 pa00e" a! e,a)i!atio! pre0cribe" by the tate a!" hol"0 a sanad fro) the tate
per)itti!& hi) to practi0e. A%B No cere)o!y perfor)e" by a prie0t who "oe0 !ot hol" a sanad 0hall be
"ee)e" to be 5ali" i! law a!" it 0ho'l" be )a"e pe!al for a per0o! who ha0 !o sanad to officiate a0 a
prie0t. A(B A prie0t 0ho'l" be the 0er5a!t of the tate a!" 0ho'l" be 0'b6ect to the "i0cipli!ary actio! by
the tate i! the )atter of hi0 )oral07 belief0 a!" wor0hip7 i! a""itio! to hi0 bei!& 0'b6ect alo!& with
other citi8e!0 to the or"i!ary law of the la!". A+B The !')ber of prie0t0 0ho'l" be li)ite" by law
accor"i!& to the re<'ire)e!t0 of the tate a0 i0 "o!e i! the ca0e of the I./.. To 0o)e7 thi0 )ay 0o'!"
ra"ical. B't to )y )i!" there i0 !othi!& re5ol'tio!ary i! thi0. #5ery profe00io! i! I!"ia i0 re&'late".
#!&i!eer0 )'0t 0how proficie!cy7 Doctor )'0t 0how proficie!cy7 4awyer0 )'0t 0how proficie!cy7
before they are allowe" to practi0e their profe00io!0. D'ri!& the whole of their career7 they )'0t !ot
o!ly obey the law of the la!"7 ci5il a0 well as cri)i!al7 b't they )'0t al0o obey the 0pecial co"e of
)oral0 pre0cribe" by their re0pecti5e profe00io!0. The prie0tI0 i0 the o!ly profe00io! where proficie!cy
i0 !ot re<'ire". The profe00io! of a Hi!"' prie0t i0 the o!ly profe00io! which i0 !ot 0'b6ect to a!y co"e.
Me!tally a prie0t )ay be a! i"iot7 phy0ically a prie0t )ay be 0'fferi!& fro) a fo'l "i0ea0e7 0'ch a0
0yphili0 or &o!orrheae7 )orally he )ay be a wrec*. B't he i0 fit to officiate at 0ole)! cere)o!ie07 to
e!ter the san+tu# san+toru# of a Hi!"' te)ple a!" wor0hip the Hi!"' Go". All thi0 beco)e0 po00ible
a)o!& the Hi!"'0 beca'0e for a prie0t it i0 e!o'&h to be bor! i! a prie0tly ca0te. The whole thi!& i0
abo)i!able a!" i0 "'e to the fact that the prie0tly cla00 a)o!& Hi!"'0 i0 0'b6ect !either to law !or to
)orality. It reco&!i8e0 !o "'tie0. It *!ow0 o!ly of ri&ht0 a!" pri5ile&e0. It i0 a pe0t which "i5i!ity
0ee)0 to ha5e let loo0e o! the )a00e0 for their )e!tal a!" )oral "e&ra"atio!. The prie0tly cla00 )'0t
be bro'&ht '!"er co!trol by 0o)e 0'ch le&i0latio! a0 I ha5e o'tli!e" abo5e. It will pre5e!t it fro)
"oi!& )i0chief a!" fro) )i0&'i"i!& people. It will "e)ocrati0e it by throwi!& it ope! to e5ery o!e. It
will certai!ly help to *ill the Brah)i!i0) a!" will al0o help to *ill /a0te7 which i0 !othi!& b't
Brah)i!i0) i!car!ate. Brah)i!i0) i0 the poi0o! which ha0 0poile" Hi!"'i0). =o' will 0'ccee" i!
0a5i!& Hi!"'i0) if yo' will *ill Brah)i!i0). There 0ho'l" be !o oppo0itio! to thi0 refor) fro) a!y
<'arter. It 0ho'l" be welco)e" e5e! by the Arya a)a6i0t07 beca'0e thi0 i0 )erely a! applicatio! of
their ow! "octri!e of guna;8ar#a,
?hether yo' "o that or yo' "o !ot7 yo' )'0t &i5e a !ew "octri!al ba0i0 to yo'r Reli&io!a ba0i0
that will be i! co!0o!a!ce with 4iberty7 #<'ality a!" Crater!ity7 i! 0hort7 with De)ocracy. I a) !o
a'thority o! the 0'b6ect. B't I a) tol" that for 0'ch reli&io'0 pri!ciple0 a0 will be i! co!0o!a!ce with
4iberty7 #<'ality a!" Crater!ity it )ay !ot be !ece00ary for yo' to borrow fro) forei&! 0o'rce0 a!"
that yo' co'l" "raw for 0'ch pri!ciple0 o! the U0anishads, ?hether yo' co'l" "o 0o witho't a
co)plete re)o'l"i!&7 a co!0i"erable 0crapi!& a!" chippi!& off the ore they co!tai! 7 i0 )ore tha! I ca!
0ay. Thi0 )ea!0 a co)plete cha!&e i! the f'!"a)e!tal !otio!0 of life3it )ea!0 a co)plete cha!&e i! the
5al'e0 of life. It )ea!0 a co)plete cha!&e i! o'tloo* a!" i! attit'"e towar"0 )e! a!" thi!&0. It )ea!0
co!5er0io! b't if yo' "o !ot. li*e the wor"7 I will 0ay7 it )ea!0 !ew life. B't a !ew life ca!!ot e!ter a
bo"y that i0 "ea". New life ca! ce!ter o!ly i! a !ew bo"y. The ol" bo"y )'0t "ie before a !ew bo"y
ca! co)e i!to e,i0te!ce a!" a !ew life ca! e!ter i!to it. To p't it 0i)ply- the ol" )'0t cea0e to be
operati5e before the !ew ca! be&i! to e!li5e! a!" to p'l0ate. Thi0 i0 what I )ea!t whe! I 0ai" yo' )'0t
"i0car" the a'thority of the -hastras a!" "e0troy the reli&io! of the -hastras,
@@.
I ha5e *ept yo' too lo!&. It i0 ti)e I bro'&ht thi0 a""re00 to a clo0e. Thi0 wo'l" ha5e bee! a
co!5e!ie!t poi!t for )e to ha5e 0toppe". B't thi0 wo'l" probably be )y la0t a""re00 to a Hi!"'
a'"ie!ce o! a 0'b6ect 5itally co!cer!i!& the Hi!"'0. I wo'l" therefore li*e7 before I clo0e7 to place
before the Hi!"'07 if they will allow )e7 0o)e <'e0tio!0 which I re&ar" a0 5ital a!" i!5ite the)
0erio'0ly to co!0i"er the 0a)e.
I! the fir0t place7 the Hi!"'0 )'0t co!0i"er whether it i0 0'fficie!t to ta*e the placi" 5iew of the
a!thropolo&i0t that there i0 !othi!& to be 0ai" abo't the belief07 habit07 )oral0 a!" o'tloo*0 o! life7
which obtai! a)o!& the "iffere!t people0 of the worl" e,cept that they ofte! "iffer G or whether it i0 !ot
!ece00ary to )a*e a! atte)pt to fi!" o't what *i!" of )orality7 belief07 habit0 a!" o'tloo* ha5e wor*e"
be0t a!" ha5e e!able" tho0e who po00e00e" the) to flo'ri0h7 to &o 0tro!&7 to people the earth a!" to
ha5e "o)i!io! o5er it. A0 i0 ob0er5e" by Prof. /ar5er7 ; Morality a!" reli&io!7 a0 the or&a!i0e"
e,pre00io! of )oral appro5al a!" "i0appro5al7 )'0t be re&ar"e" a0 factor0 i! the 0tr'&&le for e,i0te!ce
a0 tr'ly a0 are weapo!0 for offe!ce a!" "efe!ce7 teeth a!" claw07 hor!0 a!" hoof07 f'r0 a!" feather0.
The 0ocial &ro'p7 co))'!ity7 tribe or !atio!7 which "e5elop0 a! '!wor*able 0che)e of )orality or
withi! which tho0e 0ocial act0 which wea*e! it a!" '!fit it for 0'r5i5al7 habit'ally create the 0e!ti)e!t
of appro5al7 while tho0e which wo'l" 0tre!&the! a!" e!able it to be e,pa!"e" habit'ally create the
0e!ti)e!t of "i0appro5al7 will e5e!t'ally be eli)i!ate". It i0 it0 habit0 of appro5al or "i0appro5al Athe0e
are the re0'lt0 of reli&io! a!" )oralityB that ha!"icap it7 a0 really a0 the po00e00io! of two wi!&0 o! o!e
0i"e with !o!e o!. the other will ha!"icap the colo!y of flie0. It wo'l" be a0 f'tile i! the o!e ca0e a0 i!
the other to ar&'e7 that o!e 0y0te) i0 6'0t a0 &oo" a0 a!other.; Morality a!" reli&io!7 therefore7 are !ot
)ere )atter0 of li*e0 a!" "i0li*e0. =o' )ay "i0li*e e,cee"i!&ly a 0che)e of )orality7 which7 if
'!i5er0ally practi0e" withi! a !atio!7 wo'l" )a*e that !atio! the 0tro!&e0t !atio! o! the face of the
earth. =et i! 0pite of yo'r "i0li*e 0'ch a !atio! will beco)e 0tro!&. =o' )ay li*e e,cee"i!&ly a 0che)e
of )orality a!" a! i"eal of 6'0tice7 which if '!i5er0ally practi0e" withi! a !atio!7 wo'l" )a*e it e!able
to hol" it0 ow! i! the 0tr'&&le with other !atio!0. =et i! 0pite of yo'r a")iratio! thi0 !atio! will
e5e!t'ally "i0appear. The Hi!"'0 )'0t7 therefore7 e,a)i!e their reli&io! a!" the! )orality i! ter)0 of
their 0'r5i5al 5al'e.
-e+ondl/) the Hi!"'0 )'0t co!0i"er whether they 0ho'l" co!0er5e the whole of their 0ocial herita&e
or 0elect what i0 helpf'l a!" tra!0)it to f't're &e!eratio!0 o!ly that )'ch a!" !o )ore. Prof7 2oh!
Dewey.7 who wa0 )y teacher a!" to who) I owe 0o )'ch7 ha0 0ai" - ; #5ery 0ociety &et0 e!c')bere"
with what i0 tri5ial7 with "ea" woo" fro) the pa0t7 a!" with what i0 po0iti5ely per5er0e... A0 a 0ociety
beco)e0 )ore e!li&hte!e"7 it reali8e0 that it i0 re0po!0ible not to co!0er5e a!" tra!0)it7 the whole of
it0 e,i0ti!& achie5e)e!t07 b't o!ly 0'ch a0 )a*e for a better f't're 0ociety.; #5e! B'r*e i! 0pite of the
5ehe)e!ce with which he oppo0e" the pri!ciple of cha!&e e)bo"ie" i! the Cre!ch Re5ol'tio!7 wa0
co)pelle" to a")it that ; a tate witho't the )ea!0 of 0o)e cha!&e i0 witho't the )ea!0 of it0
co!0er5atio!. ?itho't 0'ch )ea!0 it )i&ht e5e! ri0* the lo00 of that part of the co!0tit'tio! which it
wi0he" the )o0t reli&io'0ly to pre0er5e7 77 ?hat B'r*e 0ai" of a tate applie0 e<'ally to a 0ociety.
Thirdl/) the Hi!"'0 )'0t co!0i"er whether they )'0t !ot cea0e to wor0hip the pa0t a0 0'pplyi!& it0
i"eal0. The bea'tif'l effect of thi0 wor0hip of the pa0t are be0t 0'))e" 'p by Prof. Dewey whe! he
0ay0 - ; A! i!"i5i"'al ca! li5e o!ly i! the pre0e!t. The pre0e!t i0 !ot 6'0t 0o)ethi!& which co)e0 after
the pa0t G )'ch le00 0o)ethi!& pro"'ce" by it. It i0 what life i0 i! lea5i!& the pa0t behi!" it. The 0t'"y
of pa0t pro"'ct0 will !ot help '0 to '!"er0ta!" the pre0e!t. A *!owle"&e of the pa0t a!" it0 herita&e i0
of &reat 0i&!ifica!ce whe! it e!ter0 i!to the pre0e!t7 b't !ot otherwi0e. A!" the )i0ta*e of )a*i!& the3
recor"0 a!" re)ai!0 of the pa0t the )ai! )aterial of e"'catio! i0 that it te!"0 to )a*e the pa0t a ri5al of
the pre0e!t a!" the pre0e!t a )ore or le00 f'tile i)itatio! of the pa0t.; The pri!ciple7 which )a*e0 little
of the pre0e!t act of li5i!& a!" &rowi!&7 !at'rally loo*0 'po! the pre0e!t a0 e)pty a!" 'po! the f't're
a0 re)ote. 'ch a pri!ciple i0 i!i)ical to pro&re00 a!" i0 a! hi!"ra!ce to a 0tro!& a!" a 0tea"y c'rre!t
of life.
6ourthl/) the Hi!"'0 )'0t co!0i"er whether the ti)e ha0 !ot co)e for the) to reco&!i8e that there i0
!othi!& fi,e"7 !othi!& eter!al7 !othi!& sanatan@ that e5erythi!& i0 cha!&i!&7 that cha!&e i0 the law of
life for i!"i5i"'al0 a0 well a0 for 0ociety. I! a cha!&i!& 0ociety7 there )'0t be a co!0ta!t re5ol'tio! of
ol" 5al'e0 a!" the Hi!"'0 )'0t reali8e that if there )'0t be 0ta!"ar"0 to )ea0're the act0 of )e! there
)'0t al0o be a rea"i!e00 to re5i0e tho0e 0ta!"ar"0.
@@.I
I ha5e to co!fe00 that thi0 a""re00 ha0 beco)e too le!&thy. ?hether thi0 fa'lt i0 co)pe!0ate" to a!y
e,te!t by brea"th or "epth i0 a )atter for yo' to 6'"&e. All I clai) i0 to ha5e tol" yo' ca!"i"ly )y
5iew0. I ha5e little to reco))e!" the) b't 0o)e 0t'"y a!" a "eep co!cer! i! yo'r "e0ti!y. If yo' will
allow )e to 0ay7 these 5iew0 are the 5iew0 of a )a!7 who ha0 bee! !o tool of power7 !o flatterer of
&reat!e00. They co)e fro) o!e7 al)o0t the whole of who0e p'blic e,ertio! ha0 bee! o!e co!ti!'o'0
0tr'&&le for liberty for the poor a!" for the oppre00e" a!" who0e o!ly rewar" ha0 bee! a co!ti!'o'0
0hower of cal')!y a!" ab'0e fro) !atio!al 6o'r!al0 a!" !atio!al lea"er07 for !o other rea0o! e,cept
that I ref'0e to 6oi! with the) i! perfor)i!& the )iracleI will !ot 0ay tric*of liberati!& the
oppre00e" with the &ol" of the tyra!t a!" rai0i!& the poor with the ca0h of the rich. All thi0 )ay !ot be
e!o'&h to co))e!" )y 5iew0. I thi!* they are !ot li*ely to alter yo'r0. B't whether they "o or "o !ot7
the re0po!0ibility i0 e!tirely yo'r0. =o' )'0t )a*e yo'r effort0 to 'proot /a0te7 if !ot i! )y way7 the!
i! yo'r way. I a) 0orry7 I will !ot be with yo'. I ha5e "eci"e" to cha!&e. Thi0 i0 !ot the place for
&i5i!& rea0o!0. B't e5e! whe! I a) &o!e o't of yo'r fol"7 I will watch yo'r )o5e)e!t with acti5e
0y)pathy a!" yo' will ha5e )y a00i0ta!ce for what it )ay be worth. =o'r0 i0 a !atio!al ca'0e. /a0te i0
!o "o'bt pri)arily the breath of the Hi!"'0. B't the Hi!"'0 ha5e fo'le" the air all o5er a!" e5erybo"y
i0 i!fecte"7 i*h7 M'0li) a!" /hri0tia!. =o'7 therefore7 "e0er5e the 0'pport of all tho0e who are
0'fferi!& fro) thi0 i!fectio!7 i*h7 M'0li) a!" /hri0tia!. =o'r0 i0 )ore "iffic'lt tha! the other !atio!al
ca'0e7 !a)ely wara6. I! the fi&ht for wara6 yo' fi&ht with the whole !atio! o! yo'r 0i"e. I! thi07 yo'
ha5e to fi&ht a&ai!0t the whole !atio! a!" that too7 yo'r ow!. B't it i0 )ore i)porta!t tha! wara6.
There i0 !o '0e ha5i!& wara67 if yo' ca!!ot "efe!" it. More i)porta!t tha! the <'e0tio! of "efe!"i!&
wara6 i0 the <'e0tio! of "efe!"i!& the Hi!"'0 '!"er the wara6. I! )y opi!io! o!ly whe! the Hi!"'
ociety beco)e0 a ca0tele00 0ociety that it ca! hope to ha5e 0tre!&th e!o'&h to "efe!" it0elf. ?itho't
0'ch i!ter!al 0tre!&th7 wara6 for Hi!"'0 )ay t'r! o't to be o!ly a 0tep towar"0 0la5ery. Goo"3bye a!"
&oo" wi0he0 for yo'r 0'cce00.

APPENDI# I

A "INDICATION OF CASTE B! MAHATMA GANDHI
2A Re0rint of his Arti+les in the " Hari(an "3
Dr. Ambedkar$s Ind%&tment I

The rea"er0 will recall the fact that Dr. A)be"*ar wa0 to ha5e pre0i"e" la0t May at the a!!'al
co!fere!ce of the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al of 4ahore. B't the co!fere!ce it0elf wa0 ca!celle" beca'0e Dr.
A)be"*arI0 a""re00 wa0 fo'!" by the Receptio! /o))ittee to be '!acceptable. How far a Receptio!
/o))ittee i0 6'0tifie" i! re6ecti!& a Pre0i"e!t of it0 choice beca'0e of hi0 a""re00 that )ay be
ob6ectio!able to it i0 ope! to <'e0tio!. The /o))ittee *!ew Dr. A)be"*arI0 5iew0 o! ca0te a!" the
Hi!"' 0cript're0. They *!ew al0o that he ha" i! '!e<'i5ocal ter)0 "eci"e" to &i5e 'p Hi!"'i0).
Nothi!& le00 tha! the a""re00 that Dr. A)be"*ar ha" prepare" wa0 to be e,pecte" fro) hi). The
co))ittee appear0 to ha5e "epri5e" the p'blic of a! opport'!ity of li0te!i!& to the ori&i!al 5iew0 of a
)a!7 who ha0 car5e" o't for hi)0elf a '!i<'e po0itio! i! 0ociety. ?hate5er label he wear0 i! f't're7
Dr. A)be"*ar i0 !ot the )a! to allow hi)0elf to be for&otte!.
Dr. A)be"*ar wa0 !ot &oi!& to be beate! by the Receptio! /o))ittee. He ha0 a!0were" their
re6ectio! of hi) by p'bli0hi!& the a""re00 at hi0 ow! e,pe!0e. He ha0 price" it at H a!!a07 I wo'l"
0'&&e0t a re"'ctio! to $ a!!a0 or at lea0t ( a!!a0.
No refor)er ca! i&!ore the a""re00. The ortho"o, will &ai! by rea"i!& it. Thi0 i0 !ot to 0ay that the
a""re00 i0 !ot ope! to ob6ectio!. It ha0 to be rea" o!ly beca'0e it i0 ope! to 0erio'0 ob6ectio!. Dr.
A)be"*ar i0 a challe!&e to Hi!"'i0). Bro'&ht 'p a0 a Hi!"'7 e"'cate" by a Hi!"' pote!tate7 he ha0
beco)e 0o "i0&'0te" with the 0o3calle" a5ar!a Hi!"'0 for the treat)e!t that he a!" hi0 people ha5e
recei5e" at their ha!"0 that he propo0e0 to lea5e !ot o!ly the) b't the 5ery reli&io! that i0 hi0 a!" their
co))o! herita&e. He ha0 tra!0ferre" to that reli&io!7 hi0 "i0&'0t a&ai!0t a part of it0 profe00or0.
B't thi0 i0 !ot to be wo!"ere" at. After all7 o!e ca! o!ly 6'"&e a 0y0te) or a! i!0tit'tio! by the co!"'ct
of it0 repre0e!tati5e0. ?hat i0 )ore. Dr. A)be"*ar fo'!" that the 5a0t )a6ority of a5ar!a Hi!"'0 ha"
!ot o!ly co!"'cte" the)0el5e0 i!h')a!ly a&ai!0t tho0e of their fellow reli&io!i0t07 who) they cla00e"
a0 '!to'chable07 b't they ha" ba0e" their co!"'ct o! the a'thority of their 0cript're07 a!" whe! he
be&a! to 0earch the) he ha" fo'!" a)ple warra!t for their belief0 i! '!to'chability a!" all it0
i)plicatio!0. The a'thor of the a""re00 ha0 <'ote" chapter a!" 5er0e i! proof of hi0 three3fol"
i!"ict)e!ti!h')a! co!"'ct it0elf7 the '!aba0he" 6'0tificatio! for it o! the part of the perpetrator07
a!" the 0'b0e<'e!t "i0co5ery that the 6'0tificatio! wa0 warra!te" by their 0cript're0.
No Hi!"' who pri8e0 hi0 faith abo5e life it0elf ca! affor" to '!"errate the i)porta!ce of thi0
i!"ict)e!t. Dr A)be"*ar i0 !ot alo!e i! hi0 "i0&'0t He i0 it0 )o0t '!co)pro)i0i!& e,po!e!t a!" o!e
of the able0t a)o!& the). He i0 certai!ly the )o0t irreco!cilable a)o!& the). Tha!* Go"7 i! the fro!t
ra!* of the lea"er07 he i0 0i!&'larly alo!e a!" a0 yet b't a repre0e!tati5e of a 5ery 0)all )i!ority. B't
what he 0ay0 i0 5oice" with )ore or le00 5ehe)e!ce by )a!y lea"er0 belo!&i!& to the "epre00e"
cla00e0. O!ly the latter7 for i!0ta!ce Rao Baha"'r M. /. Ra6ah a!" Dewa! Baha"'r ri!i5a0a!7 !ot o!ly
"o !ot threate! to &i5e 'p Hi!"'i0) b't fi!" e!o'&h war)th i! it to co)pe!0ate for the 0ha)ef'l
per0ec'tio! to which the 5a0t )a00 of Hari6a!0 are e,po0e".
B't the fact of )a!y lea"er0 re)ai!i!& i! the Hi!"' fol" i0 !o warra!t for "i0re&ar"i!& what Dr.
A)be"*ar ha0 to 0ay. The a5araa0 ha5e to correct their belief a!" their co!"'ct. Abo5e all tho0e who
are by their lear!i!& a!" i!fl'e!ce a)o!& the a5ar!a0 ha5e to &i5e a! a'thoritati5e i!terpretatio! of
the 0cript're0. The <'e0tio!0 that Dr. A)be"*arI0 i!"ict)e!t 0'&&e0t are -
A1B ?hat are the 0cript're0 F
A$B Are all the pri!te" te,t0 to be re&ar"e" a0 a! i!te&ral part of the) or i0 a!y part of the) to be
re6ecte" a0 '!a'thori0e" i!terpolatio! F
A%B ?hat i0 the a!0wer of 0'ch accepte" a!" e,p'r&ate" 0cript're0 o! the <'e0tio! of
'!to'chability7 ca0te7 e<'ality of 0tat'07 i!ter3"i!i!& a!" i!ter)arria&e0 F AThe0e ha5e bee! all
e,a)i!e" by Dr. A)be"*ar i! hi0 a""re00.B
I )'0t re0er5e for the !e,t i00'e )y ow! a!0wer to the0e <'e0tio!0 a!" a 0tate)e!t of the Aat lea0t
0o)eB )a!ife0t flaw0 i! Dr. A)be"*arI0 the0i0
2Hari(an) 2'ly II7 19%1B
II
The .edas) U0anishads) -#ritis a!" "uranas i!cl'"i!& Ra)aya!a a!" Mahabharata are the Hi!"'
cript're0. Nor i0 thi0 a fi!ite li0t. #5ery a&e or e5e!. &e!eratio! ha0 a""e" to the li0t. It follow07
therefore7 that e5erythi!& pri!te" or e5e! fo'!" ha!"writte! i0 !ot 0cript're. The -#rities for i!0ta!ce3
co!tai! )'ch that ca! !e5er be accepte" a0 the wor" of Go". Th'0. )a!y of the te,t0 that Dr.
A)be"*ar <'ote0 fro) the -#ritis ca!!ot be accepte" a0 a'the!tic. The 0cript're07 properly 0o3calle"7
ca! o!ly be co!cer!e" with eter!al 5arietie0 a!" )'0t appeal to a!y co!0cie!ce i,e, a!y heart who0e
eye0 of '!"er0ta!"i!& are ope!e". Nothi!& ca! be accepte" a0 the wor" of Go" which ca!!ot be te0te"
by rea0o! or be capable of bei!& 0pirit'ally e,perie!ce". A!" e5e! whe! yo' ha5e a! e,p'r&ate"
e"itio! of the 0cript're07 yo' will !ee" their i!terpretatio!. ?ho i0 the be0t i!terpreterF Not lear!e"
)e! 0'rely. 4ear!i!& there )'0t be. B't reli&io! "oe0 !ot li5e it. It li5e0 i! the e,perie!ce0 of it0 0ai!t0
a!" 0eer07 i! their li5e0 a!" 0ayi!&0. ?he! all the )o0t lear!e" co))e!tator0 of the 0cript're0 are
'tterly for&otte!7 the acc')'late" e,perie!ce of the 0a&e0 a!" 0ai!t0 will abi"e a!" be a! i!0piratio! for
a&e0 to co)e.
/a0te ha0 !othi!& to "o with reli&io!. It i0 a c'0to) who0e ori&i! I "o !ot *!ow a!" "o !ot !ee" to
*!ow for the 0ati0factio! of )y 0pirit'al h'!&er. B't I "o *!ow that it i0 har)f'l both to 0pirit'al a!"
!atio!al &rowth. .arna a!" Ashra#a are i!0tit'tio!0 which ha5e !othi!& to "o with ca0te0 .The law of
.arna teache0 '0 that we ha5e each o!e of '0 to ear! o'r brea" by followi!& the a!ce0tral calli!&. it
"efi!e0 !ot o'r ri&ht0 b't o'r "'tie0. It !ece00arily ha0 refere!ce to calli!&0 that are co!"'ci5e to the
welfare of h')a!ity a!" to !o other. It al0o follow0 that there i0 !o calli!& too low a!" !o!e too hi&h.
Ail are &oo"7 lawf'l a!" ab0ol'tely e<'al i! 0tat'0. The calli!&0 of a Brah)i! 0pirit'al teacher3a!"
a 0ca5e!&er are e<'al7 a!" their "'e perfor)a!ce carrie0 e<'al )erit before Go" a!" at o!e ti)e 0ee)0
to ha5e carrie" i"e!tical rewar" before )a!. Both were e!title" to their li5elihoo" a!" !o )ore. I!"ee"
o!e trace0 e5e! !ow i! the 5illa&e0 the fai!t li!e0 of thi0 healthy operatio! of the law. 4i5i!& i! e&ao!
with it0 pop'latio! of 1DD7 I "o !ot fi!" a &reat "i0parity betwee! the ear!i!&0 of "iffere!t tra"e0)e!
i!cl'"i!& Brah)i!0. I fi!" too that real Brah)i!0 are to be fo'!" e5e! i! the0e "e&e!erate "ay0 who
are li5i!& o! al)0 freely &i5e! to the) a!" are &i5i!& freely of what they ha5e of 0pirit'al trea0're0. It
wo'l" be wro!& a!" i)proper to 6'"&e the law of .arna by it0 caricat're i! the li5e0 of )e! who
profe00 to belo!& to a .arna) whil0t they ope!ly co))it a breach of it0 o!ly operati5e r'le. Arro&atio!
of a 0'perior 0tat'0 by a!" of the .arna o5er a!other i0 a "e!ial of the law. A!" there i0 !othi!& i! the
law of .arna to warra!t a belief i! '!to'chability. AThe e00e!ce of Hi!"'i0) i0 co!tai!e" i! it0
e!'!ciatio! of o!e a!" o!ly Go" a0 Tr'th a!" it0 bol" accepta!ce of Ahi)0a a0 the law of the h')a!
fa)ily.B
I a) aware that )y i!terpretatio! of Hi!"'i0) will be "i0p'te" by )a!y be0i"e0 Dr. A)be"*ar. That
"oe0 !ot affect )y po0itio!. It i0 a! i!terpretatio! by which I ha5e li5e" for !early half a ce!t'ry a!"
accor"i!& to which I ha5e e!"ea5o're" to the be0t of )y ability to re&'late )y life.
I! )y opi!io! the profo'!" )i0ta*e that Dr. A)be"*ar ha0 )a"e i! hi0 a""re00 i0 to pic* o't the
te,t0 of "o'btf'l a'the!ticity a!" 5al'e a!" the 0tate of "e&ra"e" Hi!"'0 who are !o fit 0peci)e!0 of
the faith they 0o woef'lly )i0repre0e!t. 2'"&e" by the 0ta!"ar" applie" by Dr. A)be"*ar7 e5ery *!ow!
li5i!& faith will probably fail.
I! hi0 able a""re007 the lear!e" Doctor ha0 o5er pro5e" hi0 ca0e. /a! a reli&io! that wa0 profe00e" by
/haita!ya7 2!ya!"eo7 T'*ara)7 Tir'5ail'5ar7 Rar!*ri0h!a Para)aha!0a7 Ra6a Ra) Moha! Roy7
Mahar0hi De5e!"ra!ath Ta&ore7 .i5e*a!a!" a!" ho0t of other0 who )i&ht be ea0ily )e!tio!e"7 0o
'tterly "e5oi" of )erit a0 i0 )a"e o't i! Dr. A)be"*arI0 a""re00 F A reli&io! ha0 to be 6'"&e" !ot by
itI0 wor0t 0peci)e!0 b't by the be0t it )i&ht ha5e pro"'ce". Cor that a!" that alo!e ca! be '0e" a0 the
0ta!"ar" to a0pire to7 if !ot to i)pro5e 'po!. 2Hari(an) 2'ly 1H7 19%1B

III
"ARNA "ERSS CASTE
hri a!t Ra)6i of the 2at3Pat3To"a* Ma!"al of 4ahore wa!t0 )e to p'bli0h the followi!&- ; I ha5e
rea" yo'r re)ar*0 abo't Dr. A)be"*ar a!" the 2at3Pat3To"a*
Ma!"al7 4ahore. I! that co!!ectio! I be& to 0'b)it a0 follow0 -
; ?e "i" !ot i!5ite Dr. A)be"*ar to pre0i"e o5er o'r co!fere!ce beca'0e he belo!&e" to the
Depre00e" /la00e07 for we "o !ot "i0ti!&'i0h betwee! a to'chable a!" a! '!to'chable Hi!"'. O!
the co!trary o'r choice fell o! hi) 0i)ply beca'0e hi0 "ia&!o0i0 of the fatal "i0ea0e of the Hi!"'
co))'!ity wa0 the 0a)e a0 o'r07 i,e, he too wa0 of the opi!io! that ca0te 0y0te) wa0 the root ca'0e
of the "i0r'ptio! a!" "ow!fall of the Hi!"'0. The 0'b6ect of the DoctorI0 the0i0 for Doctorate bei!&
ca0te 0y0te)7 he ha0 0t'"ie" the 0'b6ect thoro'&hly. Now the ob6ect of o'r co!fere!ce wa0 to
per0'a"e the Hi!"'0 to a!!ihilate ca0te0 b't the a"5ice of a !o!3Hi!"' i! 0ocial a!" reli&io'0
)atter0 ca! ha5e !o effect o! the). The Doctor i! the 0'pple)e!tary portio! of hi0 a""re00 i!0i0te"
o! 0ayi!& that that wa0 hi0 la0t 0peech a0 a Hi!"'7 which wa0 irrele5a!t a0 well a0 per!icio'0 to the
i!tere0t0 of the co!fere!ce. o we re<'e0te" hi) to e,p'!&e that 0e!te!ce for he co'l" ea0ily 0ay
the 0a)e thi!& o! a!y other occa0io!. B't he ref'0e" a!" we 0aw !o 'tility i! )a*i!& )erely a
0how of o'r f'!ctio!. I! 0pite of all thi07 I ca!!ot help prai0i!& hi0 a""re00 which i07 a0 far a0 I
*!ow7 the )o0t lear!e" the0i0 o! the 0'b6ect a!" worth tra!0lati!& i!to e5ery 5er!ac'lar of I!"ia.
Moreo5er7 I wa!t to bri!& to yo'r !otice that yo'r philo0ophical "iffere!ce betwee! /a0te a!"
.arna i0 too 0'btle to be &ra0pe" by people i! &e!eral7 beca'0e for all practical p'rpo0e0 i! the
Hi!"' 0ociety /a0te a!" .arna are o!e a!" the 0a)e thi!&7 for the f'!ctio! of both of the) i0 o!e
a!" the 0a)e i,e, to re0trict i!ter3ca0te )arria&e0 a!" i!ter3"i!i!&. =o'r theory of .arna!/a!astha i0
i)practicable i! thi0 a&e a!" there i0 !o hope of it0 re5i5al i! the !ear f't're. B't Hi!"'0 are 0la5e0
of ca0te a!" "o !ot wa!t to "e0troy it. o whe! yo' a"5ocate yo'r i"eal of i)a&i!ary
.arna!/a!astha they fi!" 6'0tificatio! for cli!&i!& to ca0te. Th'0 yo' are "oi!& a &reat "i00er5ice
to 0ocial refor) by a"5ocati!& yo'r i)a&i!ary 'tility of "i5i0io! of .arnas) for it create0 hi!"ra!ce
i! o'r way. To try to re)o5e '!to'chability witho't 0tri*i!& at the root of .arna!/a!astha i0
0i)ply to treat the o'twar" 0y)pto)0 of a "i0ea0e or to "raw a li!e o! the 0'rface of water. A0 i!
the heart of their heart0 d!i(as "o !ot wa!t to &i5e 0ocial e<'ality to the 0o3calle" to'chable a!"
'!to'chable h'"ra07 0o they ref'0e to brea* ca0te7 a!" &i5e liberal "o!atio!0 for the re)o5al of
'!to'chability7 0i)ply to e5a"e the i00'e. To 0ee* the help of the -hastras for the re)o5al of
'!to'chability a!" ca0te i0 0i)ply to wa0h )'" with )'".;
The la0t para&raph of the letter 0'rely ca!cel0 the fir0t. If the Ma!"al re6ect0 the help of the -hastras)
they "o e,actly what Dr. A)be"*ar "oe07 i,e, cea0e to be Hi!"'0. How the! ca! they ob6ect to Dr.
A)be"*arI0 a""re00 )erely beca'0e he 0ai" that that wa0 hi0 la0t 0peech a0 a Hi!"' F The po0itio!
appear0 to be wholly '!te!able e0pecially whe! the Ma!"al7 for which hri a!t Ra) clai)0 to 0pea*7
appla'"0 the whole ar&')e!t of Dr. A)be"*arI0 a""re00.
B't it i0 perti!e!t to a0* what the Ma!"al belie5e0 if it re6ect0 the -hastras, How ca! a M'0li)
re)ai! o!e if he re6ect0 the M'ra! 7or a /hri0tia! re)ai! /hri0tia! if he re6ect0 the Bible F If /a0te a!"
.arna are co!5ertible ter)0 a!" if .arna i0 a! i!te&ral part of the -hastras which "efi!e Hi!"'i0)7 I "o
!ot *!ow how a per0o! who re6ect0 /a0te i,e, .arna ca! call hi)0elf a Hi!"'.
hri a!t Ra) li*e!0 the -hastras to )'". Dr. A)be"*ar ha0 !ot7 0o far a0 I re)e)ber7 &i5e! a!y
0'ch pict're0<'e !a)e to the -hastras, I ha5e certai!ly )ea!t whe! I ha5e 0ai" that if -hastras 0'pport
the e,i0ti!& '!to'chability I 0ho'l" cea0e to call )y0elf a Hi!"'. i)ilarly7 if the -hastras 0'pport
ca0te a0 we *!ow it to"ay i! all it0 hi"eo'0!e007 I )ay !ot call )y0elf or re)ai! a Hi!"' 0i!ce I ha5e
!o 0cr'ple0 abo't i!ter"i!i!& or i!ter)arria&e. I !ee" !ot repeat )y po0itio! re&ar"i!& -hastras a!"
their i!terpretatio!. I 5e!t're to 0'&&e0t to hri a!t Ra) that it i0 the o!ly ratio!al a!" correct a!"
)orally "efe!0ible po0itio! a!" it ha0 a)ple warra!t i! Hi!"' tra"itio!.
2Hari(an) A'&'0t 1+719%1B

APPENDI# II
A REPL! TO THE MAHATMA B! DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR
I appreciate &reatly the ho!o'r "o!e )e by the Mahat)a i! ta*i!& !otice i! hi0 Hari6a! of the 0peech
o! /a0te which I ha" prepare" for the 2at Pat To"a* Ma!"al. Cro) a per'0al of hi0 re5iew of )y 0peech
it i0 clear that the Mahat)a co)pletely "i00e!t0 fro) the 5iew0 I ha5e e,pre00e" o! the 0'b6ect of
/a0te. I a) !ot i! the habit of e!teri!& i!to co!tro5er0y with )y oppo!e!t0 '!le00 there are 0pecial
rea0o!0 which co)pel )e to act otherwi0e. Ha" )y oppo!e!t bee! 0o)e )ea! a!" ob0c're per0o! I
wo'l" !ot ha5e p'r0'e" hi). B't )y oppo!e!t bei!& the Mahat)a hi)0elf I feel I )'0t atte)pt to
)eet the ca0e to the co!trary which he ha0 0o'&ht to p't forth. ?hile I appreciate the ho!o'r he ha0
"o!e )e7 I )'0t co!fe00 to a 0e!0e of 0'rpri8e o! fi!"i!& that of all the per0o!0 the Mahat)a 0ho'l"
acc'0e )e of a "e0ire to 0ee* p'blicity a0 he 0ee)0 to "o whe! he 0'&&e0t0 that i! p'bli0hi!& the
'!"eli5ere" 0peech )y ob6ect wa0 to 0ee that I wa0 !ot ; for&otte! ;. ?hate5er the Mahat)a )ay
choo0e to 0ay )y ob6ect i! p'bli0hi!& the 0peech wa0 to pro5o*e the Hi!"'0 to thi!* a!" ta*e 0toc* of
their po0itio!. I ha5e !e5er ha!*ere" for p'blicity a!" if I )ay 0ay 0o7 I ha5e )ore of it tha! I wi0h or
!ee". B't 0'ppo0i!& it wa0 o't of the )oti5e of &ai!i!& p'blicity that I pri!te" the 0peech who co'l"
ca0t a 0to!e at )e F 'rely !ot tho0e7 who li*e the Mahat)a li5e i! &la00 ho'0e0.
II
Moti5e apart7 what ha0 the Mahat)a to 0ay o! the <'e0tio! rai0e" by )e i! the 0peech F Cir0t of all
a!y o!e who rea"0 )y 0peech will reali8e that the Mahat)a ha0 e!tirely )i00e" the i00'e0 rai0e" by )e
a!" that the i00'e0 he ha0 rai0e" are !ot the i00'e0 that ari0e o't of what he i0 plea0e" to call )y
i!"ict)e!t of the Hi!"'0. The pri!cipal poi!t0 which I ha5e trie" to )a*e o't i! )y 0peech )ay be
catalo&'e" a0 follow0 - A1B That ca0te ha0 r'i!e" the Hi!"'0 G A$B That the reor&a!i8atio! of the Hi!"'
0ociety o! the ba0i0 of /hat'r5ar!ya i0 i)po00ible beca'0e the .arna!/#7astha i0 li*e a lea*y pot or
li*e a )a! r'!!i!& at the !o0e. It i0 i!capable of 0'0tai!i!& it0elf by it0 ow! 5irt'e a!" ha0 a! i!here!t
te!"e!cy to "e&e!erate i!to a ca0te 0y0te) '!le00 there i0 a le&al 0a!ctio! behi!" it which ca! be
e!force" a&ai!0t e5ery o!e tra!0&re00i!& hi0 .arna @ A%B That the reor&a!i8atio! of the Hi!"' ociety
o! the ba0i0 of /hat'r5ar!ya i0 har)f'l7 beca'0e the effect of the .arna!/a!astha i0 to "e&ra"e the
)a00e0 by "e!yi!& the) opport'!ity to ac<'ire *!owle"&e a!" to e)a0c'late the) by "e!yi!& the)
the ri&ht to be ar)e" G A(B That the Hi!"' 0ociety )'0t be reor&a!i8e" o! a reli&io'0 ba0i0 which wo'l"
reco&!i0e the pri!ciple0 of 4iberty7 #<'ality a!" Crater!ity G A+B That i! or"er to achie5e thi0 ob6ect the
0e!0e of reli&io'0 0a!ctity behi!" /a0te a!" .arna )'0t be "e0troye" G A1B That the 0a!ctity of /a0te
a!" .arna ca! be "e0troye" o!ly by "i0car"i!& the "i5i!e a'thority of the -hastras, It will be !otice"
that the <'e0tio!0 rai0e" by the Mahat)a are ab0ol'tely be0i"e the poi!t a!" 0how that the )ai!
ar&')e!t of the 0peech wa0 lo0t 'po! hi).
Ill
4et )e e,a)i!e the 0'b0ta!ce of the poi!t0 )a"e by the Mahat)a. The fir0t poi!t )a"e by the
Mahat)a i0 that the te,t0 cite" by )e are !ot a'the!tic. I co!fe00 I a) !o a'thority o! thi0 )atter. B't I
0ho'l" li*e to 0tate that the te,t0 cite" by )e are all ta*e! fro) the writi!&0 of the late Mr. Tila* who
wa0 a reco&!i0e" a'thority o! the a!0*rit la!&'a&e a!" o! the Hi!"' -hastras, Hi0 0eco!" poi!t i0 that
the0e -hastras 0ho'l" be i!terprete" !ot by the lear!e" b't the 0ai!t0 a!" that7 a0 the 0ai!t0 ha5e
'!"er0too" the)7 the -hastras "o !ot 0'pport /a0te a!" U!to'chabilty. A0 re&ar"0 the fir0t poi!t what I
li*e to a0* the Mahat)a i0 what "oe0 it a5ail to a!y o!e if the te,t0 are i!terpolatio!0 a!" if they ha5e
bee! "iffere!tly i!terprete" by the 0ai!t0 F The )a00e0 "o !ot )a*e a!y "i0ti!ctio! betwee! te,t0 which
are &e!'i!e a!" te,t0 which are i!terpolatio!0. The )a00e0 "o !ot *!ow what the te,t0 are. They are
too illiterate to *!ow the co!te!t0 of the -hastras, They ha5e belie5e" what they ha5e bee! tol" a!"
what they ha5e bee! tol" i0 that the -hastras "o e!6oi! a0 a reli&io'0 "'ty the ob0er5a!ce of /a0te a!"
U!to'chability.
?ith re&ar" to the 0ai!t07 o!e )'0t a")it that how0oe5er "iffere!t a!" ele5ati!& their teachi!&0 )ay
ha5e bee! a0 co)pare" to tho0e of the )erely lear!e" they ha5e bee! la)e!tably i!effecti5e. They
ha5e bee! i!effecti5e for two rea0o!0. Cir0tly7 !o!e of the 0ai!t0 e5er attac*e" the /a0te y0te). O! the
co!trary7 they were 0ta'!ch belie5er0 i! the y0te) of /a0te0. Mo0t of the) li5e" a!" "ie". a0 )e)ber0
of the ca0te0 which they re0pecti5ely belo!&e". o pa00io!ately attache" wa0 2!ya!"eo to hi0 0tat'0 a0 a
Brah)i! that whe! the Brah)i!0 of Paitha! wo'l" !ot a")it hi) to their fol" he )o5e" hea5e! a!"
earth to &et hi0 0tat'0 a0 a Brah)i! reco&!i8e" b/ the Brah)i! frater!ity. A!" e5e! the 0ai!t #*!ath
who !ow fi&'re0 i! the fil) ; Dhar)at)a ; a0 a hero for ha5i!& 0how! co'ra&e to to'ch the
'!to'chable0 a!" "i!e with the)7 "i" 0o !ot beca'0e he wa0 oppo0e" to /a0te a!" U!to'chability b't
beca'0e he felt that the poll'tio! ca'0e" thereby co'l" be wa0he" away by a bath i! the 0acre" water0
of the ri5er Ga!&e0.> Nf1O The 0ai!t0 ha5e !e5er accor"i!& to )y 0t'"y carrie" o! a ca)pai&! a&ai!0t.
/a0te a!" U!to'chability. They were !ot co!cer!e" with the 0tr'&&le betwee! )e!. They were
co!cer!e" with the relatio! betwee! )a! a!" Go". They "i" !ot preach that all )e! were e<'al. They
preache" that all )e! were e<'al7 i! the eye0 of Go" a 5ery "iffere!t a!" a 5ery i!!oc'o'0 propo0itio!
which !obo"y ca! fi!" "iffic'lt to preach or "a!&ero'0 to belie5e i!. The 0eco!" rea0o! why the
teachi!&0 of the 0ai!t0 pro5e" i!effecti5e wa0 beca'0e the )a00e0 ha5e bee! ta'&ht that a 0ai!t )i&ht
brea* /a0te b't the co))o! )a! )'0t !ot. A 0ai!t therefore !e5er beca)e a! e,a)ple to follow. He
alway0 re)ai!e" a pio'0 )a! to be ho!o're". That the )a00e0 ha5e re)ai!e" 0ta'!ch belie5er0 i!
/a0te a!" U!to'chability 0how0 that the pio'0 li5e0 a!" !oble 0er)o!0 of the 0ai!t0 ha5e ha" !o effect
o! their life a!" co!"'ct a0 a&ai!0t the teachi!&0 of the -hastras, Th'0 it ca! be a )atter of !o
co!0olatio! that there were 0ai!t0 or that there i0 a Mahat)a who '!"er0ta!"0 the -hastras "iffere!tly
fro) the lear!e" few or i&!ora!t )a!y. That the )a00e0 hol" "iffere!t 5iew of the -hastras i0 fact
which 0ho'l" a!" )'0t be rec*o!e" with. How i0 that to be "ealt with e,cept by "e!o'!ci!& the
a'thority of the -hastras) which co!ti!'e to &o5er! their co!"'ct7 i0 a <'e0tio! which the Mahat)a ha0
!ot co!0i"ere". B't whate5er the pla! the Mahat)a p't0 forth a0 a! effecti5e )ea!0 to free the )a00e0
fro) the teachi!&0 of the -hastras) he )'0t accept that the pio'0 life le" by o!e &oo" a)arita! )ay be
5ery ele5ati!& to hi)0elf b't i! I!"ia7 with the attit'"e the co))o! )a! ha0 to 0ai!t0 a!" to Mahat)a0
to ho!o'r b't !ot to followo!e ca!!ot )a*e )'ch o't of it.

I.
The thir" poi!t )a"e by the Mahat)a i0 that a reli&io! profe00e" by /haita!ya7 2!ya!"eo7 T'*ara)7
Tir'5all'5ar7 Rar!*ri0h!a Para)aha!0a etc. ca!!ot be "e5oi" of )erit a0 i0 )a"e o't by )e a!" that a
reli&io! ha0 to be 6'"&e" !ot by it0 wor0t 0peci)e!0 b't by the be0t it )i&ht ha5e pro"'ce". I a&ree
with e5ery wor" of thi0 0tate)e!t. B't I "o !ot <'ite '!"er0ta!" what the Mahat)a wi0he0 to pro5e
thereby. That reli&io! 0ho'l" be 6'"&e" !ot by it0 wor0t 0peci)e!0 b't by it0 be0t i0 tr'e e!o'&h b't
"oe0 it "i0po0e of the )atter F I 0ay it "oe0 !ot. The <'e0tio! 0till re)ai!0why the wor0t !')ber 0o
)a!y a!" the be0t 0o few F To )y )i!" there are two co!cei5able a!0wer0 to thi0 <'e0tio! - A 1 B That
the wor0t by rea0o! of 0o)e ori&i!al per5er0ity of their0 are )orally '!e"'cable a!" are therefore
i!capable of )a*i!& the re)ote0t approach to the reli&io'0 i"eal. Or A$B That the reli&io'0 i"eal i0 a
wholly wro!& i"eal which ha0 &i5e! a wro!& )oral twi0t to the li5e0 of the )a!y a!" that the be0t ha5e
beco)e be0t i! 0pite of the wro!& i"eali! fact by &i5i!& to the wro!& twi0t a t'r! i! the ri&ht
"irectio!. Of the0e two e,pla!atio!0 I a) !ot prepare" to accept the fir0t a!" I a) 0're that e5e! the
Mahat)a will !ot i!0i0t 'po! the co!trary. To )y )i!" the 0eco!" i0 the o!ly lo&ical a!" rea0o!able
e,pla!atio! '!le00 the Mahat)a ha0 a thir" alter!ati5e to e,plai! why the wor0t are 0o )a!y a!" the
be0t 0o few. If the 0eco!" i0 the o!ly e,pla!atio! the! ob5io'0ly the ar&')e!t of the Mahat)a that a
reli&io! 0ho'l" be 6'"&e" by it0 be0t follower0 carrie0 '0 !owhere e,cept to pity the lot of the )a!y
who ha5e &o!e wro!& beca'0e they ha5e bee! )a"e to wor0hip wro!& i"eal0.
.
The ar&')e!t of the Mahat)a that Hi!"'i0) wo'l" be tolerable if o!ly )a!y were to follow the
e,a)ple of the 0ai!t0 i0 fallacio'0 for a!other rea0o!. Nf.$O By citi!& the !a)e0 of 0'ch ill'0trio'0
per0o!0 a0 /haita!ya etc. what the Mahat)a 0ee)0 to )e to 0'&&e0t i! it0 broa"e0t a!" 0i)ple0t for) i0
that Hi!"' 0ociety ca! be )a"e tolerable a!" e5e! happy witho't a!y f'!"a)e!tal cha!&e i! it0
0tr'ct're if all the hi&h ca0te Hi!"'0 ca! be per0'a"e" to follow a hi&h 0ta!"ar" of )orality i! their
"eali!&0 with the low ca0te Hi!"'0. I a) totally oppo0e" to thi0 *i!" of i"eolo&y. I ca! re0pect tho0e of
the ca0te Hi!"'0 who try to reali8e a hi&h 0ocial i"eal i! their life. ?itho't 0'ch )e! I!"ia wo'l" be a!
'&lier a!" a le00 happy place to li5e i! tha! it i0. B't !o!ethele00 a!yo!e who relie0 o! a! atte)pt to
t'r! the )e)ber0 of the ca0te Hi!"'0 i!to better )e! by i)pro5i!& their per0o!al character i0 i! )y
6'"&)e!t wa0ti!& hi0 e!er&y a!" b'&&i!& a! ill'0io!. /a! per0o!al character )a*e the )a*er of
ar)a)e!t0 a &oo" )a!7 i,e, a )a! who will 0ell 0hell0 that will !ot b'r0t a!" &a0 that will !ot poi0o! F
If it ca!!ot7 how ca! yo' accept per0o!al character to )a*e a )a! loa"e" with the co!0cio'0!e00 of
/a0te7 a &oo" )a!7 i,e, a )a! who wo'l" treat hi0 fellow0 a0 hi0 frie!"0 a!" e<'al0 F To be tr'e to
hi)0elf he )'0t "eal with hi0 fellow0 either a0 a 0'perior or i!ferior accor"i!& a0 the ca0e )ay beG at
a!y rate7 "iffere!tly fro) hi0 ow! ca0te fellow0. He ca! !e5er be e,pecte" to "eal with hi0 fellow0 a0
hi0 *i!0)e! a!" e<'al0. A0 a )atter of fact7 a Hi!"' "oe0 treat all tho0e who are !ot of hi0 /a0te a0
tho'&h they were alie!07 who co'l" be "i0cri)i!ate" a&ai!0t with i)p'!ity a!" a&ai!0t who) a!y
fra'" or tric* )ay be practi0e" witho't 0ha)e. This is to sa/ that there +an be a better or a worse
Hindu, 9ut a good Hindu there +annot be, Thi0 i0 0o !ot beca'0e there i0 a!ythi!& wro!& with hi0
per0o!al character. I! fact what i0 wro!& i0 the e!tire ba0i0 of hi0 relatio!0hip to hi0 fellow0. The be0t of
)e! ca!!ot be )oral if the ba0i0 of relatio!0hip betwee! the) a!" their fellow0 i0 f'!"a)e!tally a
wro!& relatio!0hip. To a 0la5e hi0 )a0ter )ay be better or wor0e. B't there ca!!ot be a &oo" )a0ter. A
&oo" )a! ca!!ot be a )a0ter a!" a )a0ter ca!!ot be a &oo" )a!. The 0a)e applie0 to the relatio!0hip
betwee! hi&h ca0te a!" low ca0te. To a low ca0te )a! a hi&h ca0te )a! ca! be better or wor0e a0
co)pare" to other hi&h ca0te )e!. A hi&h ca0te )a! ca!!ot be a &oo" )a! i! 0o far a0 he )'0t ha5e a
low ca0te )a! to "i0ti!&'i0h hi) a0 hi&h ca0te )a!. It ca!!ot be &oo" to a low ca0te )a! to be
co!0cio'0 that there i0 a hi&h ca0te )a! abo5e hi). I ha5e ar&'e" i! )y 0peech that a 0ociety ba0e" o!
.arna or /a0te i0 a 0ociety which i0 ba0e" o! a wro!& relatio!0hip. I ha" hope" that the Mahat)a
wo'l" atte)pt to "e)oli0h )y ar&')e!t. B't i!0tea" of "oi!& that he ha0 )erely reiterate" hi0 belief i!
/hat'r5ar!ya witho't "i0clo0i!& the &ro'!" o! which it i0 ba0e".

.I
Doe0 the Mahat)a practi0e what he preache0 F O!e "oe0 !ot li*e to )a*e per0o!al refere!ce i! a!
ar&')e!t which i0 &e!eral i! it0 applicatio!. B't whe! o!e preache0 a "ecli!e a!" hol"0 it a0 a "o&)a
there i0 a c'rio0ity to *!ow how far he practi0e0 what he preache0. It )ay be that hi0 fail're to practi0e
i0 "'e to the i"eal bei!& too hi&h. to be attai!ableG it )ay be that hi0 fail're to practi0e i0 "'e to the
i!!ate hypocri0y of the )a!. I! a!y ca0e he e,po0e0 hi0 co!"'ct to e,a)i!atio! a!" I )'0t !ot be
bla)e" if I a0*e" how far ha0 the Mahat)a atte)pte" to reali8e hi0 i"eal i! hi0 ow! ca0e. The Mahat)a
i0 a Ba!ia by birth. Hi0 a!ce0tor0 ha" aba!"o!e" tra"i!& i! fa5o'r of )i!i0ter0hip which i0 a calli!& of
the Brah)i!0. I! hi0 ow! life7 before he beca)e a Mahat)a7 whe! occa0io! ca)e for hi) to choo0e hi0
career he preferre" law to 0cale0. O! aba!"o!i!& law he beca)e half 0ai!t a!" half politicia!. He ha0
!e5er to'che" tra"i!& which i0 hi0 a!ce0tral calli!&. Hi0 yo'!&e0t 0o!I ta*e o!e who i0 a faithf'l
follower of hi0 fatherbor! a .ai0hya ha0 )arrie" a Brah)i!I0 "a'&hter a!" ha0 cho0e! to 0er5e a
!ew0paper )a&!ate. The Mahat)a i0 !ot *!ow! to ha5e co!"e)!e" hi) for !ot followi!& hi0 a!ce0tral
calli!&. It )ay be wro!& a!" '!charitable to 6'"&e a! i"eal by it0 wor0t 0peci)e!0. B't 0'rely the
Mahat)a a0 a 0peci)e! ha0 !o better a!" if he e5e! fail0 to reali8e the i"eal the! the i"eal )'0t be a!
i)po00ible i"eal <'ite oppo0e" to the practical i!0ti!ct0 of )a!. t'"e!t0 of /arlyle *!ow that he ofte!
0po*e o! a 0'b6ect before he tho'&ht abo't it. I wo!"er whether 0'ch ha0 !ot bee! the ca0e with the
Mahat)a i! re&ar" to the 0'b6ect )atter of /a0te. Otherwi0e certai! <'e0tio!0 which occ'r to )e
wo'l" !ot ha5e e0cape" hi). ?he! ca! a calli!& be "ee)e" to ha5e beco)e a! a!ce0tral calli!& 0o a0
to )a*e it bi!"i!& o! a )a! F M'0t )a! follow hi0 a!ce0tral calli!& e5e! if it "oe0 !ot 0'it hi0
capacitie07 e5e! whe! it ha0 cea0e" to be profitable F M'0t a )a! li5e by hi0 a!ce0tral calli!& e5e! if he
fi!"0 it to be i))oral F If e5ery o!e )'0t p'r0'e hi0 a!ce0tral calli!& the! it )'0t follow that a )a!
)'0t. co!ti!'e to be a pi)p beca'0e hi0 &ra!"father wa0 a pi)p a!" a wo)a! )'0t co!ti!'e to be a
pro0tit'te beca'0e her &ra!")other wa0 a pro0tit'te. I0 the Mahat)a prepare" to accept the lo&ical
co!cl'0io! of hi0 "octri!e F To )e bi0 i"eal of followi!& o!eI0 a!ce0tral calli!& i0 !ot o!ly a!
i)po00ible a!" i)practical i"eal7 b't it i0 al0o )orally a! i!"efe!0ible i"eal. .II
The Mahat)a 0ee0 &reat 5irt'e i! a Brah)i! re)ai!i!& a Brah)i! all hi0 life. 4ea5i!& a0i"e the fact
there are )a!y Brah)i!0 who "o !ot li*e to re)ai! Brah)i!0 ail their li5e0. ?hat ca! we 0ay abo't
tho0e Brah)i!0 who ha5e cl'!& to their a!ce0tral calli!& of prie0thoo" F Do they "o 0o fro) a!y faith
i! the 5irt'e of the pri!ciple of a!ce0tral calli!& or "o they "o 0o fro) )oti5e0 of filthy l'cre F The
Mahat)a "oe0 !ot 0ee) to co!cer! hi)0elf with 0'ch <'erie0. He i0 0ati0fie" that the0e are ; real
Brah)i!0 who are li5i!& o! al)0 freely &i5e! to the) a!" &i5i!& freely what they ha5e of 0pirit'al
trea0're0 ;. Thi0 i0 how a here"itary Brah)i! prie0t appear0 to the Mahat)aa carrier of 0pirit'al
trea0'rer0. B't a!other portrait of the here"itary Brah)i! ca! al0o be "raw!. A Brah)i! ca! be a prie0t
to .i0h!'the Go" of 4o5e. He ca! be a prie0t to ha!*arthe Go". of De0tr'ctio!. He ca! be a
prie0t at B'""ha Gaya wor0hippi!& B'""hathe &reate0t teacher of )a!*i!" who ta'&ht the !oble0t
"octri!e of 4o5e. He al0o ca! be a prie0t to Eali7 the Go""e007 who )'0t ha5e a "aily 0acrifice of a!
a!i)al to 0ati0fy her thir0t for bloo" G He will be a prie0t of the te)ple of Ra)athe E0hatriya Go"K
He will al0o be a prie0t of the Te)ple of Par0h'ra)7 the Go" who too* A5atar to "e0troy the E0hatriya0
K He ca! be a prie0t to Bra)ha7 the /reator of the worl". He ca! be a prie0t to a Pir who0e Go" Allah
will !ot broo* the clai) of Bra)ha to 0hare hi0 0pirit'al "o)i!io! o5er the worl" K No o!e ca! 0ay that
thi0 i0 a pict're which i0 !ot tr'e to life. If thi0 i0 a tr'e pict're o!e "oe0 !ot *!ow what to 0ay of thi0
capacity to bear loyaltie0 to Go"0 a!" Go""e00e0 who0e attrib'te0 are 0o a!ta&o!i0tic that !o ho!e0t
)a! ca! be a "e5otee to all of the). The Hi!"'0 rely 'po! thi0 e,traor"i!ary phe!o)e!o! a0 e5i"e!ce
of the &reate0t 5irt'e of their reli&io!!a)ely it0 catholicity7 it0 0pirit of toleratio!. A0 a&ai!0t thi0
facile 5iew7 it ca! be 'r&e" that what i0 toleratio! a!" catholicity )ay be really !othi!& )ore cre"itable
tha! i!"iffere!ce or flacci" latit'"i!aria!i0). The0e two attit'"e0 are har" to "i0ti!&'i0h i! their o'ter
0ee)i!&. B't they are 0o 5itally '!li*e i! their real <'ality that !o o!e who e,a)i!e0 the) clo0ely ca!
)i0ta*e o!e for the other. That a )a! i0 rea"y to re!"er ho)a&e to )a!y Go"0 a!" Go""e00e0 )ay be.
cite" a0 e5i"e!ce of hi0 tolera!t 0pirit.. B't ca! it !ot al0o be e5i"e!ce of i!0i!cerity bor! of a "e0ire to
0er5e the ti)e0 F I a) 0're that thi0 toleratio! i0 )erely i!0i!cerity. If thi0 5iew i0 well fo'!"e"7 o!e
)ay a0* what 0pirit'al trea0're ca! there be with a per0o! who i0 rea"y to be a prie0t a!" a "e5otee to
a!y "eity which it 0er5e0 hi0 p'rpo0e to wor0hip a!" to a"ore F Not o!ly )'0t 0'ch a per0o! be "ee)e"
to be ba!*r'pt of all 0pirit'al trea0're0 b't for hi) to practice 0o ele5ati!& a profe00io! a0 that of a
prie0t 0i)ply beca'0e it i0 a!ce0tral7 witho't faith7 witho't belief7 )erely a0 a )echa!ical proce00
ha!"e" "ow! fro). father to 0o!7 i0 !ot a co!0er5atio! of 5irt'eG it i0 really the pro0tit'tio! of a !oble
profe00io! which i0 !o other tha! the 0er5ice of reli&io!.
.III
?hy "oe0 the Mahat)a cli!& to the theory of e5ery o!e followi!& hi0 or her a!ce0tral calli!& F He
&i5e0 hi0 rea0o!0 !owhere B't there )'0t be 0o)e rea0o! altho'&h he "oe0 !ot car0 to a5ow it. =ear0
a&o writi!& o! ; /a0te !ersus /la00 ; i! hi0 =oung India he ar&'e" that /a0te y0te) wa0 better tha!
/la00 y0te) o! the &ro'!" that ca0te wa0 the be0t po00ible a"6'0t)e!t of 0ocial 0tability. If that be the
rea0o! why the Mahat)a cli!&0 to the theory of e5ery o!e followi!& hi0 or her a!ce0tral calli!&7 the!
he i0 cli!&i!& to a fal0e 5iew of 0ocial life. #5erybo"y wa!t0 0ocial 0tability a!" 0o)e a"6'0t)e!t )'0t
be )a"e i! the relatio!0hip betwee! i!"i5i"'al0 a!" cla00e0 i! or"er that 0tability )ay be ha". B't two
thi!&07 I a) 0're !obo"y wa!t0. O!e thi!& !obo"y wa!t0 i0 0tatic relatio!0hip7 0o)ethi!& that i0
'!alterable7 0o)ethi!& that i0 fi,e" for all ti)e0. tability i0 wa!te" b't !ot at the co0t of cha!&e whe!
cha!&e i0 i)perati5e. eco!" thi!& !obo"y wa!t0 i0 )ere a"6'0t)e!t. A"6'0t)e!t i0 wa!te" b't !ot at
the 0acrifice of 0ocial 6'0tice. /a! it be 0ai" that the a"6'0t)e!t of 0ocial relatio!0hip o! the ba0i0 of
ca0te i,e, o! the ba0i0 of each to hi0 here"itary calli!& a5oi"0 the0e two e5il0 F I a) co!5i!ce" that it
"oe0 !ot. Car fro) bei!& the be0t po00ible a"6'0t)e!t I ha5e !o "o'bt that it i0 of the wor0t po00ible
*i!" i!a0)'ch a0 it offe!"0 a&ai!0t both the ca!o!0 of 0ocial a"6'0t)e!t!a)ely fl'i"ity a!" e<'ity.
I@
o)e )i&ht thi!* that the Mahat)a ha0 )a"e )'ch pro&re00 i!a0)'ch a0 he !ow o!ly belie5e0 i!
.arna a!" "oc0 !ot belie5e i! /a0te. It i0 tr'e that there wa0 a ti)e whe! the Mahat)a wa0 a f'll3
bloo"e" a!" a bl'e3bloo"e" a!ata!i Hi!"'. He belie5e" i! the .edas) the U0anishads) the "uranas
a!" all that &oe0 by the !a)e of Hi!"' 0cript're0 a!" therefore i! a!atars a!" rebirth. He belie5e" i!
/a0te a!" "efe!"e" it with the 5i&o'r of the ortho"o,. He co!"e)!e" the cry for i!ter3"i!i!&7 i!ter3
"ri!*i!& a!" i!ter3)arryi!& a!" ar&'e" that re0trai!t0 abo't i!ter3"i!i!& to a &reat e,te!t ; helpe" the
c'lti5atio! of will3power a!" the co!0er5atio! of certai! 0ocial 5irt'e ;. It i0 &oo" that he ha0
rep'"iate" thi0 0a!cti)o!io'0 !o!0e!0e a!" a")itte" that ca0te ; i0 har)f'l both to 0pirit'al a!"
!atio!al &rowth7; a!" )ay be7 hi0 0o!I0 )arria&e o't0i"e hi0 ca0te ha0 ha" 0o)ethi!& to "o with thi0
cha!&e of 5iew. B't ha0 the Mahat)a really pro&re00e" F ?hat i0 the !at're of the .arna for which the
Mahat)a 0ta!"0 F I0 it the .edi+ co!ceptio! a0 co))o!ly '!"er0too" a!" preache" by wa)i
Daya!aa" ara0wati a!" hi0 follower07 the Arya a)a6i0t0 F The e00e!ce of the .edi+ co!ceptio! of
.arna i0 the p'r0'it of a calli!& which i0 appropriate to o!eI0 !at'ral aptit'"e. The e00e!ce of the
Mahat)aI0 co!ceptio! of .arna i0 the p'r0'it of a!ce0tral calli!& irre0pecti5e of !at'ral aptit'"e. ?hat
i0 the "iffere!ce betwee! /a0te a!" .arna a0 '!"er0too" by the Mahat)aF I fi!" !o!e. A0 "efi!e" by
the Mahat)a7 .arna beco)e0 )erely a "iffere!t !a)e for /a0te for the 0i)ple rea0o! that it i0 the 0a)e
i! e00e!ce!a)ely p'r0'it of a!ce0tral calli!&. Car fro) )a*i!& pro&re00 the Mahat)a ha0 0'ffere"
retro&re00io!. By p'tti!& thi0 i!terpretatio! 'po! the .edi+ co!ceptio! of .arna he ha0 really )a"e
ri"ic'lo'0 what wa0 0'bli)e. ?hile I re6ect the .edi+ .arna!/a!astha for rea0o!0 &i5e! i! the 0peech I
)'0t a")it that the .edi+ theory of .arna a0 i!terprete" by wa)i Daya!a!" a!" 0o)e other0 i0 a
0e!0ible a!" a! i!offe!0i5e thi!&. It "i" !ot a")it birth a0 a "eter)i!i!& factor i! fi,i!& the place of a!
i!"i5i"'al i! 0ociety. It o!ly reco&!i8e" worth. The Mahat)aI0 5iew of .arna !ot o!ly )a*e0 !o!0e!0e
of the .edi+ .arna b't it )a*e0 it a! abo)i!able thi!&. .arna a!" /a0te are two 5ery "iffere!t
co!cept0. .arna i0 ba0e" o! the pri!ciple of each accor"i!& to hi0 worth3while /a0te i0 ba0e" o! the
pri!ciple of each accor"i!& to hi0 birth. The two are a0 "i0ti!ct a0 chal* i0 fro) chee0e. I! fact there i0
a! a!tithe0i0 betwee! the two. If the Mahat)a belie5e0 a0 he "oe0 i! e5ery o!e followi!& hi0 or her
a!ce0tral calli!&7 the! )o0t certai!ly he i0 a"5ocati!& the /a0te y0te) a!" that i! calli!& it the .arna
y0te) he i0 !ot o!ly &'ilty of ter)i!olo&icale i!e,actit'"e7 b't he i0 ca'0i!& co!f'0io! wor0e
co!fo'!"e". I a) 0're that all hi0 co!f'0io! i0 "'e to the fact that the Mahat)a ha0 !o "efi!ite a!"
clear co!ceptio! a0 to what i0 .arna a!" what i0 /a0te a!" a0 to the !ece00ity of either for the
co!0er5atio! of Hi!"'i0). He ha0 0ai" a!" o!e hope0 that he will !ot fi!" 0o)e )y0tic rea0o! to
cha!&e hi0 5iew that ca0te i0 !ot the e00e!ce of Hi!"'i0). Doe0 he re&ar" .arna a0 the e00e!ce of
Hi!"'i0) F O!e ca!!ot a0 yet &i5e a!y cate&orical a!0wer. Rea"er0 of hi0 article o! ; Dr. A)be"*arI0
I!"ict)e!t ; will a!0wer ; No ;. I! that article he "oe0 !ot 0ay that the "o&)a of .arna i0 a! e00e!tial
part of the cree" of Hi!"'i0). Car fro) )a*i!& .arna the e00e!ce of Hi!"'i0) he 0ay0 ; the e00e!ce of
Hi!"'i0) i0 co!tai!e" i! it0 e!'!ciatio! of o!e a!" o!ly Go" a0 Tr'th a!" it0 bol" accepta!ce of
Ahi)0a a0 the law of the h')a! fa)ily ; B't the rea"er0 of hi0 article i! reply to Mr. a!t Ra) will 0ay
; =e0 ;. I! that article he 0ay0 ; How ca! a M'0li) re)ai! o!e if he re6ect0 the M'rta!7 or a /hri0tia!
re)ai! a0 /hri0tia! if he re6ect0 the Bible F If /a0te a!" .arna are co!5ertible ter)0 a!" if .arna i0 a!
i!te&ral part of the -hastras which "efi!e Hi!"'i0) I "o !ot *!ow how a per0o! who re6ect0 /a0te7 i,e,
.arna ca! call hi)0elf a Hi!"' F ; ?hy thi0 pre5aricatio! F ?hy "oe0 the Mahat)a he"&e F ?ho)
"oe0 he wa!t to plea0e F Ha0 the 0ai!t faile" to 0e!0e the tr'th F Or "oe0 the politicia! 0ta!" i! the way
of the ai!t F The real rea0o! why the Mahat)a i0 0'fferi!& fro) thi0 co!f'0io! i0 probably to be
trace" to two 0o'rce0. The fir0t i0 the te)pera)e!t of the Mahat)a. He ha0 al)o0t i! e5erythi!& the
0i)plicity of the chil" with the chil"I0 capacity for 0elf3"eceptio!. 4i*e a chil" he ca! belie5e i!
a!ythi!& he wa!t0 to belie5e. ?e )'0t therefore wait till 0'ch ti)e a0 it plea0e0 the Mahat)a to
aba!"o! hi0 faith i! .arna a0 it ha0 plea0e" hi) to aba!"o! hi0 faith i! /a0te. The 0eco!" 0o'rce of
co!f'0io! i0 the "o'ble role which the Mahat)a wa!t0 to playof a Mahat)a a!" a Politicia!. A0 a
Mahat)a he )ay be tryi!& to 0pirit'ali8e Politic0. ?hether he ha0 0'ccee"e" i! it or !ot Politic0 ha5e
certai!ly co))erciali8e" hi). A politicia! )'0t *!ow that ociety ca!!ot bear the whole tr'th a!" that
he )'0t !ot 0pea* the whole tr'thG if he i0 0pea*i!& the whole tr'th it i0 ba" for hi0 politic0. The rea0o!
why the Mahat)a i0 alway0 0'pporti!& /a0te a!" .arna i0 beca'0e he i0 afrai" that if he oppo0e" the)
he will lo0e hi0 place i! politic0. ?hate5er )ay be the 0o'rce of thi0 co!f'0io! the Mahat)a )'0t be
tol" that he i0 "ecei5i!& hi)0elf a!" al0o "ecei5i!& the people by preachi!& /a0te '!"er the !a)e of
.arna,
@
The Mahat)a 0ay0 that the 0ta!"ar"0 I ha5e applie" to te0t Hi!"'0 a!" Hi!"'i0) are too 0e5ere a!"
that 6'"&e" by tho0e 0ta!"ar"0 e5ery *!ow! li5i!& faith will probably fail. The co)plai!t that )y
0ta!"ar"0 are hi&h )ay be tr'e. B't the <'e0tio! i0 !ot whether they are hi&h or whether they are low.
The <'e0tio! i0 whether they are the ri&ht 0ta!"ar"0 to apply. A People a!" their Reli&io! )'0t be
6'"&e" by 0ocial 0ta!"ar"0 ba0e" o! 0ocial ethic0. No other 0ta!"ar" wo'l" ha5e a!y )ea!i!& if
reli&io! i0 hel" to be a !ece00ary &oo" for the well3bei!& of the people. Now I )ai!tai! that the
0ta!"ar"0 I ha5e applie" to te0t Hi!"'0 a!" Hi!"'i0) are the )o0t appropriate 0ta!"ar"0 a!" that I
*!ow of !o!e that are better. The co!cl'0io! that e5ery *!ow! reli&io! wo'l" fail if te0te" by )y
0ta!"ar"0 )ay be tr'e. B't thi0 fact 0ho'l" !ot &i5e the Mahat)a a0 the cha)pio! of Hi!"'0 a!"
Hi!"'i0) a &ro'!" for co)fort a!y )ore tha! the e,i0te!ce of o!e )a")a! 0ho'l" &i5e co)fort to
a!other )a")a! or the e,i0te!ce of o!e cri)i!al 0ho'l" &i5e co)fort to a!other cri)i!al. I li*e to
a00're the Mahat)a that it i0 !ot the )ere fail're of the Hi!"'0 a!" Hi!"'i0) which ha0 pro"'ce" i!
)e the feeli!&0 of "i0&'0t a!" co!te)pt with which. I a) char&e". I reali8e that the worl" i0 a 5ery
i)perfect worl" a!" a!y o!e who wa!t0 to li5e i! it )'0t bear with it0 i)perfectio!0. B't while I a).
prepare" to bear with the i)perfectio!0 a!" 0hortco)i!&0 of the 0ociety i! which I )ay be "e0ti!e" to
labo'r7 I feel I 0ho'l" !ot co!0e!t to li5e i! a 0ociety which cheri0he0 wro!& i"eal0 or a 0ociety which
ha5i!& ri&ht i"eal0 will !ot co!0e!t to bri!& it0 0ocial life i! co!for)ity with tho0e i"eal0. If I a)
"i0&'0te" with Hi!"'0 a!" Hi!"'i0) it i0 beca'0e I a) co!5i!ce" that they cheri0h wro!& i"eal0 a!"
li5e a wro!& 0ocial life. My <'arrel with Hi!"'0 a!" Hi!"'i0) i0 !ot o5er the i)perfectio!0 of their
0ocial co!"'ct. It i0 )'ch )ore f'!"a)e!tal. It i0 o5er their i"eal0.

@I
Hi!"' 0ociety 0ee)0 to )e to 0ta!" i! !ee" of a )oral re&e!eratio! which it i0 "a!&ero'0 to
po0tpo!e. A!" the <'e0tio! i0 who ca! "eter)i!e a!" co!trol thi0 )oral re&e!eratio! F Ob5io'0ly o!ly
tho0e who ha5e '!"er&o!e a! i!tellect'al re&e!eratio! a!" tho0e who are ho!e0t e!o'&h to ha5e the
co'ra&e of their co!5ictio!0 bor! of i!tellect'al e)a!cipatio!. 2'"&e" by thi0 0ta!"ar" the Hi!"'
lea"er0 who co'!t are i! )y opi!io! <'ite '!fit for the ta0*. It i0 i)po00ible to 0ay that they ha5e
'!"er&o!e the preli)i!ary i!tellect'al re&e!eratio!. If they ha" '!"er&o!e a! i!tellect'al re&e!eratio!
they wo'l" !either "el'"e the)0el5e0 i! the 0i)ple way of the '!ta'&ht )'ltit'"e !or wo'l" they ta*e
a"5a!ta&e of the pri)iti5e i&!ora!ce of other0 a0 o!e 0ee0 the) "oi!&. Notwith0ta!"i!& the cr')bli!&
0tate of Hi!"' 0ociety the0e lea"er0 will !e5erthele00 '!bl'0hi!&ly appeal to i"eal0 of the pa0t which
ha5e i! e5ery way cea0e" to ha5e a!y co!!ectio! with the pre0e!t G which howe5er 0'itable they )i&ht
ha5e bee! i! the "ay0 of their ori&i! ha5e !ow beco)e a war!i!& rather tha! a &'i"e. They 0till ha5e a
)y0tic re0pect for the earlier for)0 which )a*e the) "i0i!cli!e"!ay oppo0e" to a!y e,a)i!atio! of
the fo'!"atio!0 of their ociety. The Hi!"' )a00e0 are cf co'r0e i!cre"ibly hee"le00 i! the for)atio! of
their belief0. B't 0o are the Hi!"' lea"er0. A!" what i0 wor0e i0 that. The0e Hi!"' lea"er0 beco)e
fille" with a! illicit pa00io! for their belief0 whe! a!y o!e propo0e0 to rob the) of their
co)pa!io!0hip. The Mahat)a. i0 !o e,ceptio!. The Mahat)a appear0 !ot to belie5e i! thi!*i!& He
prefer0 to follow the 0ai!t0. 4i*e a co!0er5ati5e with hi0 re5ere!ce for co!0ecrate" !otio!0 he i0 afrai"
that if he o!ce 0tart0 thi!*i!&7 )a!y i"eal0 a!" i!0tit'tio!0 to which lie cli!&0 will be "oo)e". O!e
)'0t 0y)pathi8e with hi). Cor e5ery act of i!"epe!"e!t thi!*i!& p't0 0o)e portio! of appare!tly
0table worl" i! peril. B't it i0 e<'ally tr'e that "epe!"e!ce o! 0ai!t0 ca!!ot lea" '0 to *!ow the tr'th.
The 0ai!t0 are after all o!ly h')a! bei!&0 a!" a0 4or" Balfo'r 0ai" 7 ; the h')a! )i!" i0 !o )ore a
tr'th fi!"i!& apparat'0 tha! the 0!o't of a pi& ;. I! 0o far a0 he "oe0 thi!*7 to )e he really appear0 to be
pro0tit'ti!& hi0 i!telli&e!ce to fi!" rea0o!0 for 0'pporti!& thi0 archaic 0ocial 0tr'ct're of the Hi!"'0. He
i0 the )o0t i!fl'e!tial apolo&i0t of it a!" therefore the wor0t e!e)y of the Hi!"'0.
U!li*e the Mahat)a there are Hi!"' lea"er0 who are !ot co!te!t )erely to belie5e a!" follow. They
"are to thi!*7 a!" act i!7 accor"a!ce with the re0'lt of their thi!*i!&. B't '!fort'!ately they are either a
"i0ho!e0t lot or a! i!"iffere!t lot whe! it co)e0 to the <'e0tio! of &i5i!& ri&ht &'i"a!ce to the )a00 of
the people. Al)o0t e5ery Brah)i! ha0 tra!0&re00e" the r'le of /a0te. The !')ber of Brah)i!0 who 0ell
0hoe0 i0 far &reater tha! tho0e who practi0e prie0thoo". Not o!ly ha5e the Brah)i!0 &i5e! 'p their
a!ce0tral calli!& of prie0thoo" for tra"i!& b't they ha5e e!tere" tra"e0 which7 are prohibite" to the) by
the -haslras, =et how )a!y Brah)i!0 who brea* /a0te e5ery "ay will preach a&ai!0t /a0te a!" a&ai!0t
the -hastras F Cor o!e ho!e0t Brah)i! preachi!& a&ai!0t /a0te a!" -hastras beca'0e hi0 practical
i!0ti!ct a!" )oral co!0cie!ce ca!!ot 0'pport a co!5ictio! i! the)7 there are h'!"re"0 who brea* /a0te
a!" tra)ple 'po! the -hastras e5ery "ay b't who are the )o0t fa!atic 'phol"er0 of the theory of /a0te
a!" the 0a!ctity of the -hastras, ?hy thi0 "'plicity F Beca'0e they feel that if the )a00e0 are
e)a!cipate" fro) the yo*e of /a0te they wo'l" be a )e!ace to the power a!" pre0ti&e of the Brah)i!0
a0 a cla00. The "i0ho!e0ty of thi0 i!tellect'al cla00 who wo'l" "e!y the )a00e0 the fr'it0 of their
thi!*i!& i0 a )o0t "i0&racef'l phe!o)e!o!.
The Hi!"'0 i! the wor"0 of Mathew Ar!ol" are ; wa!"eri!& betwee! two worl"07 o!e "ea"7 the other
powerle00 to be bor! ;. ?hat are they to "o F The Mahat)a to Iwho) they appeal for &'i"a!ce "oe0 !ot
belie5e i! thi!*i!& a!" ca! therefore &i5e !o &'i"a!ce which ca! be 0ai" to 0ta!" the te0t of
e,perie!ce. The i!tellect'al cla00e0 to who) the )a00e0 loo* for &'i"a!ce are either too "i0ho!e0t or
too i!"iffere!t to e"'cate the) i! the ri&ht "irectio!. ?e are i!"ee" wit!e00e0 to a &reat tra&e"y. I! the
face of thi0 tra&e"y all o!e ca! "o i0 to la)e!t a!" 0ay0'ch be thy 4ea"er07 OK Hi!"'0.




[f1] Antyajancha vital jyasi I Gangasnane shuddhatva tyasi II Eknathi Bhagavat, a. 28, . 1!1.
Nf.$OI! thi0 co!!ectio! 0ee ill')i!ati!& article o! *oralit/ and the -o+ial -tru+ture by Mr. H. N. Brail0for" i! the Arya! Path for April
19%1.