Ambedkar and Hindutva Politics

by Ram Puniyani

"The BJP-RSS's ascent to power at the Centre has led to the increased assertion of Hindutva politics, which is focused on Hindu nationalism in contrast to the Indian nationalism envisaged by the freedom movement and the Indian Constitution. One of the components of Hindu nationalism is to perpetuate the caste hierarchy in new forms. In this direction, RSS and it affiliates are adopting multiple strategies. On one hand, they pay obeisance to Babasaheb Ambedkar and on the other they promote the values of caste inequality in the name of "our glorious heritage". At the same time, RSS floats organizations like Samajik Samrasta Manch to co-opt the Dalits into Brahmanic fold.This book examines the issues raised by the politics of RSS and its effort to suppress the Dalit aspirations of social justice and equality. It refers to writings of Babasaheb to show that RSS-Hindutva politics stands in total opposition to the ideology of Ambedkar and Dalits' emancipation." Prof. Ram Puniyani, a former professor of IIT (Mumbai), took voluntary retirement in 2004 to work full time on communal harmony. He has been involved in human rights activities for the last two decades. He is associated with various secular and democratic initiatives. He has written more than three dozen books and is a very effective public speaker.

Genres: Politics

52 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Ram Puniyani (born 25 August 1945) is a former professor of biomedical engineering and former senior medical officer affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He began his medical career in 1973 and served IIT in various capacities for 27 years, beginning 1977. He has been involved with human rights activities and initiatives to oppose Hindu fundamentalism in India and is currently the President of the Executive Council of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS).

Reviews

[Jagan Moorthy]

The only reson I'm giving it a 4 star is the need of the hour to expose the RSS' attempts to appropriate Ambedkar to Hindutva. Most works of Ambedkar are pretty elaborate and it's tough to locate just his opinions against Hindutva. This book comes, or at least attempts to, to the rescue.

The book lacks a lot of references, especially in the intro and last few chapters. Quite a few of the references are good, but a few improvements are needed
1. Some references also say which chapter to refer to in Ambedkar's books, but it's missing in quite a few links
2. It'd have been better to have references from Ambedkar's books instead of online articles and blogs
3. Quora questions' links as references?? Seriously?

[Dr.Madan Bhimsen Jadhav]

How & why Dr. Ambedkar is being celebrated as supporter of Hindutva?
Was really Ambedkar pro-hindutva?
How selective para’s from his book ‘Pakistan or thoughts on partition of India’ are being used to villainize a certain minority?
What has been the recent changes in the agenda, after victory in 2014 general elections?

These are the questions which have been precisely and concisely answered in this 58page short book.
Interested readers should go for it.