Decoding Codes: Annihilation of Castes: Text, Context and Theory (List of Sources)

Introduction:

This is only an interpretation and articulation. You need to check and clarify all micro-details by yourself in the books.
Omnipresent nature of Annihilation of Castes in Dalit Movement
Opportunities for being young to explore reading more and wider
In the whole discussion, we will jump into the text and get out of it to see the context.

(Notes Prepared by Dnyanesh for the discussion organized by ASO, Pune)

------

There are seven ways or more than that from where one can get different aspects and understanding of Babasaheb’s AOC

1. Annihilation of Castes (with the addition of Castes in India which Babasaheb had mentioned in the preface of the third edition. He wanted to add castes in India with the annihilation of castes to have an academic churning of what castes is all about? (Pg. 23

2. Annihilation of castes and castes in India with three other books and one additional essay.

According to Sukhdev Thorat, Annihilation of Castes is the Synthesis of all these writings and speeches that Babasaheb had written and delivered.

Mukti Kon Pathe: published in 1934: why Babasaheb wanted; not to die as Hindu
Philosophy of Hinduism: Part of volume 3. In this essay, he discusses the concept of “Religion” (principles and rulebook) and addresses the question of whether Hinduism is religion or not. In the conclusion part, he says Hinduism is not a religion but it is merely a rulebook. (Pg. 3)
States and Minorities: It has detail and analytical explanation about the methods to destroy the caste system as an institution.
(Additional source): (What Congress and Gandhi Have Done To The Untouchables/Mr Gandhi and the Emancipation of the Untouchables: It helps in understanding Babasaheb’s critique to Gandhi, Congress and the contemporary socio-political movements in relation with the practice of Untouchability. (Bcz, it was one Gandhi’s main agenda) (Volume 9))
Maybe Gandhi’s Gramswaraj would give more insights on Gandhi’s ideas of “Varnashramdharma”.

3. Interpretations by the prominent authors (They can be found on YouTube.)

Sukhadev Thorat: discusses the central idea of AOC. In this lecture he precisely details it down just like a list of things to do; what is Babasaheb’s central idea of AOC? He suggests various subsequent readings that has to be referred with AOC.
Gopal Guru: He specifically suggests how to read AOC. He positions Babasaheb’s AOC from the perspective of philosophy and more specifically political theory.
I could not get an interpretation from any Woman Authors on AOC (Apology)

4. Critical Analysis that can be problematized in academic debates

Ananad Teltumbade: discusses the AOC with few thematic like what is AOC, what Babasahebs opposes to and How can the castes be annihilated. He emphasizes more on the context which is good but he lies in not mentioning anything on theoretical it’s part. The problem is is also in pulling up para –interpretation of Babasaheb critique to socialists’ movements. Base and Superstructure.

5. Interpretations that have to gain more critiques, problematization as well as more popularity. These are called as the appropriation to Babasahe’s AOC

Annihilation of Castes by S. Anand with the introduction by Arundhati Roy
A Saint and A Doctor by Arundhati Roy (Same, but it only consists Introduction)

6. Criticism of AOC’s Appropriation by Left Radical and Liberals

Hatred in the Belly by Shared Mirror: Series of Articles criticizing Roy’s and Anand’s appropriation of AOC. There are lectures on Youtube as well. Most prominent by Anu Ramdas, J.V. Pawar Kuffir, Anup etc. (Covering the larger politics that has been created and institutional murders in the universities)
Suryakant Waghamore on the Commentary on Roy’s and Anand’s Publication (Like a research guide) in which he questions on the personal politics of both as well as the intellectual errors that has been found in the book.

7. There can be more interpretations and ways which discusses AOC which are unknown to me for now.

--------

Reading AOC Context:

A border overview: JPTM is a unit of Arya Samaj that was working on the removal of untouchability from the Hindu religion or Shuddikaran.

13-10-1925, Yeola Conference and Resolution; I was born as Untouchable Hindu but I will never die as Hindu. (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 77) (He speaks about the conversion but doesn’t specifically name any particular religion. He said everyone is free to choose their own but that religion has to be based on the principal of equality.)
08-12-1935, Foras Road, Mumbai; (Marathi attachment below_1) the religion that doesn’t treat humans with humanity, why we should call it a religion. (Hindu religion is a disease, Moreover, it is an infectious disease that has happened to Hindu people. It is spreading towards as well. If someone gets an infectious disease, the way he has to be quarantined, we also need to be isolated from Hindus. (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 78)
11-2-1936; the conversion will be beneficial to all minorities. He emphasized on unity among Untouchables for the conversion. In relation to that a separate speech was delivered on 1-5-1936; where he says, “We, the Seven Cr. Untouchables shall convert together.” (Clarifies to co-workers on his way to Shegaon that he has not said anybody to convert into Islam or Christianity. (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 80 and 84)
04-05-1936; a religion in which there is no equality, love and fraternity, it is not a religion. (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 87)
17-05-1936; to get the golden time to our marginalized life, we should do the conversion. (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 88)
30-5/1-6-1936; Mukti Kon Pathe? (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 89)
2-6-1936; by conversion untouchables will get equal rights. (Volume 18 (I), Chapter 92)

--------

Reading AOC Text

Volume 1 of DBRAWS has the third edition of AOC as the second chapter. It was published in 1944 and republished in Volume 1 of Babasaheb Writings and Speeches in 1979. There are four parts consisting of 40 sub-speeches in the AOC

1st Part two Prefaces.
2nd Part Communication Between Babasaheb and JPTM (Letters)
3rd Part: The Speech Annihilation of Castes: There are in total 26 sub-speeches
4th Part: Appendix I: Vindication of AOC by Gandhi in “Harijan” : Three sub-speeches
5th Part: Appendix II: Reply to Gandhi by Babasaheb

Discussion on the Text:

Part 1: Two prefaces: positioning Babasaheb’s thoughts on why and how did he prepare this speech

Part 2: Dynamics within JPTM and their Communication with Babasaheb

Dec. 12, 1935: Santram’s the secretary of the JPTM invites to Babasaheb
Feb. 2, 1936:G.C. Narayan (Interesting case, he invited Babasaheb to his Home at Lahore later he was the one who resigned JPTM because he had problems with Babasaheb’s arguments on Vedas.
Apr. 14-22, 1936: Shree Har Bhagwan: says to take responsibility of speech, leaving Vedas out of the speech, Babasaheb’s announcement of changing religion, Compete Annihilation of Hindu Religion
Apr. 27, 1936: Babasaheb’s response; explaining loopholes in the decision making process and communication with JPTM and leaving it to people to see whether JPTM is hypocritical or weak in its own work. He says to cancel the council.

Part 3: Discussion on 26 Parts of the AOC

JPTM and their attempt to make Antyaja as President of the Conference can be an act of dilution of their own religion. Shivaji and Ramdas (Sub-Speech 1)
Critique to Contemporary Social and Political Reform Movements (Sub-Speech 2)

Battle btw both and how political reforms won
Scrutiny and requisitioning to W.C. Bannery’s statement on social reforms
Showcases cases in which untouchables, facing discrimination

Socialist Movements (Sub-Speech 3-4)

The doctrine of Economic Interpretation of History adopted by the Socialists of India lacks the essence of Indian reality: Base and superstructure
Can the proletariat unite?
Division of labourers

Stratification of occupation
Graded inequality
Not based on choice but by the dogma of social rules.

Need to focus on economic, religious and social reforms. But all of them are not possible without dismantling castes.

Liberal Reformists/Gandhian (Sub-Speech 5-13)

Race, purity and impurity (there is no pure race)
Hindu is not a society

It has habitual, beliefs and thoughts but it lies with communication and common activity of one caste with another.

Anti-Social Spirit
Hindu and Christian’s Reforms of Aborigines
Sonar’s Dhoti and Namaskar; Bhramhin’s critique
Pathare Prabhu; the issue of remarriage
Hindu religion cannot be a missionary religion

It was a missionary religion but not anymore.
Where to place the converted Hindu? In which castes?
Shuddhi will be faulty

Saghatan

Hindu religion lacks unity, it will be weak.
Islam and Sikh are united. (Bhai-Khalsa)

Interaction of castes
Ethics and public spirit: Sympathy and castes

Arya Samajist (Sub-Speech 14-19)

Ideal Society: based on equality, liberty and fraternity
Idols: Ram, Krishna and Chaturvarna
Chatruvarna and Women

Impracticable, harmful: which varna women are from?
Penal sanctions against the woman in Manusmurti
Endogamy and control over sexuality

Problems within Chaturvarna
Battle btw Kshatriya, Bhraman and other varnas
Difference btw castes among Hindu and Non-Hindu

In other castes doesn’t have a religious consideration
Secondary for others and primary for Hindus

How to abolish castes (Sub-Speech 20-22)

Change in Social Order

Abolish the sub-castes: but it is not practical
Inter-castes dinner: but it doesn’t kill the spirit of castes.
Inter-castes marriage: but Hindu will not dare to do that.
Destroy the belief in the sanctity of Shastra

What is the chance of success?
Vedas, Smriti, Shastras, Sadachar

Religion and Changes in Rulebook (23-26)

Destruction of Religion?

Religion-based on principles: the sense of responsibility, accepts modernity
Religion-based on rulebook: doesn’t change

Religious reforms that are needed in Hindu religion/Rule book based nature has to be erased

Vedas, Shastras and Puranas are sacred authoritative books must by law cease to be so and the preaching of any doctrine, religious; social contained in these should be penalized. There should one and only one standard book of Hindu Religion
Priesthood among Hindus and as if it seems to be impossible the priesthood must at least cease to be hereditary. By the law, there should be an exam prescribed by the state and holds a “sanad” from state permitting them to practice.
No ceremony performed by the priest who does not hold a sanad shall be deemed to be valid in law and it should be made penal for a person.
The priest should be the servant of the state and has to face disciplinary actions if requires
The number of priests should be limited by law according to the requirement of the State.

Part 4: Vindication of Caste by Mahatma Gandhi

Jat-pat Todak Mandal and their loss of objective
Defending Veda, Upanishads, Smriti and Purana by blaming the sources and subjective interpretation: one should look into what saint has told.
Varna Vs Castes

Part 5: A Reply to Mahatma

Honour did by Mahatma
Summary to the annihilation of castes
Authenticity: Taken from Tilak’s writing on Veda, Upanishads, Smriti and Purana

Dnyandeo wanted to preserve his caste status of Brahmin
Eknath called to be Dharmatma for preserving his castes

-------

Reading Annihilation of Castes: Theory

It is a small but very powerful book.
Annihilation of castes as pragmatic text
It is not the text that complaining the victimhood of Dalits

It is a serious text that goes beyond the complaints
It shows the new way/new perspective to look at castes and society and their future.

As political text

Because it doesn’t leave a point for the final advisory to make a final decision

A deep discursive principle in terms of ethics and rationality

Organized the arguments in a very logical manner.

Inter-subjectivity: the person is imp than texts (Ont. Is imp. Than Epis.)
Annihilation of castes is a modern ethical text

The alternative to Gandhis Sarvodaya or Swarajya
Babasaheb brings the principles of equality, freedom and fraternity
Emphasis on the question of modernity.

Mode of production has been changed into a more distributary

Annihilation of Castes, the First Edition

Annihilation of Caste,
with Reply to Mahatma Gandhi

More readings and audios of Babasaheb's Writing

(It is a separate site called "Reading Babasaheb" where both pdf and audios of Babasaheb has attached. If one-click on the topic the audios of each topic will open in soundtrack app and by clicking on the main topic of the volume, the pdf will open)