(From ‘Religious Riddles‘ in Part I of the book ‘Riddles in Hinduism‘ by Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar) India is a congeries of communities. There are in it Parsis, Christians, Mohammedans and Hindus. The basis of these communities is not racial. It is of course religious. This is a superficial view. What is interesting to …
The Dalit Panther’s first leap
Sunil Dighe (Participant of the Dalit Panther movement in the 70s, Sunil Dighe reminisces here about its hopes and failure. The movement would have been 40 today.) Each nation has its share of movements but some movements are such that they compel society to give a thought to their calls and demands. They have …
‘Slavery’ by Mahatma Phule: Preface
‘Slavery’ by Mahatma Phule ~ Preface by The Author Himself ~ “The day that reduces a man to slavery takes from him the half of his virtue,” – Homer. “Our system of Government in India is not calculated to raise the character of those subject to it, nor is the present system of education one …
What Path to Salvation?
Speech delivered by Dr. Ambedkar to the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference, 31st May 1936, Bombay. Translated from the Marathi by Vasant W. Moon. The typescript of the translation, with handwritten emendations, was presented by the translator to Eleanor Zelliot on 25 January 1988, and has been contributed by her for this website. Edited by Frances W. …
Dnyanajyoti Savitribai Phule – II
Prof. Hari Narke Continued from here. (This is the second part of his essay ‘Dnyanajyoti Savitribai Phule’, published in the NCERT booklet on the ‘Savitribai Phule First Memorial Lecture’ in 2008. You can read the first part here) In 1877, Maharashtra was facing a severe drought. It was not possible for Savitribai and Jotirao, who …
Dr Ambedkar Remembers the Poona Pact in an Interview on the BBC
Transcribed by: Prakash Holayar, Chamarajanagar Dr Ambedkar was extensively interviewed by the BBC radio in New Delhi in 1955 on a range of topics including his memories of Gandhi, Round Table Conferences, Poona Pact and how political independence was obtained. A portion of the interview related to the famous Poona Pact, transcribed (as faithfully as …
Dnyanajyoti Savitribai Phule – I
Prof. Hari Narke (This is the first part of his essay ‘Dnyanajyoti Savitribai Phule’, published in the NCERT booklet on the ‘Savitribai Phule First Memorial Lecture’ in 2008) “More than Jotirao, his wife deserves praise. No matter how much we praise her, it would not be enough. How can one describe her stature? She cooperated …
D. C. Ahir is No More
K. C. Sulekh The renowned author of more than dozen published works on Buddhism and Dr. Ambedkar, Mr. DC Ahir is no more. He breathed his last at his Janakpuri residence of Delhi on 12th July after protracted illness (learnt through my talk on phone with his son Nirmal). Born in 1928 at his native …
A Tribute to Respected D. C. Ahir
(Renowned Buddhist scholar and Ambedkarite thinker D. C. Ahir passed away on 12th July, 2012) Ronki Ram D. C. Ahir was one of the few Punjabi Ambedkarites who had the honour of sitting in the company of Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at his residence in Delhi. That was the time when a large number …