Annihilation of Caste

Having offered many criticisms of the Hindu religion, the caste system, and the various ways the two have influenced Indian society, the time has come, Ambedkar argues, for constructive criticism and ideas for moving in a positive direction. The ideal for society would be one constructed on the basis of the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The ideal of fraternity is one in which democracy is championed, and it directly argues against the culture the caste system creates since it is “essentially an attitude of respect and reverence towards one’s fellow men” (33).

In addition, no one could object to the ideal of liberty since it allows each individual to live up to their greatest potential. The ideal of equality likewise is accepted not because it is always true but because it is the easiest and most equitable manner in which to deal with the entire populace. Each individual might not in fact be perfectly equal to their neighbor, but the governing of the populace works best when this is simply assumed and treated to be true. All should be treated as if they were equal, even if there are great disparities between them in reality.