Glimpses from the Anthropological Odyssey of B. R. Ambedkar Through the Caste System in India

Abstract

B. R. Ambedkar’s original research on the caste system in India is an unexplored area. In this article, an attempt has been made to appreciate the views of Ambedkar on the origin of the caste system in India and the relationship of the anthropological milieu of the United States of America during the time of Franz Boas in shaping his thoughts. Ambedkar gave importance on the endogamy of caste superimposed on tribal exogamy, and he maintained an academic detachment from his painful personal experiences, while presenting his seminar paper on caste at Columbia University, USA.