Annihilation of Caste

The Annihilation of Caste is the text of an undelivered speech written in 1936, as Babasaheb Ambedkar was invited to speak at the Jat-Pat Todak Mandal, a Lahore-based Hindu reformist organization. However, his speech was withdrawn by the organization because it was considered too controversial and polemical, and was deemed offensive to the beliefs of Hinduism. In the speech, Ambedkar criticizes the Hindu faith, particularly the caste system. He exposes the tyranny of higher-caste Hindus towards the untouchables and outright rejects caste-based hierarchies and structures. His main argument is that the root of casteism must be eradicated, and not just inter-caste dining and marriage. This pamphlet is regarded as the bible by Dalit organizations, political parties, neo-Buddhists, and anti-caste activists.