Who Were the Shudras? 1946 book by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on the history of the Shudra (lowest) Varna of the Indian caste system. The book is dedicated to Jyotirao Phule and seeks to dispel the idea that in India, Shudras are an untouchable caste. Ambedkar references Indian texts such as The Vedas and Mahabharata, among others, to suggest that the Shudras were really Aryan rulers who were demoted to a lower caste after a protracted struggle with the Brahmans. Ambedkar also analyses the Aryan race theory and disagrees with the widely accepted Indo-Aryan migration narrative in the history of the race. The book debunks beliefs and ideas and aims to foster compassion for a caste in India that is misunderstood and mistreated.

Who were they and why they became UNTOUCHABLES ? This is the digital copy of "THE UNTOUCHABLES". a book wrote by The great Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Please give us your feedback : www.facebook.com/syag21 Your opinion is very important to us. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to evaluate changes and make improvements in our book.

Who Were the Shudras? is a history book by Indian social reformer and polymath B. R. Ambedkar. The book discusses the origin of the Shudra Varna. In the book Ambedkar, citing Rigveda, Mahabharata and other ancient vedic scriptures, estimates that the Shudras were originally Aryans. Ambedkar writes in the preface of the book, ""Two questions are raised in this book: (1) Who were the Shudras? and (2) How they came to be the fourth Varna of the Indo-Aryan society? My answers to them are summarised below. The Shudras were one of the Aryan communities of the solar race"" There was a time when the Aryan society recognised only three Varnas, namely. Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. The Shudras did not form a separate Varna. They ranked as part of the Kshatriya Varna in the Indo-Aryan society. There was a continuous feud between the Shudra kings and the Brahmins in which the Brahmins were subjected to many tyrannies and indignities. As a result of the negligence towards the Shudras generated by their tyrannies and oppressions, the Brahmins refused to perform the Upanayana of the Shudras. Owing to the denial of Upanayana, the Shudras who were Kshatriyas became socially degraded, fell below the rank of the Vaishyas and thus came to form the fourth Varna."" Ambedkar also discusses Aryan race theory and rejects Indo-Aryan migration theory in the book.

The Shudras echoes Dr Ambedkar's question in Who Were the Shudras? that he asked in 1946. More than 70 years later, Kancha Ilaiah and his team of authors revisit this issue to give Shudras a voice again' -CHRISTOPHE JAFFRELOT The Shudras: Vision for a New Path weaves together multiple dimensions of the predicament of India's productive castes-in the spiritual, social, political, economic, philosophical and historical spheres. It reformulates their current position as well as future pathways. It strives to provoke Shudras-including regional political party leaders-all over India to realize their unique historical role in fighting unequal caste structures. And it gives a call to resist Hindutva, in which they have no liberated, equal space with the Dwija castes. At a juncture when the Shudra castes are regionalized and the Dwijas have become 'national', the fifth volume of the Rethinking India series, in collaboration with the Samruddha Bharat Foundation, seeks to bring home the real picture of their marginalized status in all key structures of the nation. It posits that the emancipation and progress of the Shudras are vital to sustain Ambedkar's constitutional democracy and move towards socio-spiritual equality.

Join B. R. Ambedkar on a quest to uncover the historical origins of the Shudras and their place in Indo-Aryan society. Who Were The Shudras? How They Came to be The Fourth Varna in The Indo-Aryan Society by B. R. Ambedkar: Enter the world of ancient Indian culture and history with Who Were The Shudras? How They Came to be The Fourth Varna in The Indo-Aryan Society by B. R. Ambedkar. This scholarly work explores the origins and development of the Shudra caste in Hindu society and their struggle for social and political rights. Ambedkar's scholarly analysis and historical insights make this book a cornerstone of South Asian studies. Why This Book? Who Were The Shudras? offers a deep and insightful examination of the caste system in India and its impact on the lives of millions. B. R. Ambedkar's meticulous research and courageous activism make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the social and political issues facing modern India. B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian jurist, politician, and social reformer, is celebrated for his contributions to Indian society and his advocacy for the rights of the oppressed. Who Were The Shudras? is a testament to his legacy and his tireless efforts to create a more just and equitable society.