Ambedkar and the Bhangis: Efforts for Their Upliftment

Book Details

• Author: Shyamlal

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2018

• ISBN: 9788131608982

• Pages: 214

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, born into a lower caste, dedicated his life to educating himself beyond the upper castes and awakening the lower castes to their rights. His efforts for the upliftment of the Bhangi community, in particular, have faced criticism from several individuals and political parties in recent years. In the 1990s, the relationship between Ambedkar and the Bhangi community was a central theme in national discourse, and even Bhangi youths have questioned Ambedkar's role in their advancement. This book seeks to settle the debate surrounding Ambedkar’s contributions to the emancipation of untouchable castes and communities, particularly the Bhangis.

Based on primary and secondary sources, this work addresses three critical questions:

1. Why did a movement questioning Ambedkar's mission arise?

2. What specific efforts did Dr. Ambedkar make for the upliftment of the Bhangi community?

3. How did Gandhi and Congress respond to this movement?

This comprehensive study is essential for anyone who has questioned Ambedkar’s efforts to uplift the Bhangis. It also serves as an invaluable resource for postgraduate students and researchers in political science and sociology.

Contents

• Introduction: Why this Study?

• Part I: Untouchable Caste in India

  1. The Bhangi: The Lowest of the Low Untouchable Castes

  2. The Bhangi: Some Socio-Demographic Characteristics

  3. The Bhangi: Poor and Marginalized

• Part II: Dr. Ambedkar and the Bhangis
  4. Ambedkar’s Contribution to Untouchables and Human Rights
  5. Ambedkar: Mobilization and Bhangi Solidarity Movement
  6. Bhagwan Das: Ambedkarite Scholar and Dalit Rights Activist
  7. Interaction between Ambedkar and Bhagwan Das
  8. Thus Spoke Bhagwan Das on Untouchability in UN 108

• Part III: Gandhi and Ambedkar
  9. Gandhi and Ambedkar: Some Thoughts and Views of Two Saviors of Bhangis
  10. How Gandhi Lost His Social Relevance?
  11. Emergence of the Bhangis as a Force to Ambedkar’s Ideology

About the Author
Shyamlal is a distinguished sociologist with a wealth of experience in academic leadership. He has served as Vice Chancellor at Patna University, Jai Narain Vyas University in Jodhpur, and acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. He has held numerous prominent academic positions, including Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Rajasthan. Professor Shyamlal has authored over 21 books and more than 50 research papers, making significant contributions to the field of sociology. He is the recipient of ICSSR’s Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Fellowship and has been instrumental in the creation of the Ambedkar Foundation.