5 Books By Dr B R Ambedkar Which Should Be On Your Reading List

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar popularly known as Babasaheb was the leader of the committee that drafted the Constitution of India. Often called the chief architect of the Constitution of India, he outlawed discrimination against untouchables. He was honoured with Bharat Ratna posthumously India's highest civilian award.

A jurist, economist, academic, politician, social reformer, anthropologist and writer Dr Ambedkar served as the Law and Justice Minister in the first cabinet of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He is known for inspiring the Dalit Buddhist movement. He earned doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

Babasaheb's first wife Ramabai died in 1935 after a long illness. In 1948, after the completion of the first draft of the Indian constitution, he married Sharada Kabir, who later took the name of Savita Ambedkar and was popularly known as mai.

The scholar had a tremendous understanding of India and its people. As a kid, he faced a lot of discrimination due to the prevalent caste system in India. He have up Hinduism in later life and took to Buddhism.

Here are five Books By Babasaheb Ambedkar which should make it to your reading list.

Ambedkar's India

This book is a collection of three prominent speeches on caste and the Indian Constitution. 'The Grammar Of Anarchy' reflects the diversity of the country and what he wanted for the people of the country.

'Annihilation Of Caste', brings out how deep-rooted the caste system in India was. he is even critical of Hinduism.

In Castes In India: Their Mechanism, Genesis And Development he shares his research about how and why caste is problematic.

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Later, in 1955 during a BBC interview, he accused Mahatma Gandhi of writing in opposition to the caste system in English language papers while writing in support of it in the vernaculars.

Who Were the Shudras?

In the book, Dr Ambedkar tries to find the origin of Sudras or the untouchables. The author cites Rigveda, Mahabharata and other ancient Indian scriptures, estimating that the Shudras were originally Aryans.

Shudras, also known as untouchables were at the bottom of the Indian Varna or class system. They worked as labourers and service workers. The author says they comprised more than three-quarters of all Hindus in 1946.

Pakistan or the Partition of India

In a pragmatic style, Dr Ambedkar talks about Muslim and Hindu minds. The roles of major political parties in the partition of the country are also explained. The author explains the definition of nationalism, nationhood and community, as understood by him. The book is considered a great example of an impartial and well-balanced perspective on the subject.

Buddha or Karl Marx 

Through this short essay, Dr Bhirmao Ambedkar compares Karl Marx and Gautam Buddha who are divided by over 23oo years.

The Buddha and His Dhamma

The last work of Dr Ambedkar, this book is a treatise on Buddha's life and philosophy. The text is treated as scripture for those who follow Navayana Buddhism. The Buddha and His Dhamma were first published in 1957 and Dr Ambedkar passed on in 1956. Written in English, the book has been translated into many languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali and Kannada. It was republished in 1979 as the eleventh volume of Ambedkar's collected writings and speeches. 

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