Books

The privileged intellectual class celebrates Dr B.R. Ambedkar as the key architect of the Indian Constitution, and the political establishment limits the concerns he raised to reservations. The vibrant Dalit movement recognizes Ambedkar as an agent for social change. This landmark volume, edited and introduced by Anand Teltumbde and Suraj Yengde, seeks to unpack the radical in Ambedkar's legacy by examining his life work from hitherto unexplored perspectives. Although revered by millions today primarily as a Dalit icon, Ambedkar was a serious scholar of India's history, society and foreign policy. He was also among the first dedicated human rights lawyers, as well as a journalist and a statesman. Critically evaluating his thought and work, the essays in this book-by authors such as Jean Dr??ze, Partha Chatterjee, Sukhadeo Thorat, Manu Bhagavan, Anupama Rao, and other internationally renowned names-discuss Ambedkar's theory on minority rights, the consequences of Dalits' mass conversion to Buddhism, Dalit oppression in the context of racism and anti-Semitism, and the value of his thought for Marxism and feminism, among other global concerns. An extraordinary collection of immense breadth and scholarship that challenges the popular understanding of Ambedkar, The Radical in Ambedkar is essential reading for all those who wish to imagine a new future.