Democracy and the Persistence of Caste: Revisiting the Ambedkar-Gandhi Debate

India is known for its democracy. But beyond the conventional understanding of Indias political democracy, any perusal of Indian society generates a common viewpoint that the anathema of casteism have marred the idea justice and equality. From various episodes of social injustice to the National Crime Records Bureaus yearly statistics the victimization and exclusion based on caste, remains a glaring reality of contemporary India. It sustains under the much-magnified epithet of worlds largest democracy.

Impasse exists and this often leads one to revisit and cross-examination of the ideas and ideals which not only crafted this nation; but also charted futuristic trajectories for its citizens. Ambedkar-Gandhis holistic journey remains the central to this entire discourse. Their impact on the idea of India is such that they remain most revisted leaders of our times and their engagement not only dominates contemporary political and policy-oriented discourses, but even our common public spaces. Without any shadow of doubt, it was the holistic discourse between the two that has transformed the idea of political democracy or independence as a mere means to achieve actual Swaraj or freedom.

But in contemporary times their entire discourse has moved beyond its original profundity, argumentative traditions and urge to reform the society towards calcification of their ideas based upon false binaries or mere episodic histories freezing them in a perpetual battle or to make gods and heroes/villains out of history. And this has not benefitted this nation beyond some mere political gains.

Moving beyond this misguided phenomenon, which has become an anathema for Indias democratic framework the book analyses the expositions of Ambedkars social democracy and Gandhis Swaraj and its relevance. Democracy, as vouched by the founding fathers and mothers of this nation was much beyond political power and independence. One can be selective in their argument to divide the masses. But as a whole Ambedkar-Gandhi debate, sets the agenda for social justice and equality. It shows where we have failed and it also shows where we must strive to reach.

• Publication date: 31 January 2026
• Page count: 339
• Dimensions: Height 230 mm; Width 150 mm
• Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9789374516850