What would Ambedkar say about caste in modern India?
I would say that while the legal abolition of untouchability is a necessary first step, caste persists in new forms—through endogamy, economic exclusion, and social segregation. The data on inter-caste marriages remains abysmally low, and Dalits still face violence and discrimination in villages and urban spaces. I would argue that the state must enforce reservations rigorously and expand them to the private sector, as economic power is concentrated in upper-caste hands. I would also critique the rise of caste-based political parties that often prioritize electoral gains over structural change. The annihilation of caste requires not just laws but a cultural revolution—inter-dining, inter-marriage, and the rejection of caste-based identity in everyday life.
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