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This book revisits the philosophy of B.R Ambedkar in the context of the present socio-economic-political realities of India. It examines the philosophical and theoretical interventions of Ambedkar, as well as his egalitarian principles of equality, liberty, fraternity and morality. Noting the current shift in state policy from welfarism to neoliberalism, the book argues that the measures, interventions and recommendations that Ambedkar made are highly appropriate and concrete to face challenges and can be considered as practical solutions to existing problems. It studies various themes that form a part of his oeuvre such as Buddhism, federalism, justice, social exclusion, representation, anti-caste system, women's equality, among others. It also discusses his impact on literature, visual arts, and literary, democratic and cultural movements throughout history.
The volume positions Ambedkar as a theoretician, social reformer, and a real visionary of social justice and democratization. It will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of social exclusion, politics, especially Indian political thought, sociology and South Asian studies.
List of contents
1. Introduction 2. Ambedkar as a Political Philosopher 3. Ambedkar's Autobiography and the Emergence of a Discourse of Dignity 4. Ambedkar's Democracy and State Socialism 5. Vagabond Dalit: Social Obligation and Quest for Freedom 6. Ambedkar's debate on equality and liberty: Fraternity as Political Normative 7. The Rights of Women and Emancipation: B.R. Ambedkar's Perspective 8. Women's Question in Ambedkar's Social Philosophy 9. Ambedkar on Reorganisation of States: A Case Study of Telangana 10. Dissent in Indian Literature: A Reading of Dalit Literature in the Context of Ambedkarite Thought 11. Confronting Political Representation: Politics of Visuality 12. The Perspective of B.R.Ambedkar on Agrarian Growth and Development: A Study of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana 13. Social Environmentalism: A Study on Ecological Ideas and Practice of B.R. Ambedkar 14. Conclusion: In Search of Ambedkar's Ideal Society- Trends, Challenges and Recommendations
About the author
Jagannatham Begari is Assistant Professor, Centre for Gandhian Thought and Peace Studies, School Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India. He obtained his Doctorate from the Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad, India. His research interests include democracy, modern Indian thinkers, political economy of India, human rights and marginality. He has delivered lectures at Western Sydney University and Adelaide University, Australia. He also visited and presented papers in international Conferences at Berlin (Germany), Denver, Colorado, United States of America and Manchester (England). He has also published articles in reputed journals like
EPW,
Indian Journal of Human Rights and
Indian Journal of Political Science. He is the author of
Interrogating Democracy and Human Rights: Telangana People's Movement (2014) and
Mapping a Human Rights and Subalterns in Modern India (2016).
Summary
This book revisits the philosophy of B.R Ambedkar in the context of the present socio-economic-political realities of India.
