What Gandhi Says About Ambedkarand Caste

Gandhi concedes Ambedkar’s right to highlight the plight of Untouchables in the caste system. He also concedes his criticism of the upper caste Hindus and Hinduism for their complicity in legitimating and perpetuating untouchability. Unlike Ambedkar, Gandhi attributes the negative features of Hinduism and its role in untouchability to corruption in Hinduism which, according to him, can and must be purged to purify Hinduism. Ambedkar disagrees and opts for exit from Hinduism to exit untouchability. Neither Gandhi nor Ambedkar shows awareness of material conditions in determining the plight of Untouchables in the caste system.