| Title | : | Who were the Shudras? |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle , Hardcover , Paperback , Audiobook & More |
| Number of Pages | : | 215 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1946 |
The book is a debunking of myths and ideologies and hopes to achieve a sense of tolerance for a misunderstood and ill-treated caste in India.
Who were the Shudras? Reviews
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Brahmin: Are you man or god?
Buddha: Neither. I am awoken.
Who Were the Shudras? And who am I to know? I am no one, but everyone in India knows B R Ambedkar. His statues are everywhere, more frequent than Buddhas, planned higher than the Statue of Liberty, straddling stupas and pointing towards the sky. After consecutive PhD's in New York and London, he rivaled Gandhi, helped to found the Republic and write the Constitution. Converting half a million Indians to Buddhism, he is considered the Maitreya by many Dalits. His greatest triumph was his untiring fight for the rights of oppressed people: untouchables, shudras and women.
This short book is about the Shudras, the bottom class of the Varna system, laborers and service workers. Ambedkar says they comprised more than three quarters of all Hindus in 1946, so around 250M people. He first dispenses with race: whether once Indo-Aryan or aboriginal was meaningless, as all groups were then mixed. Blaming ancient Brahminism for a system of pain and penalty, he asserts that some parts of the Vedas were fabrications meant to serve Brahmin interests. He said this was an atomic bomb dropped on dogma, and it was a heresy to many.
Ambedkar begins with the Rig Veda (c. 1500 BC). The Varnas were divided from the body of Parusha, a cosmic man sacrificed in the creation of life. His mouth, arms, thighs and feet became the four castes of Indo-Aryan people: priests, soldiers, traders and laborers. This social hierarchy was then propagated through subsequent texts, the Dharmasutras, Brahmanas and Manusmriti. Ambedkar claims no one challenged this, except for the Buddha, who failed to counter the law givers. As time passed, punishment and restrictions on the Shudras would only proliferate.
Beyond relegation to menial tasks, the Shudras were prohibited a spiritual second birth, excluded from receiving sacraments and offering sacrifices. Other examples of social exclusion were sharing of food, physical space, association with or showing respect to Shudras. Graded laws applied exponentially greater punishments on Shudras than to Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. Brahmins were privileged over all. Ambedkar contended (while illegal in 1946) the practice existed in social and religious contexts. An untouchable himself, he held exalted and influential positions.
So, Who Were the Shudras? Ambedkar theorizes they were once ruling members of the Kshatriya class who oppressed Brahmin priests. In retaliation the Brahmins refused privileges, such as sacrament and sacrifice. Through religious ostracization, Shudras became socially degraded and became a fourth Varna. Ambedkar cites Vedic, Vishnu Purana and Mahabharata passages to show that the person called ‘Suda’ in the Rig Veda was a Kshatriya king. It is more than likely that ancient politics played a role in subjected people being assigned to inferior social classes.
Not all of Ambedkar’s theories have been borne out by subsequent scholarship. The Parusha verse regarding caste is now considered inserted at a later date, as he surmised. Historians Olivelle and Sharma contest the use of caste as a hereditary social or professional order during the Vedic period. Others ascribe the practice to a period later than the Mahabharata, when caste was based one’s individual moral character. The Bhagavad Gita describes dharma as one's own 'nature from birth'. Historical cases of Shudra power can be cited. By tradition Chandragupta was one.
Ultimately this is a political tract and a polemic against modern caste discrimination. It is a work of theoretical history as well. Although not a historian, nor an expert of Sanskrit, Ambedkar pointed a way forward for study by specialists. He admits in the preface as a work of literature it falls short. Replete with arcane terms, rambling and repeating itself, it is a challenge to read. Nearly 75 years old, parts of this book appear as fresh as if written yesterday. Published before India's independence, events have shown Ambedkar remains disturbingly relevant. -
This is a wonderful book full of fresh insights into the question of the origin of the Shudras. Dr Ambedkar brings in tools from sociology, anthropology, mythology, theology, economics, and historiography to raise and answer the question which constitutes the title of the book. Nobody before him, and arguably hardly anybody after him, has taken up the issue which any scholar working on Indian society and history must take up. This book has a sequel entitled 'The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables?' Another must read. It is quite understandable that only somebody hailing from the untouchable caste and only a thinker of Dr Ambedkar's stature (arguably, one of the greatest thinkers the world ever produced) could address the gravest concern of the Indian Republic, namely, the caste inequality. Some of the passing remarks made by Dr Ambedkar, which I found amusing, are as follows:
1. 'The meek and non-violent looking Hindu can be violent when anybody attacks his Sacred Books' - Ambedkar, 'Who were the Shudras?'
2. 'I am not going to be dettered from catching a cheat by the menaces of a ruffian' - Dr Johnson, quoted by Dr Ambedkar in 'Who Were the Shudras?'
3. 'I do not despair of success. For I take consolation in the words of the poet Bhavabhuti who said, "Time is infinite and earth is vast, some day there will be born a man who will appreciate what I have said'" - Dr Ambedkar 'who Were the Shudras?'
4. 'That a man thinks is a biological fact, what he thinks is a sociological fact' - Prof Thorndyke, as quoted by Dr Ambedkar in 'Who were the Shudras?'
A must read for the students of social sciences and humanities! -
I found it tedious to go through this work (thesis)of one of the greatest scholars India has ever produced.
It is an extraordinary work by an incredible man.
The way he defended his theory is simply magnificent.
By going through this work one can very well conclude provided the evidences quoted in this book that there were not four varnas in the beginning but three and also the so called shudras were not the natives of India but they were also the Aryans who constituted the class Kshatriya, eliminating the long believed theory of invasion of the natives by the foreigners.
It is also extremely clear that the Shudras as a result of continuous conflict with the Brahmans they were degraded paving way to the formation of the fourth varna.
The process used by them was found to be the denial of UPANAYANA the right to wear sacred thread.
Ultimately in ancient aryan times upanayana decides the eligibility to own property, to get educated, etc.
When denied of their basic rights which once they were able to enjoy really made the bottomline of the story which resulted in continuous oppression, which even now prevails..
GREAT WORK .. COULD HAVE BEEN A PAINSTAKING ONE ... DESERVES RESPECT AND PUBLICITY... -
Another masterpiece of scholarly work by Dr. Ambedkar. One just needs to read this to know the brilliance of Ambedkar and why he was so successful in changing the mindset of Dalits and not just their material conditions of slavery. By far the most logical explanation of the root causes of evil structure of caste and why it is not justifiable by any stretch of imagination or justification of history.
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We live in the political/philosophical atmosphere of 'strong' arguments and opinions, and not necessarily well thought out ones. In such a setting,Reading Ambedkar's book will surely be a breath of fresh air.
I was amazed by his knowledge which spans linguistics anthropology,philosophy of the west and the east. The Amount of research that went into this thesis is breathtaking.The book/thesis delivers exactly what it claims in the title - a deep dive into how the Sudras came to be.He doesnt pull his punches when it comes to criticising the Brahminical order, yet stays off emotionally charged attacks at the community.
The only downside I would say is that this is academic literature. There are too many citations that one could get lost in. But then again this is a must read for any Indian, who wants to know the thoughts of the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
P.S:Speaking of citations, I am curious what this man could have produced if he was strapped with the resources of the Internet age. -
Now I know what it feels like to read a scholarly work written by a scholar. To say that the work is a well researched one would be a big understatement. This book is a painstaking effort by Mr Ambedkar to portray the background, the origins of the caste system in India and the tyranny meted out to the oppressed. Needless to say, the work must have garnered him a huge amount of criticism from the various quarters of the Indian population, but the revelation is nothing less than thought provoking. The depth of research is deep to the point that reading becomes tedious. But nevertheless, this is one of the best books I have read
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ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ജാതിവ്യവസ്ഥയുടെ ഉദ്ഭവം, പരിണാമം എന്നിവയെക്കുറിച്ചാലോചിക്കുന്നവര് അടിസ്ഥാനഗ്രന്ഥമായി സ്വീകരിക്കേണ്ടതാണ് ഡോ. അംബേദ്കറുടെ 'ശൂദ്രര് ആരായിരുന്നു?: അവര് ഇന്തോ ആര്യന് സമൂഹത്തില് നാലാം വര്ണമായതെങ്ങനെ?' എന്ന കൃതി.
വേദങ്ങളും മറ്റു പ്രാചീന ഇന്ത്യൻ സാഹിത്യ, തത്വശാസ്ത്ര കൃതികളെയും സൂക്ഷ്മമായി വിശകലനം ചെയ്ത് ഡോ. അംബേദ്കർ എത്തിച്ചേരുന്ന പ്രധാന കണ്ടെത്തലുകൾ ഇവയാണ്:
1 . ശൂദ്രർ സൂര്യവംശത്തില്പെട്ട ആര്യൻ സമുദായങ്ങളിൽ ഒന്നായിരുന്നു
2 . പ്രാചീന ആര്യൻ സമൂഹത്തിൽ 3 വർണങ്ങൾ മാത്രം അംഗീകരിച്ച ഒരു കാലം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന് .( ബ്രാഹ്മണർ, ക്ഷത്രിയർ, വൈശ്യർ)
3 . ശൂദ്രർ, ആര്യൻ സമൂഹത്തിലെ ക്ഷത്രിയ വർണത്തിന്റെ ഭാഗമായിരുന്നു.
4 . ശൂദ്രരായ രാജാക്കന്മാരും ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരും തമ്മിൽ നിരന്തരമായ പ്രശ്നങ്ങളും തീരാപ്പകയും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; തൽഫലമായി, ബ്രാഹ്മണർ പീഡനങ്ങൾക്കും അപമാനങ്ങൾക്കും വിധേയരാക്കപ്പെട്ടു
5 . ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്ക് ശൂദ്രരോട് വിദേശം ജനിക്കുകയും തൽഫലമായി, ശൂദ്രരുടെ ഉപനയനം നടത്താൻ ബ്രാഹ്മണർ വിസമ്മതിച്ചു
6 . ക്ഷത്രിയരായ ശൂദ്രർ അവർക്ക് ഉപനയനം നിഷേധിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിന്റെ ഫലമായി സാമൂഹികമായി അധപതിച്ചു; അവർ നാലാം വർണമായിത്തീർന്നു
ഋഗ്വേദത്തിലെ പുരുഷസൂക്തത്തിന്റെ നിരൂപണത്തോടെയാണ് പ്രബന്ധം ആരംഭിക്കുന്നത്. വിരാട്പുരുഷന്റെ മുഖം, ബാഹുക്കള്, തുട, പാദം എന്നിവയില്നിന്ന് യഥാക്രമം ബ്രാഹ്മണരും ക്ഷത്രിയരും വൈശ്യരും ശൂദ്രരുമുണ്ടായി എന്ന സൂക്തപരാമര്ശത്തിന��റെ അര്ത്ഥതലങ്ങളും അതിന്റെ സാമൂഹികമായ പ്രയോഗവും അംബേദ്കര് പരിശോധിക്കുന്നു.വേദത്തിന്റെ ഭാഗമെന്ന നിലയിലുള്ള ദിവ്യത്വവും അപ്രമാദിത്വവും എങ്ങനെ സാമൂഹികതലത്തില് വര്ണങ്ങളുടെ ശ്രേണികരണത്തിനു കാരണമായി എന്നും അദ്ദേഹം വിശദീകരിക്കുന്നു. -
Debunks like no other
As Dr. Ambedkar goes about deconstructing the history of Shudras, he attempts to answer few of these questions -
1. Were the Shudras really non-Aryans and who are Aryans anyways? Scientifically speaking, are/were there 2 different races in India?
2. Have there always been 4 varnas in the Hindu social order? And were Shudras actually one of the other three at one point in history and have they been relegated over time?
3. Are the atrocities against Shudras actually sanctioned in the Manusmriti? (!) If they are, what drove the animosity? And why were they not "prescribed" in the Rig Veda or prevalent early on in the Hindu society?
4. Were the Shudras actually kings at one point in time and did the Brahmins and the denial of the Upanayana ceremony play a crucial role in their fall in the Hindu social order?
If these are questions that intrigue you, it's a must-read! -
Read this to know the shocking and painful history of Shudras.
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A thesis, providing solutions for several riddles surrounding the answer of the question 'Who were the Shudras ? and How they came to be the fourth varna of Indo-Aryan Society ?'
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“Who were the sudhras” பாபாசாஹேபின் ஆகா சிறந்த படைப்பு���ளில் ஒன்று அதில் அவர் கூறும் எடுத்துக்காட்டுகளும் ஆதாரங்களும் வியப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும்.
சூத்திரன் என்பவன் வர்ண அடுக்கில் நான்காம் இடத்தை சேர்ந்தவன் என்ற அளவில் மட்டுமே தெரிந்த எனக்கு அவனது வரலாறு ஒரு ஆச்சாரியம் தான். வேதங்களில் சூத்திரன் பற்றி மிக மோசமாகவும் இழிவாகவும் சொல்ல பட்ட விசயங்களில் சில
சூத்திரன் என்றால் ஏழுவகைப்படும்.
1. போரில் புறங்காட்டி ஓடியவன்,
2. போரில் கைதியாகப் பிடிக்கப்பட்டவன்,
3. பிராமணனிடத்தில் பக்தியினால் ஊழியம் செய்பவன்,
4.விபச்சாரி மகன்,
5. விலைக்கு வாங்கப்பட்டவன்,
6. ஒருவனால் கொடுக்கப்பட்டவன்,[அடிமை ]
7. தலைமுறைதலைமுறையாக ஊழியம் செய்பவன்.[அத்தியாயம் 8, ஸ்லோகம் 415]
அவனுக்கும் வேதம் சொல்லித்தர கூடாது, யாரையேனும் பெயர் சொல்லி அழைத்தால் அவன் வாயில் காய்ந்த இரும்பு கம்பியை விட வேண்டும், வேதத்தை படித்தாலோ அல்லது கேட்டாலோ அவனது காதில் ஈயத்தை காச்சி ஊற்றவேண்டும்.
சூத்திரன் இப்படி எல்லாம் இழிநிலை அடைந்ததற்கு காரணம் அவன் பார்ப்பானை எதிர்த்தது மட்டும் தான். இந்நூலில் புரட்சியாளரின் ஆதாரங்களின் படி சூத்திரன் ஒரு ஆரிய இனத்தை சேர்ந்தவன், அப்போது இருந்தது மூன்று வர்ணங்கள் தான் அதில் இரண்டாம் வர்ணமான சத்ரிய வனத்தின் கிளை வர்ணம் தான் சுதா என்ற சூத்திர வர்ணம். அவர்கள் பார்ப்பனர்களை எதிர்த்து போரிட்ட மற்றும் வேதங்கள் இயற்றிய வரலாற்று ஆதாரங்கள் இந்நூலில் அடங்கும்.
இப்படி ஆரிய இனத்தை சேர்ந்த சூத்திரர்கள் தங்களை எதிர்ந்தார்கள் என்ற ஒரே காரணத்திற்காக அவர்களை வேசி மகன் என்றும், வேதம் படிக்கக்கூடாது என்றும், பூநூல் அணிய கூடாது என்றும் அடிமை படுத்திய வரலாறு வன்மமும் சித்திரவதைகளும் நிறைந்தது.
வேதத்தில் கூறப்படும் சூத்திரர்களும் தற்போது இந்து மதத்தில் உள்ள சூத்திரர்களும் வேறு என்றும் அனால் இவர்களும் அதையே வகையில் நடத்தப்பட்டனர் என்பதும் தான் முரண்பாடுகளின் உச்சக்கட்டம்.
தங்களை இந்து என்று சொல்லிகொள்ளுபவர்கள் பாபாசாஹேபின் 1. Philoshopy od hinduism 2. Riddles of hinduism 3. Who were the sudhras 4. The untouchables ஆகிய நூல்களை வாசித்தல் இந்து மதத்தின் உண்மை முகம் புரியும். தங்களை இந்து என்று அடையாளப்படுத்தும் அணைத்து சூத்திரர்களும் அவசியம் வாசிக்கவும். நான் குறிப்பிட்டதை விட பல ஆதாரபூர்வ அதிர்ச்சி தகவல்கள் இந்நூலில் அடங்கும்.
வாசிக்கும் போது கோவம் வந்தால் அதற்கு நாள் பொறுப்பல்ல.
Book:Who Were the Shudras?
Author :Dr. B. R. Ambedkar -
Researched, detailed mixed with anger and venegance
A lot of research been done from the caste division to the aryan race theory , comparisons from other countries hierarchy structure . A must read -
India’s caste system has been around for several thousand years. I am Indian. There is one thing that I have learned, and that is that you cannot escape the caste system. You may like it or abhor it, but there is no escape. Within the caste system, who were the Shudras? How did they emerge? They are the lowest of the four main castes.
There are those who are at the top of the food chain – the Brahmins. The Brahmins claim to be the voice of God. They believe that they are superior to the others, even if they are poor and uneducated. They have arrogated all sorts of privileges unto themselves. At the bottom of the pile lie the Shudras. Below them, are the Dalits. They make up the bulk of the population. Even an educated, respected, and influential person like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar could not escape his Dalit heritage. At the end of his life, he converted to Buddhism.
Who were the Shudras, and how did they come to lie at the bottom of the heap? This is a complex story and is the subject that Dr. Ambedkar deals within this book.
Most of the laws, or ‘smriti’s’ were written by Brahmins. The most famous, or infamous, of these, is the Manu Smriti. The Manu Smriti derived much of its authority from the Vedas, and indeed one hymn, the ‘Purusha Sukta’. In this hymns, the four castes were compared to the four major sections of the body: head, arms, thighs and feet. The Brahmins were the head and deemed to represent the voice of God. The Shudras were the feet, so the lowest of the four original castes.
Dr. Ambedkar has quoted this hymn at length, and several others. When I read the translation of the hymn in his book, I could not find a statement that the Brahmins were superior to the other castes. It merely identified the parts of the ‘Divine Body’ with the various castes. I am surprised Dr Ambedkar missed this.
The book is not easy reading. Dr. Ambedkar writes with force, directly and follows a precise flow of logic. He pulls no punches.
Dr Ambedkar started by analyzing most of the ancient texts. He has a lawyer’s mind and has listed the number of times each caste is referenced in the Vedas, or other texts.
The Vedas were first transmitted verbally, and only later committed to paper. Dr. Ambedkar compared the styles of the two major Vedas with those of the two minor Vedas, and infers there were two classes, or types, of Aryans.
He further states that the Shudras were upper caste Aryans - indeed that they were kings and rulers. He postulates that they oppressed the Brahmins cruelly. The Brahmins revolted and denied them the ‘sacred thread’ ceremony. Consequently, the Shudras became ‘once born’ instead of being ‘twice born’ and fell to the bottom of the heap.
We lay readers are not experts on the ancient texts. Books like ‘Aryans, Jews, Brahmins’, prove that many Western and Indian ‘experts’ also misinterpreted these ancient texts. Books like The Manu Smriti influenced people like Nietzsche. He, in turn, influenced Nazi philosophy and the philosophy of Aryan supremacy.
Dr. Ambedkar’s logic is impeccable. We must rely on his logic. I say, ‘why not?’. His intellectual pedigree is impeccable. His analysis is outstanding, and he has quoted judiciously. Brahmins have written most interpretations of the ancient texts. It is time we had more Dalit interpretations. There is merit in what he has written, and the book deserves a wide audience.
It is not a transformative book. This is unfortunate. ‘Who were the Shudras?’ is too intellectual. People are moved by emotions and stories. This book has neither. It will appeal to a small audience.
Dr. Ambedkar’s life story is inspiring. This should motivate Dalits and Shudras to lift themselves and claim their rightful place in Hindu society -
🖤RELIGION 🖤 CASTEISM 🖤 HINDUISM 🖤 ARYANS 🖤 HISTORY 🖤 DOMINANCE 🖤 SHUDRAS/DALITS 🖤
I read this book in order to learn how Ambedkar challenged Hinduism without using any profanity, but sadly, there were not as many criticisms as there were historical details. The content of this contentious book was entertaining to read, and there were many unknown facts presented that neither our parents nor society had ever taught us. This is because we had never touched the scriptures and had only heard about Hinduism from the old. Well fuck the old people. If Ambedkar were still alive today, I believe he would be berating our historical education initiatives. It's a darn hard book to evaluate anything in; there were several pages when I couldn't even grasp the texts he was citing. When I tried to search it, not even GOOGLE knew about it, and that, my friends, is how our history is.
I've annotated a lot of pages for my second manuscript since I find comedy amusing.
"The Shudras were one of the Aryan communities of the solar race"
There was a time when the Aryan society recognized only three Varnas, namely. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas.
The Shudras did not form a separate Varna. They ranked as part of the Kshatriya Varna in the Indo-Aryan society.
There was a continuous feud between the Shudra kings and the Brahmins in which the Brahmins were subjected to many tyrannies and indignities.
As a result of the negligence towards the Shudras generated by their tyrannies and oppressions, the Brahmins refused to perform the Upanayana of the Shudras.
Owing to the denial of Upanayana, the Shudras who were Kshatriyas became socially degraded, fell below the rank of the Vaishyas, and thus came to form the fourth Varna."
- B.R. Ambedkar
The enslavement of the large number of Shudras by the minority tribes is really intriguing. It's all about power, control, and mind games to degrade specific individuals. specifically Brahmins. But why should we place the blame just on Brahmins? Maybe we can. However, other groups also benefited from controlling the Shudras.
Well, if Ambedkar himself could write all of this in 1946, why are people today even afraid to bring it up? Is the emergence of casteism well known to everyone? The younger generations as well as our own?
The sad fact is that Indians nowadays accuse this country for blatant annoyance, crime, corruption, casteism and sexism and flee to other nations to live in peace while wearing their fake Indian pride on their chests. Because we were concerned that someone may hurt us or our cherished family, no one tried to change, and everyone was afraid to express their opinions. We display emotions while wearing foolish Pride. What if, however, Ambedkar, Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose, Mangal Pandey, Tilak, and others had left the nation without giving a damn about these pointless, stupid, dogshit people? -
Plain, powerful and painstakingly brilliant!
The thesis speaks for itself!
I'm sure most of us will agree when I say, it's quite an ordeal in itself, to actually sit through the whole thesis.. read it line by line and then put one's comprehension skill set to test. But what about the one who has actually written it? And how!
Can't even imagine the amount of extensive research, historic breakdown & all the analysis that has went into shaping this. Some serious debunking happening here page by page.
The thesis, kind of reiterates, my faith in these popular sayings.. 'Knowledge is power' and 'Power corrupts'.
And to summarise my whole reading experience, I have to borrow this quote from Prof. Thorndyke where he says: "that a man thinks is a biological fact what he thinks is a sociological fact." -
The question of the origin of the Shudras. Dr BR Ambedkar brings tools from sociology, anthropology, mythology, theology, economics, and history. Ambedkar shows no mercy on people who claim to have prove the theory of "purushasukta" and the people who preach about the "Aryan invasion theory". The evidence of shudras status collected from Rig veda, Yejur veda, Atharvana veda, Sama veda, Bhagavatha purana, Vishnu purana, Markhadeya purana, Dharmashastra, Manusmriti, Mahabharatha, Ramayana shows how voracious reader he is. AN HONEST ANALYSIS OF CHATURVARNA( four classes). The book is in the form of a thesis being proposed. The book clears a lot of myths. Must read for the students of humanities!.
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books is all about how the shudras came forth vernas of in indo-aryan society. each and everyone who believes in huminity must read this books.excellent detail study of verna and drama of bhramins.B R Ambedkar did detail study from all the end for verna system given detail reference. thats incredible for me.he tries to wash strain on shudra, so called lower cast and trying to give them pride, live the life as normal human. but saddely after 75 years of independance....
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The Book is more focused on criticising Hinduism rather than talking about History/Mythology of Shudras. Personally, I don't like to read such book which spreads hate against any religion, race or community...
