Verses other than 11 and 12 may be regarded as of academic interest. Verses 11 and 12 fall in one category and the rest of the verses fall in another category. While I fast read Who Were the Shudras by Ambedkar, as recommended along with ongoing reading on Indianness Interesting observation by DinyarPatel on how Babasaheb Ambedkar read. That is because all verses of the Purusha Sukta are not of the same importance and do not have the same significance. Ambedkar, a very renowned political leader, distinguished jurist, Buddhist activist, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, writer, economist, scholar, and editor. But it certainly cannot be true of the whole of it. First published in 1946, ‘Who were the Shudras’ is a history book by Dr. This may be true of some parts of the Purusha Sukta. For, it is worth knowing how the Shudras came to occupy the fourth place, whether it was the result of evolution on or it was brought about by revolution.Īny attempt to discover who the Shudras were and how they came to be the fourth Varna must begin with the origin of the Chaturvarnya in the Indo-Aryan society.Ī study of the Chaturvarnya must in its turn start with a study of the ninetieth Hymn of the Tenth Mandala of the Rig Veda-a Hymn, which is known by the famous name of Purusha Sukta.Ĭosmogonics have never been more than matters of academic interest and have served no other purpose than to satisfy the curiosity of the student and to help to amuse children. Pakistan or the Partition of India In a pragmatic style, Dr Ambedkar talks about Muslim and Hindu minds. The author says they comprised more than three-quarters of all Hindus in 1946. They worked as labourers and service workers. That such an inquiry is of first-rate importance is beyond question. Shudras, also known as untouchables were at the bottom of the Indian Varna or class system. But very few have cared to inquire who were these Shudras and how they came to be the fourth Varna. About the Author Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 - 6 December 1956), popularly known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Modern Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination in India, striving for equal social rights or Dalits, women and labour. EVERYBODY knows that the Shudras formed the fourth Varna of the Indo-Aryan society.

Who were the shudras by ambedkar