Ambedkar and Hindutva Politics

The BJP-RSS’s ascent to power at the Centre has led to the increased assertion of Hindutva politics, which is focused on Hindu nationalism in contrast to the Indian nationalism envisaged by the freedom movement and the Indian Constitution.
One of the components of Hindu nationalism is to perpetuate the caste hierarchy in new forms. In this direction, RSS and it affiliates are adopting multiple strategies. On one hand, they pay obeisance to Babasaheb Ambedkar and on the other they promote the values of caste inequality in the name of “our glorious heritage”. At the same time, RSS floats organizations like Samajik Samrasta Manch to co-opt the Dalits into Brahmanic fold.This book examines the issues raised by the politics of RSS and its effort to suppress the Dalit aspirations of social justice and equality. It refers to writings of Babasaheb to show that RSS-Hindutva politics stands in total opposition to the ideology of Ambedkar and Dalits’ emancipation.