The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables

“The book is a work of art even more than of history.” —India Today, Dilip Menon
“The evil of caste system.” —The Tribune

First published in 1948, “The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables” by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is a powerful work of historical analysis and social critique that examines the origins and persistence of untouchability in Indian society. Dr. Ambedkar—jurist, social reformer, and chief architect of the Indian Constitution—wrote this book as part of his lifelong mission to expose and dismantle caste-based oppression.
In this meticulously researched work, Ambedkar challenges traditional Hindu explanations of caste and untouchability, offering a bold and original thesis. He argues that the Untouchables, or Dalits, were originally Buddhists and independent social groups who resisted Brahmanical dominance and priestly authority. Their refusal to conform to Vedic rituals and their adherence to different religious practices led to their social exclusion and eventual stigmatization as “untouchables.”
Ambedkar explores religious, economic, and political factors behind this marginalization, using historical records and logical reasoning to construct a compelling argument. His clear, direct prose makes complex ideas accessible, while his passion for justice gives the work moral force.
The Untouchables remains a foundational text in Dalit studies, Indian sociology, and anti-caste literature, offering critical insight into the roots of inequality and the enduring struggle for dignity and human rights in India.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891–1956) was a towering Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader who served as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Born into the marginalized Mahar caste in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkar faced severe socio-economic discrimination from a young age due to the oppressive practice of untouchability. Despite these immense barriers, his exceptional intellect propelled him to become one of the most highly educated Indians of his time, earning doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

Returning to India, Ambedkar dedicated his life to dismantling the rigid Hindu caste system and fighting for the civil liberties of Dalits and other oppressed communities. He led powerful grassroots movements, such as the Mahad Satyagraha in 1927, advocating for equal access to public resources. When India gained independence in 1947, he was appointed as the nation’s first Law Minister and selected to chair the Constitution Drafting Committee. Under his visionary leadership, the newly framed Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights, formally outlawed untouchability, and established affirmative action policies to uplift disadvantaged groups.

Beyond his monumental political legacy, Ambedkar was a prolific author and relentless public intellectual. His most famous work, Annihilation of Caste (1936), remains a seminal, blistering critique of social hierarchy and religious orthodoxy. Other major scholarly contributions include Who Were the Shudras? and The Problem of the Rupee, which heavily influenced the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India. Disillusioned with the entrenched inequalities of Hinduism, Ambedkar converted to Buddhism just weeks before his death in 1956, initiating a mass conversion movement among his followers. Posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, Dr. Ambedkar’s profound legacy continues to inspire global movements for social justice, equality, and human rights.