A Reply To The Mahatma Excerpted from Annihilation of Caste: The Annotated Critical Edition, pub

A Reply To The Mahatma
Excerpted from *Annihilation of Caste: The Annotated Critical Edition*,
published by *Navayana*
B.R. AMBEDKAR<http://www.outlookindia.com/peoplefnl.aspx?pid=12877&author=B.R.+Ambedkar>

Ramesh Shinde/Navayana
*Essential reading* Cover of the first edition of 'Annihilation of Caste',
1936

*8.1* Why does the Mahatma cling to the theory of everyone following his or
her ancestral calling? He gives his reasons nowhere. But there must be some
reason, although he does not care to avow it. Years ago, writing on *Caste
versus Class*in his *Young India
*[1]<http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?289692#1.>,
he argued that the caste system was better than a class system on the
ground that caste was the best possible adjustment for social stability. If
that be the reason why the Mahatma clings to the theory of everyone
following his or her ancestral calling, then he is clinging to a false view
o