B.R. Ambedkar, one of the foremost social reformers of modern India, approached the caste system not just as a social evil but as a deeply entrenched structural problem that dictated the lives of millions in India. His view on the annihilation of caste stems from both his lived experiences as a member of the Dalit community and his scholarly understanding of law, society, and religion. For Ambedkar, caste was not merely a matter of social discrimination but a system that fundamentally violated the principles of equality and human dignity. He perceived caste as a rigid social hierarchy that perpetuated oppression, curtailed social mobility, and created a pervasive sense of inferiority among the so-called “untouchables.” Unlike reformers who sought to mitigate caste discrimination within the existing social framework, Ambedkar advocated for the complete abolition of caste, arguing that half-measures would only perpetuate injustice. Ambedkar’s critique of caste was grounded in historical, religious, and sociological analysis. He traced the origins of caste to religious doctrines, particularly those codified in Hindu texts such as the Manusmriti. According to these texts, society was divided into four varnas, with each varna having rigidly prescribed duties and social boundaries. Over centuries, these divisions crystallized into thousands of jatis or sub-castes, each with its own rules regarding occupation, marriage, and social interaction. Ambedkar highlighted how this system institutionalized inequality, ensuring that the lower castes, especially the untouchables, remained socially and economically marginalized. For him, the religious sanction of caste made it more difficult to challenge because it was framed as a moral and spiritual imperative rather than a social convention. A key dimension of Ambedkar’s thought on the annihilation of caste was his insistence that caste could not be reformed gradually or through mere social persuasion. He rejected approaches that emphasized moral appeal or voluntary goodwill from the upper castes, arguing that social inequality embedded in religious and cultural structures could not be dismantled without radical measures. Ambedkar maintained that social reform efforts that stopped short of complete abolition were insufficient because they failed to address the systemic nature of caste oppression. For instance, he criticized movements that