Reading Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Today, Here

HDS 3216 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a key political leader and thinker as well as a religious leader and thinker in twentieth century India. Dr. Ambedkar is remembered as a political thinker for his central role in crafting the Constitution of the Republic of India while he is remembered as a religious leader for his conversion to Buddhism in 1956 together with more than 350,000 followers, marking a public rejection by Dalits of continuing caste discrimination in independent India. Dr. Ambedkar’s political and religious thought is subtle and manifold and, centrally concerned with rethinking the place of religion in multireligious societies, it goes far beyond what these two memories, on their own, might suggest. Rejecting any reduction of religion to identity, Dr. Ambedkar combined criticism of religion with a deep sympathy and appreciation of it. He especially helps us to develop critiques and understandings of religion as a political phenomenon in multireligious societies. This colloquium will explore Dr. Ambedkar as a political and religious thinker who can be a teacher to us today, here.

Enrollment for this course is limited. Incoming and returning students who want to take the course should send an email to both of the instructors saying why they want to take the course. Incoming and returning students before 23 August will be notified of permission to take the course on 24 August; anyone who petitions after 23 August will be notified before the Crimson Cart deadline, as space permits.