Ayyar, very much active in the fight against caste and gender discrimination in Maharashtra, believes that annihilation of caste system is not possible unless there is change in the mindset. “Just by deleting the name caste from dictionary or by having inter-caste marriages or by changing names, we cannot annihilate the caste system,” she said.
She was speaking on the topic “Ambedkar and Reservations” at the GALF organized by Directorate of Art and Culture and International Center Goa (ICG).
Hailing Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar the founder of the Constitution of India, Ayyar said that though before Dr Ambedkar there were several socio-religious leaders who opposed the upper caste order or fought against the British to give right and dignity to untouchable, the credit should go to Ambedkar for a comprehensive theoretical articulation on the caste system.
“Dr Ambedkar strongly argued that the caste system was antithetical to the development of healthy human social relationship,” she said.
Ayyar believed that Dr Ambedkar’s movement against untouchability or caste system is part of national building programme. “It is basically equalizer of opportunity in higher education, employment and in the society,” she added.
