The Doctor and The Saint: The Ambedkar—Gandhi debate: Race, Caste and Colonialism
with Arundhati Roy

Sponsored by Verso Books, Ambedkar International Mission, Haymarket Books

An event to celebrate The Annihilation of Caste, by B.R. Ambedkar, with an extensive introduction by Arundhati Roy, published by Verso Books.

“Reading Ambedkar bridged the gap between what most Indians are schooled to believe and the reality we experience every day of our lives.” —Arundhati Roy

The Annihilation of Caste is one of the most important – and still most controversial – works of Indian political writing. Completed in 1936, the book is an audacious denunciation of Hinduism and the caste system that infuriated Gandhi yet has remained a rallying cry for 60 years. In her lengthy introduction, Roy looks at how caste has continued through modern Indian history, and why the words of Ambedkar are necessary today more than ever. In startling and urgent writing she shows that caste is the most urgent question if India is to become a worldleading nation.

“Has to be read ... Dr Ambedkar is a challenge to Hinduism.”
– M.K. Gandhi

“What the Communist Manifesto is to the capitalist world, Annihilation of Caste is to India.”
– Anand Teltumbde, author of The Persistence of Caste



Arundhati Roy is an Indian author, best known for her debut novel, "The God of Small Things," which won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997. Born on November 24, 1961, in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, Roy is not only a novelist but also a political activist.

"The God of Small Things" is a semiautobiographical novel set in the Indian state of Kerala, exploring themes of social discrimination, forbidden love, and the rigid caste system. The book received widespread acclaim for its lyrical prose and intricate narrative structure.

In addition to her literary work, Arundhati Roy is a prominent social and environmental activist. She has been an outspoken critic of globalization, corporate capitalism, and various government policies in India. Her nonfiction writings often address social justice, environmentalism, and human rights issues.

Some of her notable nonfiction works include "The Algebra of Infinite Justice," "An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire," and "Capitalism: A Ghost Story." Roy's activism has sometimes been controversial, but she has gained recognition for her commitment to advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and her critique of sociopolitical structures.

Arundhati Roy's literary and activist contributions have made her a significant figure in both Indian and global contexts.



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