Social Change http://sch.sagepub.com/ Synthesising the Gandhi−Ambedkar−Narayanaguru−Marx Visions for Dalit Liberation* P.S. Krishnan Social Change 2011 41: 1 DOI: 10.1177/004908571104100101 The online version of this article can be found at: http://sch.sagepub.com/content/41/1/1 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: Council for Social Development Additional services and information for Social Change can be found at: Email Alerts: http://sch.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://sch.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Citations: http://sch.sagepub.com/content/41/1/1.refs.html Downloaded from sch.sagepub.com at CNTR SCI AND ENVIRONMENT on April 8, 2011 Article Social Change Synthesising the 41(1) 1–39 © CSD 2011 Gandhi–Ambedkar– SAGE Publications Los Angeles, London, Narayanaguru– New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC Marx Visions for DOI: 10.1177/004908571104100101 Dalit Liberation* http://socialchange.sagepub.com P.S. Krishnan Former Secretary, Government of India
[email protected] Abstract This article suggests how the Gandhi–Ambedkar–Narayanaguru–Marx visions can be synthesised in support of the movement for the liberation and empowerment of India’s dalits. It brings out the beginnings and evolution of Gandhji’s sensitivity and opposition to ‘untouchability’. His perception of ‘untouchability’ was initially limited to ‘touch-me-not-ism’, but deepened after his contact with Narayanaguru and Narayanaguru-inspired movements and, most crucially, his contact and encounters with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The article traces the Gandhiji– Babasaheb divergences, the Yeravda convergence and their other interesting convergences, and the unfortunate post-Yeravda re-emergence of divergence.