This feature is based on Nishikant Kolge’s 2017 article “Was Gandhi a ‘Champion of the Caste System’? Reflections on His Practices".

Kolge argues that Gandhi’s views on the caste system can be understood through three approaches: by exploring his personal practices with regard to caste; by studying how community life was organised in Gandhi’s ashrams; and by reflecting on some explanations that have been put forward to explain the inconsistencies between Gandhi’s practices and his writings, where he explicitly defends caste.

Read more on Gandhi and Caste:

Curated by: Sohnee Harshey [sohnee@epw.in]

Illustration: Parimal Chahande [parimal@epw.in]