Douglas Ober, author of ‘Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India’, tells V. Geetha about his examination of ‘modern’ Buddhism, the Hinduising of Buddhism, the contrast between Nehru and Ambedkar's Buddhist visions and more.

In a society that routinely visits abuse and punishment on those who are deemed low, would the refusal of dignity at the moment of one’s passing on leave a scar on the social conscience?

The routine that sustains our economy draws on the indefatigable caste order and the relentless energy of capital and the market. This routine is now starkly visible.

A small beginning towards the reconstruction of the myriad ideas that mirrored – and shaped – Ambedkar’s thought-world in the 1940s.

Ambedkar had argued that Dalits did not wish to be represented by others, much less nominated by them, and vehemently favoured separate electorates since it brought to the forefront of democratic practice the most oppressed.

We are at a unique historical conjuncture that has brought large numbers of students from Bahujan, Dalit and Adivasi communities to universities. But have we rendered these spaces apposite to their needs, expectations and educational ideals?