Gandhi defended an idealized varna system his entire life while criticizing caste

Evidence

7 Gandhi here is restating his views on the benefits of varnashrama explicated by him in one of his earlier writings (Young India, 13 August 1925; CWMG 32, 286), in which he says: “Varnashrama, in my opinion, was not conceived in any narrow spirit. On the contrary, it gave the labourer, the Shudra, the same status as the thinker, the Brahmin.” Even earlier, he wrote (Young India, 25 February 1920; CWMG 19, 417): “I am one of those who do not consider caste to be a harmful institution. In its origin, caste was a wholesome custom and promoted national well-being. In my opinion, the idea that inter-dining or intermarrying is necessary for national growth, is a superstition borrowed from the West.” While later coming around to criticising caste/jati as a corruption, throughout his life Gandhi steadfastly defended an ‘idealised’ varnavyavastha (varna system). — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 1220

Categorization

• XREF: Directly illuminates the Ambedkar-Gandhi debate central to the caste-annihilation literature the reader is studying.