Radhakrishnan defended caste as affirming the diversity of human groups.

Evidence

S. Radhakrishnan (1888–1975) was a prolific writer, an apologist of Hinduism, and the second president of independent India. Ambedkar is citing from the book The Hindu Way of Life (1927, 12–13), a compilation of the lectures delivered at Oxford in 1926. Later in the work, Radhakrishnan says: “In dealing with the problem of the conflict of the different racial groups, Hinduism adopted the only safe course of democracy, viz., that each racial group should be allowed to develop the best in it without impeding the progress of others. Every historical group is unique and specific and has an ultimate value, and the highest morality requires that we should respect its individuality. Caste, on its racial side, is the affirmation of the infinite diversity of human groups” (97). — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 1138

Categorization

• XREF: Reveals the apologetic position Ambedkar is attacking — the claim that caste equals democracy. Directly relevant to the reader’s caste-annihilation project. — connects to: Hindu castes share race rather than being racial divisions; Gandhi defended caste as superior to class on grounds of blood and heredity; Caste hierarchy gives every group a stake in preserving the system. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 972 (+1 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 1138

Broader Connections

• Gandhi defended caste as superior to class on grounds of blood and heredity #expands (0.55)
• Hindu castes share race rather than being racial divisions #complicates (0.50)
• Caste hierarchy gives every group a stake in preserving the system. #expands (0.40) — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 972
• Religious notions are the root mechanism sustaining India’s caste system. #responds-to (0.35)