Reform of caste requires denying scriptural authority, not reinterpreting it

Evidence

It is no use seeking refuge in quibbles. It is no use telling people that the shastras do not say what they are believed to say, if they are grammatically read or logically interpreted. What matters is how the shastras have been understood by people. You must take the stand that Buddha took … You must not only discard the shastras, you must deny their authority as did Buddha and Nanak. You must have the courage to tell the Hindus that what is wrong with them is their religion—the religion which has produced in them this notion of the sacredness of caste. Will you show that courage? — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 115

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes reinterpretation of authoritative texts from outright denial of their authority — a key conceptual move separating reform from revolution.
• SEED: Angles toward the trajectory and later chapters: Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism fulfilled exactly this prescription.