• HITESH KAGRA

This paper interrogates the project of “decolonizing the canon” through the intellectual and political praxis of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891 1956). Moving beyond conventional postcolonial discourse centred on colonial imperial texts, it argues that Ambedkar enacted a profound internal decolonization of Indian knowledge systems by systematically dismantling Brahmanical Hindu epistemic hegemony embedded within literary, historical, and intellectual canons. Analysing his seminal writings The Annihilation of Caste, Who Were the Shudras?, The Untouchables, and his constitutional interventions — the study demonstrates how Ambedkar exposed the exclusionary foundations of the dominant canon, reclaimed Dalit Bahujan voices, and forged a counter canon rooted in rationalism, equality, and self assertion. The paper contends that Ambedkar’s praxis provides an indispensable, yet under utilised, framework for genuine decolonization within South Asian studies and beyond.

Decolonizing the canon, Internal decolonization, Indian knowledge systems, Brahmanical Hindu epistemic hegemony,Literary, historical, and intellectual canons,Dalit Bahujan voices,Counter canon,Rationalism,Equality

"Decolonizing the Canon” – Signals an engagement with Ambedkar’s challenge to dominant literary, historical, and intellectual traditions.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no.d265-d268, January-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601330.pdf

"Decolonizing the Canon” – Signals an engagement with Ambedkar’s challenge to dominant literary, historical, and intellectual traditions.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no. ppd265-d268, January-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601330.pdf