Manusmriti: Misunderstood or Malicious? Re-evaluating an Ancient Text's Impact

• The Manusmriti is frequently condemned in contemporary Indian political debates as the source of caste oppression and social inequality.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar burned the Manusmriti in 1927 as a protest, a practice that continues today, though often based on misunderstandings.
• Scholarly estimates place the text's composition between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE, during the Mauryan Empire's decline of Vedic ritual centrality.
• The text is seen as Brahmin-centric, reflecting aspirations for Brahminical exceptionalism when their influence was waning.
• Despite its later reputation, Manusmriti was never a universally binding code; its authority was limited by custom, region, and community practice.

Why It Matters: The Manusmriti's historical role is often exaggerated; it was a Brahmanical text, not a universally enforced legal code.