Final answer:
Caste discrimination was widely written about in the late nineteenth century due to the British colonization's rigidity, the rise of print culture, and the emergence of the educated lower-caste individuals using print to demand reform. Reformers like Jyotirao Phule and B.R. Ambedkar played a crucial role in using printed material to challenge and call for the abolishment of caste discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Issues of caste discrimination began to be written about in printed tracts and essays from the late nineteenth century due to multiple factors. One seminal reason was the British colonization, which made the caste system more rigid by using it as a tool for governance, creating divisions and offering jobs and education to select caste groups, heightening tensions. Moreover, the influx of print culture during the colonial rule provided a platform for the educated and socially conscious individuals to express their dissent against social inequalities. These newly educated groups, often from the lower castes, utilized the power of print to articulate their struggle and call for reform.
For example, Jyotirao Phule, a social reformer from the lower-caste Mali community, used pamphlets and books to critique the dominance of the upper castes and the untouchability faced by the lower castes. Following that, in the 20th century, lower-caste groups began to resist their oppression actively by converting to religions like Christianity or Islam, or forming political parties to seek social advancement.
Another example is the work of B.R. Ambedkar, who significantly contributed to the discourse against caste discrimination and also played a key role in drafting the Indian Constitution, which legally abolished untouchability. These works often drew upon historical and anthropological studies to challenge preconceived notions about the caste system and argue for its reform or abolishment.
The written word became a powerful tool for social reform, and tract writing was instrumental in spreading progressive ideas and gathering support for the anti-caste movement, leading to significant social and political changes over time.