Untouchability is a social phenomenon deemed unique by sociologists and historians. Books on social history of India devote not more than a paragraph or two to this issue. No serious attempt has been made so far to trace the origin of untouchability. Dr. Ambedkar’s work The Untouchables seems to be an exception. However, Dr. Ambedkar had his own limitations. Breathing in an atmosphere of communal tensions he tried to show that untouchability was born out of hatred for the Buddhists and it became evident around the age of the Gupta rule. Origin of Untouchability, written as a critique of Dr. Ambedkar’s work, demonstrates that the roots of the phenomenon lie in the hoary past and it was well known even in the days of Buddha. It is a contribution to the social history of India by an Indologist well – versed in Sanskrit and Pali. A sincere attempt has been made by the author to make the book thought provoking for its readers. About the Author Born in Sultanpur, a district in Uttar Pradesh, Upendranath Roy completed his Post Graduate studies in Sanskrit Literature. He immersed himself in study of Ancient Indian History including Varta – Sahitya, Buddhism and Jainism. Being a voracious reader, he spent considerable amount of time in studying and analyzing Social Movements of India, Ancient Indian History, Hindi Literature to name a few. His publications are a reflection of his intriguing nature. His writings are available in various research journals of both national and international repute and he himself is associated with a number of academic and social organisations. The author is presently a resident of Matelli in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.