discrimination and caste

8/18/2019 Discrimination and Caste

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discrimination and overty to a "reat e7tent. @or sustainable develoment of the nation, all $ndians must oose and "ht

a"ainst any kind of discrimination

Issue

Bitter criticism of the caste system – aste system is vehemently critici8ed in modern world without understandin" and

analy8in" what caste as a system is. Aow, when and why, the system "ot derailed and how to brin" it back on rails.

#ecently #ikke Nohrlind, co!ordinator of the $nternational Dalit +olidarity Network said, - aste discrimination is a "lobal

issue, aectin" hundreds of millions of eole in many arts of the country- Therefore, an amendment in ?uality &ct 3414

has been made to outlaw aste in *= to "ive le"al rotection to 21C,C Aindus based in the *=. Till now, the &ct rohibited

race discrimination, harassment and victimi8ation in the work!lace. ) unrivile"ed sections of societyJ

• Ghat is the osition of dierent castes as it e7ists resently in "round realitiesJ

• Ghy the system is olitici8edJ

• Ghat is the dierence between caste as a system and casteismJ

Discrimination elsewhere in the world

Discrimination to some e7tent e7ists everywhere in one form or other – be it a social, olitical and economic system or

institution, be it a bi" or small institution as small as that of a family.


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arents, oor relatives or unemloyed youth become an easy rey of discrimination. &nd in a society, oor, illiterate and

i"norant eole uite often become victims of e7loitation. @ear of bein" discriminated or e7loited srin"s from i"norance.

?uality of all e7ists in theory , but no ower on earth can ever turn it into a reality.

Intolerance reason behind discrimination

*sually, in every society, dierences in behavior, character, education, lan"ua"e, way of life, culture, social back"round

create a distance between two individuals or "rous. #esistance to tolerate, adat or areciate each other widens the

distance. +ome become so a""ressive that they oenly abuse or oress others. $n order to be one u, either they let down

others or try to control their destiny by adotin" discriminatory ractices. &nd in this rat!race, stron"er always wins and

weaker suers.

Grounds for discrimination

$n every society and a nation there e7ists numerous identities based on factors like race, class, caste, reli"ion, "ender,

lan"ua"e or re"ion. ravin" for more ower – muscle, money or olitical – of some individuals or "rous tends eole to

adot discriminatory ractices. Discriminatory ractices work on whims and fancies>likes and dislikes of stron" ersons.

ontrollin" the destiny of others satises their e"o and serves their interests.

Racism and Western World

#acism is a much more serious roblem than caste in matter of discrimination, as it is based on the color of the skin, which

can not be hidden. +ocieties in Gestern Gorld are divided sharly into four water!ti"ht comartments. )Ghites- at the to of

social hierarchy, then comes Kellows 0aanese, hinese or 'hiliines6 followed by )Browns- $ndians, 'akistanis and eole

from other +outh!?astern nations and at the bottom )Blacks-. The western world is witnessin" a rise in white suremacist

movements. East two cate"ories have always been humiliated. They have to stru""le to "et suitable jobs accordin" to their

ualications. They are forced to work for less money, accused for snatchin" jobs from )whites- and havin" slavish mentality.

Treatment to Indian students in western nations

?very year, on an avera"e H4,444 odd $ndian students "o to Gestern nations for further studies. #ecently in &ustralia,

$ndians, 'akistanis alon" with


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Caste system and British rulers

$n the ast, British rulers in $ndia, while layin" foundation of democratic institutions of $ndia, started many discriminatory

ractices. $n order to kee balance of ower and counter Brahmins hold on $ndian society assed some discriminatory &cts

like &ct of 1M1M %into %orely #eforms6or ommunal &ward of 1M3.Till 1MH, they ket their railway comartments, waitin"

rooms, arks, clubs, hotels, laces of other entertainment and residences se"re"ated.

Two asects of caste system have ama8ed the British rulers in the ast –

• inIuence of aste system on $ndian societyO

• #eluctance of its eole to convert into other reli"ions, on the "round that all reli"ions are valid.

Dalit Activists and caste system

Dalit Activists critici8e caste system vehemently and hold it resonsible for keein" 54 million Aindus – dalits, tribals and

other backward classes – oor, )subju"ated, discriminated a"ainst and humiliated.- )Technolo"ies for human survival F. were

all develoed by lower castes-, but )uer castes took away the fruits of their labour and invention.- )$n the hearts of the

oressed castes, there is an"er and hatred.- 9+ocial!justice: demands their emanciation by endin" all kind of

discrimination.

There are two otionsP )either comlete euality to Dalit Bahujan communities or their conversion into other reli"ions.- +uch

comments of Dalit &ctivists and olitical leaders arouse emotional sentiments of oor masses, "enerate venom in their heart

and create a feelin" of 9otherness:.

&ccordin" to 'r. =ancha $laiah, an activist, comlete euality means –

• ?mbracin" all lower castes,

• ?atin" with them,

• Treatin" them as their eual, and

• &n end to the alle"ation that they are merit!decient.

$nsite of all such comments, it is the lower se"ment of society, which is stickin" stron"ly to its caste!identities.

India and ‘Caste’ as a ‘System’

aste is a very old and indi"enous system, concetuali8ed, develoed and racticed e7clusively in $ndia. $t is diLcult for the

western world to understand its role – ast or resent – in $ndian society or because of its comlete locali8ation and

unfamiliarity to see it in its totality.

Strong features of ‘caste-system


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The stren"th of caste system has been roved by the followin" factsP

• Desite centuries of forei"n rule over 5Q of $ndian oulation remains Aindu and have stron" feelin"s for caste!system.

• Aad caste system become obsolete, it would have "iven lace to other system.

• aste system has inIuenced all other communities livin" in $ndia.

@ollowin" are the stron" features of 9caste: as a system –

• Assimilation of di!erent social grou"s without conversion– $n the ast, caste assimilated numerous social "rous –immi"rants, locals, tribal, rofessionals or others into its mainstream without any conversion. $t assi"ned each incomin"new "rou a searate caste identity and made them its inte"ral art in due course of time.

• This way, neither it disturbed its e7istin" internal social order nor revented new "rous to join the mainstream. $t did notannihilate their faith, way of l ivin", internal order, customs, culture or lan"ua"e. $nstead, it "ave them freedom to roseraccordin" to their internal rhythm.

• #aste regarded as a natural institution by $indus – $ndian society re"ards family, e7tended family, =ula, aste and reli"ionas fundamental social institutions. &n individual is a natural member of a family, which is a unit of an e7tended family,

e7tended family of =ula, =ula of a tribe


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determines social status. Gealth is also acuired throu"h birth. There also e7ists a shar distinction between the&ristocratic>elite society and common man.

ritics claim that for centuries in the ast and even at resent, eole born in lower castes have been suressed or

oressed by eole belon"in" to uer castes. *er castes are accountable and unishable for the miseries of lower caste.

They should make rearations for the sins>historical wron" done by their ancestors.

Aow far this alle"ation and its remedy is correctJ 0ustice 9+ocial, economic and olitical: never allows unishin" somebody

else for the crimes committed by others.

• )o access to education – $t is alle"ed that uer castes has ket its monooly on education to reinforce its traditionaldominance and revented lower castes from "ettin" educated. Ghen British rulers allowed le"ally admission to allirresective of caste or creed in "overnment schools, hi"her castes oosed admission of the children belon"in" to lowerstrata.

$t is only a half truth. British rulers did not bother much about mass education. $t was not so much because of discrimination,

that backward castes were debarred or denied access to education, as for –

%odern education system was very costly and therefore, unaordable by masses. The costly nature of education tended to

make it a monooly of the richer classes and city dwellers.

• The medium of instruction was a forei"n lan"ua"e – ?n"lish.

• Eower!castes did see any immediate use of education. $t was more imortant for them to work and arran"e two suaremeals day rather than sendin" on education.

Aowever, an imoverished "rou caste Aindus in search of livelihood looked uon modern education as means to earn their

livin" resectfully and devoted their scarce resources on it.

The relentless eort of missionaries and the reformers could educate a very small number of eole from lower!castes.

• Ran*ing

$n the ast, rankin" of dierent social "rous was done on some rinciles. +elf!disciline, hy"iene, cleanliness, morality,

knowled"e, sirituality of dierent social "rous i.e. castes and usefulness of their work to the society as a whole were the

considerations, which determined the social, economic or olitical status of a "rou in society vise!a vise others. Ai"her a

caste, urer it was considered, and "reater were the self!restrictions on its behavior throu"h rituals.

• +obility

%obility of individuals from one caste to another was restricted in the ast. But uward mobility of a "rou in the social scale

was thou"h diLcult, but not imossible. &ncient $ndia had allowed uward mobility of a caste throu"h "ood deeds – by

adotin" more orthodo7 ractices, cleaner habits, self!disciline and observance of rituals or the osition of a caste could be

imroved. This way, lower!castes were encoura"ed to follow disciline in life.


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Now dierent castes refer to be called backwards. They are racin" to "et a ta" of backward castes, so that they can avail

the benets of uota 7ed for backward castes in jobs an.

• Wealth – Doors for honor or wealth were always oen to deservin" individuals>"rous of any caste. Aistory is the roof that even the lowest rank attained even soverei"nty in $ndia such as %aratha =in"s, who fou"ht their way u!to the thronea"ainst %ohammedan and commanded resect of all $ndians. @rom fourteenth to the ei"hteenth century, soldiers came

from all strata of society includin" the lowest in the ritual term. There was no discrimination in the recruitment andtreatment of soldiers on caste basis. #ajut status was "iven to soldiers.

• ,ccu"ation

ritics of aste system alle"e that there was no freedom>choice to individuals in matter of occuation in the ast. They were

forced eole to emloy themselves in hereditary occuations. This alle"ation is not wholly truth.

$n ancient ?uroe and &sia also, occuations were not only hereditary, but also limited it to be followed by secic classes

only. $t was considered natural and convenient for a erson to do a job, which he knew, the knowled"e of which, he acuired

in a natural way.

• #hanges brought in by Industrial revolution

$t was the industrial revolution, which had chan"ed the trend. Now total aversion of modern youth from their traditional

occuation has rendered millions unemloyed or underemloyed or confused about what they want to do. They waste their

time, ener"y and eorts in search of white collared jobs rather than ursuin" jobs, which suits to their knowled"e, atitude

and ualications. There is more job!satisfaction, hainess, success or contentment in doin" a job, one knows well rather

than in stein" on someone else:s toes.

+ir 0ohn +hore, who was ;overnor ;eneral of $ndia durin" 1M!1M2, observed that there was considerable latitude in matter

of work in $ndia. &mon" many castes, it was constantly found that one brother ursuin" hereditary vocation and another

enterin" army. AT olebrooke also conrms it, )$t may be received as a "eneral ma7im that occuation aointed for each

tribe is entitled merely to a reference. ?very rofession, with few e7cetions, was oen to every descrition of ersons and

the discoura"ement arisin" from reli"ious rejudices is not "reater than what e7ists in ;reat Britain from the eects of

%unicial and ororate laws.-

• Alternative ideologies to "rovide breathing s"ace

$n the ast, whenever ri"idities and discriminatory ractices of society in the name of caste system suocated $ndian society,

there arose alternative ideolo"ies or styles of life, which "ave eole breathin" sace. #ise of Buddhism in &ncient $ndia, +u

tradition of $slam and Bhakti movement of Aindus in medieval $ndia around 14th century6, and reform movements of 1Mth

and 34th centuries tau"ht symathetic attitude towards lesser human bein"s, brotherly love for each other and fellowshi,

love and resect all human bein"s irresective of caste or creed and rejected ractice of elaborate rituals and caste

retensions.

Modern India


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%ost of the alle"ations a"ainst caste system, which were there in the ast, can not be justied now in modern $ndia. 'rocess

of moderni8ation, industriali8ation, sread of education and "rowin" awareness amon" masses have already brou"ht to an

end slowly but steadily many of the discriminatory ractices of aste system. $t has become more liberal and less restrictive

in all walks of life. astes no lon"er enjoy le"al or reli"ious sanctions. ?7ulsion from castes means little, while earlier it

meant comlete social ostracism. (ld style of authority and ower e7ercised by caste!elders has already diminished.

#estrictions or interactions between dierent castes arisin" due to considerations for urity and ollution are fadin" away

from ublic life even from rural areas. Traditional barriers on marria"e, hereditary occuations and commonality are loosin"

its imortance.

#onstitution of India

'reamble of the $ndian onstitution romisesto secure to all its citi8ensP 0*+T$?, social, economic and oliticalO E$B?#TK of

thou"ht, e7ression, belief, faith and worshiO ?/*&E$TK of status and of oortunityO and to romote amon" them all

@#&T?#N$TK assurin" the di"nity of the individual and the unity and inte"rity of the Nation. &rticle 15 of the onstitution

rohibits any kind of discrimination on "rounds of caste, race, reli"ion, "ender or lace of birthO &rticle 1C "ives euality of

oortunity in matter of ublic emloyment, &rticle 2 creates National commission for +cheduled astes to safe"uard their

interests etc.

egislations for e&ual o""ortunities

& number of amendments in the onstitution and le"islation have been assed to remove the disabilities of backward eole.

*n!touchability has been declared a crime. Bonded labor is abolished by law. ivil #i"hts &ct, 1M55, aims to eliminate

injustice a"ainst weaker sections. &mendment to 'revention of &trocities &ct +T6 1M2M rovides for stern unishments for

oenses committed a"ainst +T by *er astes. +ecial ourts, under +T &ct, have been established for unishin"

oLcials, if found "uilty. +till, there is no resite from discriminatory ractices. GhyJ

Reasons for the miseries of downtrodden

There are many reasons, why eole do not "et resite from discriminatory ractices. There is no denial of the fact that with

the assa"e of time, and for a lon" time, livin" under alien rule, caste system had develoed many deformities. The system

became too ri"id to kee its identity continuin". +till it is not so much because of the caste!system, but because of bad

olitics and oor "overnance, that millions of eole have still to suer discrimination and e7loitation in modern $ndia. +ome

of the causes are as followin" –

• %mergence of .olitical Identities

Durin" their imerial rule, the British had divided the $ndian society into ve major "rous, "ivin" each one an indeendent

olitical identity based on the olitical ower and the amount of wealth, they hold. The water!ti"ht comartmentali8ation of


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$ndian society had been done by ensuses durin" British rule into %inorities, +cheduled astes, now oularly known as

Dalits or +s, +cheduled Tribes +Ts6, (ther Backward castes (Bs6 and Ai"her astes.

• .olitical com"artmentali/ation of Indian society

%odern $ndian society has been olari8ed on caste and communal basis into followin" unbrid"eable sections – *er castes,

+cheduled astes, +cheduled tribes, (ther Backward lass and %inorities. +tratication of $ndian society has been done in

most insensitive manner for the urose of balancin" the ower. $t has become a bye!word for $ndian oliticians.

• .oor e0ecution of rules and regulations

$ndian society is sharly divided into two broad divisions! )haves- and )have!nots-. The most imortant factors resonsible

for disarities are resent!day!olitics, irrational and corrut ways of ursuin" the aternal olicies of the "overnment at

cetral and +tate levels and "overnment:s failure to address real issues.

• 1se of ‘#aste as the most "owerful tool to create vote-ban*s

9aste: has become for the resent!day olitical leaders as the easiest and most owerful tool to sway ublic emotionally

and to create a lar"er vote bank. $t may be called ossication of caste!system fallen into the hands of ower brokers and vote

"u88lers.

• .riority to abstract issues in order to divert "ublic attention

Day in and day out, ublic attention is bein" diverted from real issues and ublic sentiments are aroused by Ioatin" in

olitical world abstract issues like discrimination, social justice, aLrmative action>reservations, secularism. +ectional interests

are bein" romoted on caste basis. #eal issues like mass!scale illiteracy, overty, unemloyment, inIation, deteriorated law

and order situation, increasin" violence or "eneral coarsenin" of moral ber of the $ndian society are ushed into the

back"round.

• #entrali/ation of control systems

There is comlete centrali8ation of control systems in the hands of a few individuals, families and "rous irresective of

castes or creed. They have enou"h money, muscle and olitical ower lus and the suort of criminals. They are Iourishin"

day by day and control almost all the national resources. They enjoy life at cost of ta7!ayers. This very small section of

society virtually controls the destiny of millions. They have a say in almost every walk of national life.

• orrution

orrution has become a major>erennial imediment to imlement various develomental schemes. $"norance and

essimist attitude of masses makes corrut ersons bold. (nce the ublic raises its voice a"ainst arbitrary behavior>actions

of owerful lobby, all discrimination and malractices would "et automatically controlled.


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• Aversion form human' moral or traditional values

&version of eole from human, moral or traditional values has a""ravated the roblem. The total concentration of educated

eole is on ursuit of money and materialistic leasures by hook or crook. @avoritism, in!disciline, violence, corrution, and

chase of materialism based on ruthless cometition have "iven shar rise to disarities and discrimination. $t leads to cut!

throat cometition and creates rift amon"st dierent "rous. 'olitical e7ediency and oortunism has made sectional forces

more assertive>a""ressive in attitude and vocal about their ri"hts but i"nores duties.

• Reconcile the claims of growth with the claims of e&uity

$t is one of the bi" challen"es for the "overnment to reconcile the claims of "rowth with the claims of euity. omassion,

sensitivity, euality or fraternity can not be imosed or enforced by any outside a"ency or authority. +uch a ste may rove

to be a cause of social unrest. $t has to be in!built in the social economic and olitical system of a country throu"h education

and awareness – education, which is the source of knowled"e and owerO and awareness, which comes from availability of

information.

• )arrow loyalties of caste and religion

Narrow loyalties of caste and reli"ion are encoura"ed "eneratin" sub!cultures like caste!ism, favoritism, and lure for easy

money, neotism, arochialism, communalism, re"ionalism, bi"oted sentiments and irresonsible comments, sreadin" in!

disciline in the society. The risin" asirations and demands of eole, with the sread of education and awareness, has

created added roblem for the "overnment.

• Discriminatory measures ta*en by the Government

$n $ndeendent $ndia, ;overnments at centre and the rovinces are continuously thrustin" uon the ublic many

discriminatory>lofty>oulist rules, re"ulations and olicies in the name of helin" )oor masses-. ommon men esecially

belon"in" to uer castes feel threatened, helless and suer from discriminatory olicies of the "overnment. 'rotective

olicies and laws can neither convert an iniuitous +ociety into an euitable one, nor does it hel in any way the vulnerable,

oressed and submer"ed masses.

%ost of measures taken by the ;overnmental authorities touch the roblems suercially at its erihery only. %ost of the

solutions ursued by the "overnment are totally unrelated to day to day roblems of common man in real life. $nstead of

benetin" or helin" the oor, on one hand such develomental ro"rams increase corrution, and on the other it

encoura"es lethar"y, a"itation and attitude to deend on authorities for each and everythin".

‘Reservation "olicy as means to end discrimination

+uccessive "overnments both at the centre and rovinces are tryin" to tackle roblem of discrimination and disarity by

oenly favourin" olicies of 9reverse discrimination:, which "ive more imortance to distribute ower on ro!rata basis by


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7in" uota. The sustainable develoment of submer"ed sections can be achieved by rovidin" uality of education to

everybody and makin" eole aware of dierent oortunities available to them.

#eservation olicy can hardly be able to brin" in desired transformation in the society. $n a democratic country, discrimination

anywhere or in any form – be it ositive or ne"ative – is the most objectionable thin". The roblem of discrimination or

disarities can not be tackled by 7in" u uotas or by adotin" the ath of reverse discrimination or treatin" a few sections

of society more than euals by entitlin" them for referential treatment by the "overnmental a"encies in dierent sheres of

life.

'olitical leaders of various olitical arties desire to 7 u uotas in all "overnmental institutions for dierent sections of

society on ro!rata basis. +uch a demand is based on ne"ative e7hortations. The "overnment:s olicy of #eservation in jobs

and education has resulted in a tou"h cometition amon"st various castes to demand a lower status, so that they can also

avail more concessions and facilities.

*nder!currents of caste olitics have made the "overnment incaable to solve the burnin" national issues. $t has made to

maintain law and order diLcult. $nter!caste and intra!caste, inter!community and intra!community and inter!tribal and intra!

tribal conIicts are increasin" day by day in order to "et more sace in the corridors of ower.

+eaning of ‘)o Discrimination

9No discrimination: does not mean sharin" ower eually. %ore than thousand million eole can not be accommodated in

ower echelons. $t means a harmonious artnershi between eole belon"in" to dierent sections of society and the

authorities resonsible for "overnance. ;overnance should be done on the basis of mutual hel, mutual resect and mutual

trust. ;overnance is a continuin" rocess, throu"h which conIictin" interests and diverse needs of all the eole are looked!

after and a cooerative action is taken.

.athetic condition of u""er castes belonging to middle class

%iddle class has always been the backbone of society. Now the voice of uri"ht and honest eole belon"in" to middle

class is bein" continuously throttled mercilessly. They are bein" unished for followin" sincerely family!lannin" norms,

which has decreased their numbers. $n resent day vote!bank olitics based on "ame of numbers, it is very easy now for the

ursuers of olitical ower to sideline them.

ower castes more tenacious about their caste-identity

Today lower castes, which are more tenacious about their caste than the hi"her, could be easily swayed emotionally in the

name of caste!based reservations. #eservations 'olicy has "iven the 9backwards: an identity as a comosite and owerful

olitical ressure "rou. They have "roued to"ether and increased their numerical stren"th. $t has heled them to emer"e

as a owerful and assertive ressure "rou and unite, or"ani8e and "ht vi"orously for the seats of ower.


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ublic with a sense of justice, commitment to the nation, understandin" for each other and consciousness about duties alon"

with ri"hts.

Winding u"

@ollowin" stes could to be taken to brin" to an end discrimination of any kind –

• @irst of all, "overnment should nd out root causes of discrimination and derivation,

• ;overnment should identify without bias vulnerable "rous, which are discriminated a"ainst by the resent modernsociety. $t should not be on the basis of caste.

• $dentify the secial needs or roblems of each "rou searately,

• &ccordin"ly lan about the measures to be taken to rotect the interests of vulnerable individuals.

• Gell meanin" judicious laws, which could directly imrove day today life of common men, should be carefully le"islated.

• +uch laws should not remain only on aers but have to be e7ecuted>imlemented in real life for dealin" with socialinjustice eectively.

• To "ive relief to 9Aave!nots:, the way out is to tackle eectively local crimes a"ainst common man whether in rural orurban areas and imrove law and order osition.

• The money meant for the develoment uroses should actually be sent for which it is intended i.e. the betterment of submer"ed sections of society.

• 'ower "enerally rests with hysical stren"th, wealth and knowled"e. =nowled"e brin"s in both hysical stren"th andwealth. Therefore, stress on knowled"e throu"h 9education for all: should be the to riority for the "overnment foremowerment of weaker sections, which are victims of discrimination.

• Gidesread human ri"hts violations should be stoed by unishin" the culrits.

• $t is necessary to ut honest and ri"ht ersons at crucial ositions. There are very few eole, who have theknowled"e>understandin" what to do, how to do and when to doO

& stron" olitical will and coura"e is needed to brin" to an end caste!ism and with it all kinds of discriminatory attitudes,

reressive laws and ractices. @or the roserity of the nation and tension!free>stress!free life of common man, as su""ested

by @irst Backward class ommission:s hairman =aka =alelkar in mid fties, )National solidarity in a democratic set u

demands ;overnment to reco"ni8e only two ends – the individual at one end and the nation as a whole at the other. Nothin"

should be encoura"ed to or"ani8e itself in between these two ends to the detriment of the freedom of the individual and

solidarity of the nation. &ll communal and denominational or"ani8ations and "rouin"s of lesser and narrower units have to

be watched carefully, so that they do not jeoardi8e the national solidarity and do not weaken the eorts of the nation to

serve the various elements in the body olitic with euity. %utual hel, mutual resect and mutual trust are the touchstone,

on which all communal and denominational activities will be tested.-

April 14, 201 'osted by latasinha S !eneral, "ocial an# political $alues an# systems S Equality % All S &ea$e a comment

(ri"in, Gesterni8ation, +anskriti8ation and %oderni8ation of aste +ystem

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)$f there is honesty in $ndia today, any hositality, any charity! any aversion to evil, any love to be "ood, it is due to whatever

remains of the old faith and the old culture-. . #aj"oalachari

)aste was the system of social life, in which Ainduism was e7ressed. FF Ainduism was the ideolo"ical and emotional

buttress of casteF. aste and Ainduism succeeded in doin" in $ndia, what no state, no conueror and no economy was able

to do – the establishment of a sin"le unied system of society throu"hout the whole of $ndia accommodatin" numerous semi!

autonomous communities arisin" at many times and in many laces6, a system of society, which was able to comrise a

"reater ran"e of local dierences in a sin"le system than any society has reviously accomlished.- Throu"h caste system,

$ndia has simultaneously accommodated )it to an almost endlessly varied system of semi!autonomous community and at the

same time, it brin"s considerable unity, harmony and condition of eace.- $t )succeeded in wieldin" an enormously varied

lurality of semi!autonomous communities arisin" at many times and in many laces and adotin" themselves to many

dierent conditions into a sin"le system of societyF- Don %artindale, $ndia since 1MH, M6

$n modern understandin" of caste!system, element of 9system: is less and 9caste: is dominant.:

Introduction

Conceptualied! ori"inated and practiced e#clusively in India – $ndia resents one of the oldest, continuous and

uninterruted livin" civili8ations in the whole world known as Ainduism. (ther well advanced civili8ations of ancient world

were of ?"yt, ;reece and %esootamia6. (ne of the rominent features of $ndian civili8ation is its 9aste!system:. aste

system is a uniue way of stratifyin" the society. $t has been concetuali8ed, ori"inated and racticed e7clusively in $ndia. $t

has "iven a distin"uished identity to $ndian society.

Covers the entire social fa$ric of India – aste!system is one of the rominent features runnin" throu"h the entire social

fabric of $ndia. astes have its ethnic roots as denoted by 0ati e7tended family6, and a ritualistic and symbolic si"nicance in

its mindset. +o emer"ed the caste system. $nternali8ed caste

norms dene an individual role in the society. ommon men feel "ood and loved, when they live u to the norms set u by

their elders, and an7ious and "uilty, when he trans"ress them. $t has "reatly inIuenced the thinkin" of eole and their

culture allover $ndia.

%ne of the oldest livin" institution – aste system has maintained its continuity without interrution. $t has survived the

vicissitudes of time, saved itself by erosion from within and assault from outside only because of the adatability. $ts

absortive nature has internali8ed alien inIuences. $t has taken dierent shades and meanin" with the chan"in" times and

laces. $ts character durin" $ndus


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Issue – aste system has always been a centre of attention for Gesterners, oliticians, intellectuals, activists or reformers

from other faiths. $t has been both defended and oosed vehemently in the olitical circles of modern $ndia. %any assaults

have been made on caste!system, esecially because of the deformities and ri"idity develoed into the system durin" a very

lon" eriod of its evolution and its bein" under alien rule. Aowever, after each assault, caste system has re!emer"ed with

"reater force.

Aow aste!system has chan"ed its comle7ion with the chan"in" times continuously, can be seen in its ori"in and rocess of

evaluation – its ori"in, and movin" throu"h the eras of moderni8ation, +anskriti8ation and olitici8ationJ

&hy so much criticism' – *sually, susicions or misunderstandin"s about any system arise, when the fundamentals and

knowled"e about the system or "round realities of the lace are not clear. Aalf cooked information, half a truth, artial or

incomlete knowled"e with a urose to let down somebody is harmful for the whole society. %any a times, such oinions

turn out to be a "reat lie.

Reality is dee"er than what is seen on the surface – #eality is much deeer than what is seen on the surface. (ne should not

form an oinion or take a decision without analy8in" rationally the whole scenario. %any misunderstandin"s about caste!

system would not sustain itself, once there is even a moderate understandin" about its ori"in and true nature of its beliefs,

systems and values and a little knowled"e about the "round realities of 31st century of $ndia. (ne should form an oinion or

take a decision after analy8in" rationally the whole scenario.

&estern &orld and (induism and caste system

$induism and its caste-system' a way of life – Ainduism and its caste!system do not mean reli"ious festivals, sacred te7ts,

and statues of deities, rituals or show o reli"iosity. $t is a way of life.

Criticism of Caste $y British rulers and why' – $n the ast, British $merial rulers and missionaries critici8ed caste!

system bitterly. Gard alle"ed )Not only is the caste contrary to every rincile of justice and olity, it is reu"nant to every

feelin" of benevolence. The social circle is almost invariably, comosed of ersons of the same caste, to the careful e7clusion

of others. $t aims one class of men a"ainst anotherO it "ives rise to "reatest de"ree of ride and aathy. $t forms a suLcient

e7cuse for not doin" an act of benevolence towards another, that he is not of the same caste, Ney, a man dyin" with thirst

will not accet a coolin" dro of water from the hands or the cu of a erson of a lower caste.- They intentionally hi"hli"hted

the weaknesses and suressed the salient feature of caste as a system.

2arl +ar0 remar*ed that British, )had a double mission in $ndia, one destructive, the other re"eneratin"O the annihilation of

the old &siatic +ociety and layin" the material foundation of Gestern +ociety in &sia.- The re"eneratin" character was

concerned with social transformation throu"h modern education, ?n"lish lan"ua"e as a medium of learnin" and oLcial

lan"ua"e, moderni8ation in economic shere, olitical unication of the country and layin" foundations for many democratic

institutions. The reactionary and destructive character was seen in the economic and social shere. The "rowth of casteism

had a close connection with these develoments. Dutt #', $ndia Today, HC6.


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.ursuance of sectional interests ( &lon" with them, a "rou of intellectuals, activists and reformers, who were deely

inIuenced by the thinkin" of western world, condemned caste!system. $n the be"innin" of 34th century durin" British rule in

$ndia, with the introduction of electoral olitics, many olitical "rous emer"ed in the scene takin" u the interests of

articular section>sections. +uch a develoment "ave a new shae to caste system and laced ursuance of sectional

interests over the interests of the all the eole. &t resent, a lar"e number of olitical leaders> "rous>olitical arties are

vocal in critici8in" caste and ursuin" sectional interests, as it hels them to attract the illiterate masses and creates vote!

banks for them. @or them, caste has become a dero"atory word. They consider it roblematic and comlicated and wish to

create a casteless society.

&hy &estern &orld is mysti)ed'

There are some basic dierences in 9class: as the system adoted by Gest for stratication of society and 9caste: in

$ndia. Gestern world is mystied by ama8in" luralities and uniue social structure of $ndia based on caste. $t is diLcult for

the western world to understand the role of caste – ast or resent – in $ndian society. omlete locali8ation and unfamiliarity

makes it diLcult to understand caste as a system in its totality and to know the nuances, the nature, role both in the ast as

well as in resent6 and value of caste as a system. Because –

#aste not class basis of strati3cation – +tratication of a society becomes necessary for or"ani8in" human and social

behavior in tune with the objectives of a society. Ghile in Gestern world, usually anthroolo"ists, historians and sociolo"ists

identify 9class:, as universal basis of stratication within a society, $ndian society has been stratied socially on the basis of

caste!system.

.ower and social status associated with wealth – $n materialistic Gestern societies, wealth has always been associated with

ower, authority and social status. $n $ndia, its aste system has searated wealth from status, ower from authority, ursuit

and achievement in knowled"e from temtations of worldly comforts. The "reatness of a state is jud"ed on the basis of the

de"ree of ri"hteousness and justice, with which a social "rou lives or administration "overns lives of the eole, and not on

the basis of the si8e of a state or its treasury. +imilarly, in the society, status of a erson or a caste is ranked on the basis of

knowled"e, disciline and moral standards, and not on the basis of material success, or control of ower.

Stress on duties rather than rights – Ghereas, Gestern cultures have "rown around the idea of Uri"hts9, formin" the natural

foundation of human relationshi, caste system evolves around the concet of )duty, tolerance and sacrice-. ?mhasis on

duty usually makes a erson or a "rou humble and tolerant. $ts value!system hels eole to adjust themselves, without

much diLculty, to most drastic chan"es. $ndia has achieved its freedom in a eaceful manner under the leadershi of

%ahatma ;andhi. ommon men, here, are lled with a sense of duty.

)o conversion – *nlike hristianity or $slam, Ainduism has made new "rous its inte"ral art without any conversion and

brou"ht them under one umbrella without annihilatin" their own faith.

Truth' Ahimsa' "eace and non-aggression – Truth, &himsa, eace and non!a""ression have always been the art of $ndian

ethos. $ndians have till now acceted oression and e7loitation without much rotest. $ndian way of life and tolerance of its

eole has revented the masses to e7ercise coercion so far. Ghile in the ast, intolerance of eole led to bloody revolutions


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elsewhere in the world, $ndia ket on adatin" itself to chan"in" times. Ghereas in the ast, other nations had assed

throu"h many bloody revolutions like in ancient ;reece, #ome or other ?uroean countries, and made eole to work under

the threat of a whi, tolerance in $ndia had revented eole from doin" that. $t is continuously $nternali8in" the

chan"es and has ket on adatin" itself to chan"in" times. $ndia has entered the modern era without any cultural break.

%ri"in of Caste System

Initial sta"es of Caste system

#aste-system in the ma*ing – aste!system is very old and indi"enous one, concetuali8ed, develoed and racticed

e7clusively in $ndia. &s reIected in 9#i"veda:, when eole ceased to be a wanderin" eole, started the


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erfect "uide to art of livin". $t seaks of everythin"! on stayin" healthy, social values, imrovin" concentration and tenets of

behavior, which are relevant till today. $ts rituals are techniues for leadin" a harmonious life. &ccordin" to


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cultural system. $t took thousands of years to evolve. $t was done cordially throu"h caste!system at dierent oints of time.

The beauty of the system was that the main society as a whole remained stable, even while oerin" a lace to new "rous

within the main!stream.

#aste as a mechanism for the merger – 9aste system: has rovided uniue mechanism for the mer"er ofnumerous discrete

tribes>social "rous and associations arisin" for olitical, sectarian or other reasons. &s more indi"enous and forei"n social

"rous desired to mer"e into its fold,


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#aste system as a mechanism – aste system acted as a mechanism for assimilation. aste system never tried to liuidate

or absorb new "rous articially into its main stream. Throu"h it, numerous discrete tribes>social "rous – be it immi"rants,

locals, tribal, rofessionals or others have been internali8ed in the mainstream of the society. ?ach was assi"ned a searate

caste name and made them its inte"ral art in due course of time.

)o conversion – Ainduism does not believe in conversions. $t has not imosed its own beliefs, ractices and customs on

incomin" social "rous. $t concedes validity to all the reli"ions of the world and does not lay down strictures a"ainst any faith

or reject any reli"ion or its "od as false. $t has accommodated eole belon"in" to all the faiths, that is why, all the twelve

major reli"ions of the world are resent and Iourishin" in $ndia without much hindrance.

Assimilation of di!erent grou"s ( Aindus never revented new social "rous to join the mainstream of the land. (utsiders

were neither reulsed, nor allowed others to swee their own established culture o the roots. $t never tried to annihilate the

ori"inality, internal order, customs or lan"ua"e of incomin" "rous. Throu"h aste!system their beliefs, behavior atterns

rules and re"ulations and life styles were le"itimi8ed with the freedom to evolve and chan"e accordin" to their internal

rhythm. $t has neither reulsed any trend vehemently, nor allowed others to swee its own established culture o the roots.

#aste a natural institution for $indus – The units of social!olitical or"ani8ations were family, clan, villa"e, tribe and 0ana.

ommon!men re"ard them as natural and fundamental social institutions. & number of families livin" in one locality formed

"rama villa"e6. & number of such units dwellin" in a articular re"ion constituted a vis canton6. 0ana a "rou of tribes6

consisted of a number of such cantons, with a kin" as their ruler.

?very individual born in a family has a caste. @amily was the unit of society headed by father. aste is second only to the

family in widenin" a erson:s social radius and in "ettin" imortance in his>her rivate and occuational life.

%&ual status to all within a caste – &ll members of a caste enjoy eual social status with similar ri"hts and duties, similar and

similar thinkin" rocess.. & erson:s relation with members of his caste remains closer and eual than with those belon"in" to

other castes. Ais relations with other castes are usually formal. aste values, beliefs, rejudices, injunctions as well as

distortions of reality become an indivisible art of a erson:s syche and conscience. They share moments of joy and sorrow.

Why assignment of #aste by 5irth7 – (ver the time, due to economic and social reasons, caste system became a hereditary

system. &ssi"nment of dierent functions to dierent communities led to the transfer of knowled"e and e7ertise throu"h

inheritance. $t has evolved an atmoshere, where traits of a trade, intelli"ence abilities, e7eriences, values and skills were

transmitted from one "eneration to another in a natural way throu"h inheritance.

%m"loyment' dignity and honor for all – There was a close bond between individual and the society and individual and the

occuation throu"h caste. $t mana"ed a secic work for all. Doin" one:s job roerly boosted the morale of the eole and

romoted social euilibrium and solidarity.


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S"awning bed for high level of e0cellence !The system served as a sawnin" bed for social and technical skills and led to

achieve a hi"h level of +eciali8ation and wisdom in dierent areas of activities. By its very nature, it encoura"ed the

develoment and reservation of local skills. There was a tendency to brin" in the most diversied skills to hi"h level of

e7cellence.

ocal character 8decentrali/ed9 and Interde"endence – No caste took an all $ndia character. &ll the activities of urban or rural

areas were conned within a small area, havin" very li ttle links with the outside world because of slower means of transort.

Eocal character and semi!autonomous nature of caste system made close interaction and cooeration between dierent

castes a reality. $nter!deendence in social life and self!reliance in ersonal life were the intrinsic features of caste system

makin" each local area self!suLcient and caable to fulll all the needs of its eole.

#aste' "roviding social security and stability – ?arlier, instead of "overnment, elders of each caste havin" sense of

belon"in", not a desire to e7ercise authority6 used to take care of maintainin" disciline within the caste and heled its

destitute>helless members.aste rovided to all its members social security and stability.

#ontrolled arbitrariness of strong and "owerful "ersons – There was not a sin"le "rou identiable as very stron"!dominatin"

all the others, or as an enemy to defeat. The lurality of society rovided automatic checks and balances and controlled the

arbitrariness or unbalanced "rowth of ower of any "rou.

Im"ortance to self-disci"line and *nowledge – ower was

decentrali8ed. ?ach caste was an indeendent entity, with its own hierarchy, based either on a tribal identity or an

occuational identity. There was not much disarity between dierent castes or between urban and rural eole. &s far as

castes are concerned, they rose and fell in their social order, some died out and new ones were formed from time to time.

Sharing :oys and sorrows together – $t held all sections of society to"ether. 'eole shared with their caste!fellows moments of

joys and sorrows.

Rationale behind assigning rights and duties to di!erent grou"s – The system of each caste havin" a secic osition in the

society and a secic work to do with its ri"hts and duties boosted the morale of its eole and romoted social euilibrium

and solidarity. Their relative osition in society deended on urity, morality, knowled"e, contribution of their work to the

society as a whole and siritual standards, they could maintain. onsiderations of self!disciline, hy"iene and cleanliness on

the basis of climatic conditions of the re"ion were "iven imortance.


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+ost scienti3c system – $n its urest form, caste system may be re"arded as one of the most scientic social systems ever

evolved anywhere in the world. The "enius of the hilosohers of ancient $ndia has rovided a hilosohy, the rationality of

which is in conformity with the laws of nature. $t rovided a stron" social structure to $ndian society, which led to the all round

"rowth of its cultural herita"e and "iven $ndian society coherence, stability, continuity. $t ket its members comfortable and

satised. $t instilled in eole, self!disciline, consciousness, self!control and self!direction. $t assi"ned them duties accordin"

to their natural instincts and ualities. $t develoed in them a feelin" of belon"in", interdeendence and team!sirit. Belief in

concets like 9live and let others live: as well as 9


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153C to 156. $nitially %uslims were interloers in the subcontinent. They established their emire from the 1th century

onwards. @or a eriod of over one thousand years, $slam had walked hand in hand with ower.

+any social evils develo"ed into the system – Gidesread misunderstandin" "ave birth to many social evils, caste!conIicts,

feudal oressions and mass overty. ontinuous loot, arson, killin"s and violence on oor and women develoed feelin" of

insecurity in Aindus, which led them to reli"ious fundamentalism in order to retain their cultural identity. Ghile livin" under an

alien olitical order, whether it was Turks, %u"hal, 'ortu"uese or British, i"norant masses blindly followed the dictates of

Aindu 'riests and all the rituals su""ested by them. To Aindus, ri"idity in observin" the rituals aeared as a shield to retain

their cultural identity. They ri"idly and blindly observed all customs and traditions, which had lost their sanctity in the li"ht of

the circumstances of that time. $t tended to develo many evil ractices in the system.

Start of discriminatory "ractices – The discriminatory "overnance of %uslim rulers reared "round for stienin" > hardenin" >

crystalli8in" social norms, ractices and rituals. %ost of the time under %uslim rule, non!%uslims, esecially in the North were

continually at the receivin" end of the discriminatory ractices of the rulers and forced conversions at the hands of %uslim

invaders. $ntolerance of rulers towards their Aindu subjects made it diLcult for Aindus to reserve their culture and continue

their indi"enous identity.

Rise of communalism ( Aindu and %uslim riests arbitrarily distorted and misinterreted tenets of their resective reli"ions.

They urosely hi"hli"hted and critici8ed the dierences on the surface like )Aindus are idol worshiers- or $slam believes

9either you are a %uslim or else a 9=ar: etc. $t tended to make eole suerstitious. $ndian society was torn by acrimony

between Aindus and %uslims. +ometimes it took an a""ressive form. Both the communities had for"otten that ;od is the

same whether you call Aim 9$shwar: or 9&llah:. &ll human!bein"s are eual in his eyes. Ae never divides man from man.

Reaction on masses– 'eole blindly followed the dictates of Aindu and %uslim riests. 'eole blindly followed the dictates of

Aindu and %uslim riests. $"norant mob concentrated more on observance of rituals ri"idly than understandin" the

substance>meanin">or reason behind them acted as a shield to rotect and reserve identity and the basic roots of Ainduism.

%mergence of evil "ractices – ontinuous loot, arson, killin"s and violence on oor and women, kidnain" of beautiful

"irls>women for se7ual leasures of those in authority led to emer"ence of many social evils and ractices like child marria"e,

+ati 'ratha, 'urdah system to save one:s honor, 'oly"amy, dowry etc. Durin" %edieval era, also started the feudalistic

attitude, e7trava"ance and lu7urious life style of %o"ul rulers and those at helm of authority. Disarity between rulers and

ruled had increased. $"norance, suerstitions and hellessness of oor masses had led to the oression of weaker sections

of the society esecially the women and oor workers>shudras.

Nature of Caste durin" Medieval ,eriod

Automatic chec*s and balances – The lurality of society rovided automatic checks and balances and controlled

arbitrariness or unbalanced "rowth of any articular caste!"rou. There was not a sin"le "rou amon"st Aindus identiable

as very stron" dominatin" all the others, or as an enemy to defeat. The e7istence of owerful easant was a reality of the


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rural life of %edieval $ndia. They rovided leadershi of most armed bands, which were numerically redominant and

economically and olitically stron" at the villa"e level. Non!=shatriya easantry in *', Bihar and %' ket a check on

=shatriyas: arbitrariness. There was a cut!throat cometition between =ayasthas "ave a tou"h cometition to Brahmins in the

ela of learnin".

6loating "o"ulation ( @loatin" oulation of "rous like ;ujjars, Bhattis, #ajut ran"ers remained outside caste system. They

were so stron", that they terrori8ed settled a"riculturists for centuries. @orests, which cometed with arable land in si8e and

imortance, till the 12th century, "ave shelter and food to lar"e sections of society and served as havens for those in search

of escae from society.

%&ual social status to all within a caste – Throu"hout medieval eriod also, all the members within a caste enjoyed eual

social status vise!a!vise other castes. aste values, beliefs, rejudices, injunctions as well as distortions of reality became an

indivisible art of a erson:s syche and conscience. They shared moments of joy and sorrow. & erson:s relation with his own

caste!members was closer than with those belon"in" to other castes>communities.

&esterniation of caste+system

Rise of %uro"ean "owers with Renaissance +ovement – The 'rocess of Gesterni8ation started with the #enaissance durin"

late middle a"es in $taly around 1Hth century. This cultural movement has rofoundly aected ?uroean intellectual life. $t

started in $taly, and sread to the rest of ?uroe by the 1th century.

The #enaissance movement was a cultural movement that rofoundly aected ?uroean intellectual life. $ts inIuence was felt

everywhere, in literature, hilosohy, art, music, olitics, science, reli"ion, and other asects of intellectual inuiry. The

sincere knowled"e seekers of Gestern world did not care for inconveniences or challen"es for creatin" modern civili8ation.

They sacriced their time for about two centuries6, ener"ies and comforts in search of knowled"e. Then only they could

develo "reat modern scientic knowled"e, techniue and wealth.

Scienti3c and technological changes – ?uroe set out on ath of scientic and technolo"ical chan"e. #eliance on observation

and rationality had led to many inventions in the eld of science and technolo"y. The invention of rintin", bein" one of them

has heled in the dissemination of ideas from the later 15th century onwards.

#hanges due to the develo"ment of technology – $n 1HM3 the )discovery- of the )New Gorld- by hristoher olumbus

challen"ed the classical world!view. $t chan"ed the relationshi between dierent arts of the world. $t led to the rise of the

?uroean %aritime economics, the coloni8ation of the &mericans and +outh and +outheast &sia.

,rocess of &esterniation of Caste system

The rocess of Gesterni8ation of caste!system in $ndia be"an with the frantic eorts of missionaries to convert as many

$ndians as ossible into hristianity and comin" of ?ast $ndia omany in $ndia rst to trade and later on to increase its

olitical ower in $ndia. ?ast $ndia omany successfully established 9British $merial #ule: in $ndia by 1M52.


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2arl +ar0 on the ob:ectives of 5ritish Rulers in India – =arl %ar7 had ri"htly remarked that while layin" down the foundation of

%odern democratic "overnment in $ndia, British had a double mission in $ndia, one destructive, the other re"eneratin"O the

annihilation of the old &siatic +ociety and layin" the material foundation of Gestern +ociety in &sia. The re"eneratin"

character was concerned with social transformation throu"h modern education, ?n"lish lan"ua"e as a medium of learnin"

and oLcial lan"ua"e, moderni8ation in economic shere, olitical unication of the country and layin" foundations for many

democratic institutions like 'arliament, $ndian ivil +ervices, 0udicial system etc. etc. The reactionary and destructive

character was seen in the economic and social shere.

Divide and rule "olicy of Im"erial rulers – The rulers adoted the ath of 9divide and rule:. The way British "overned $ndia,

served double urose for them. They "ot the credit for amelioration and rotection of rimitive and inward!lookin" society of

$ndians. &t the same time, they ket the natives busy in their in!"hts.

Develo"ment of modern means of trans"ort – The ositive eect of the rocess of moderni8ation and industriali8ation,

technolo"ical develoments under British rule, esecially in the areas of transort, means of communication and information

technolo"y was that it had made closer interaction ossible. +hortenin" the "eo"rahical distances had brou"ht eole livin"

in distant areas to"ether.

Ne"ative in-uence on society

The modern means of transort and communications brou"ht to an end the local character and inter!deendence of various

caste "rous. +mall local castes livin" in distant laces "rew in si8e. aste or"ani8ations and ressure "rous entered into

re"ion!wise caste alliances and emer"ed as a stron" force for the ursuance of their sectional interests in the olitics. $t led to

olari8ation of dierent caste "rous and waterti"ht comartmentali8ation of $ndian society.

%!ect of Industriali/ation – The rocess $ndustriali8ation be"an under British rule to build a modern $ndia. Ghile Britain, alon"

with other ?uroean nations, was roducin" hi"h technolo"y, hi"h roductivity, hi"h wa"e and hi"h rot commodities, $ndia

remained to roduce low technolo"y, low roductivity, low wa"e and low rot items. $t left $ndia economically far behind the

advanced nations. Durin" British rule, $ndia missed out rst few hases of $ndustrial revolution –

(ne that revolutioni8ed a"riculture and te7tile roduction.

+econd one occurrin" in the rst half of the 1Mth century, which was based on caital "oods industry. &nd

The third durin" the last uarter of the 1Mth century, when science was fused with technolo"y.

Discredited traditional occu"ations – $ndustriali8ation and emer"ence of white!collared jobs based on formal education tended

to make many traditional occuations obsolete, as they were considered less ayin", more ha8ardous or time consumin".

$ndustriali8ation had eroded the authority of caste and kinshi in matters of occuation. New occuations that emer"ed "ave

choice of occuation, but accessibility to them deended on modern education, knowled"e of ?n"lish lan"ua"e and loyalty to

British.


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Adverse e!ect of traditional occu"ations becoming obsolete – Due to the aathy of rulers towards indi"enous skills,

knowled"e and occuations, many traditional occuations became obsolete and led to the decay of villa"e industries. $t

ushed millions backward in a very subtle manner and loosened the sanctity of caste rules and caste consciousness in

matters of occuation. $t discoura"ed local "enius, cotta"e industries and ne arts. %any castes of rural artisans, craftsman

and traditional occuations abandoned their traditional work. They had no otion but either to mi"rate to cities as industrial

labor or become a"riculture labor.

#hanged wor*-culture ( $t scattered the eorts, sense of direction and manufacturin" skills of millions of artisans, craftsman,

weavers etc. There had been casualty of workers rst, afterwards their work style, commitment, motivation and culture. They

lost their creativity, sense of achievement and ride. Gork culture has chan"ed tremendously since then. %ore, a erson

withdrew from hysical labor, more civili8ed, honored and ualied he was re"arded by modern society. $t resulted in

discreditin" many traditional occuations and in destruction of $ndian handicrafts and cotta"e industry <

1nem"loyment increased –


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=Regenerating e!ects of modern education – $ntroduction of modern education was welcomed by all, missionaries as well as

Aumanitarians, intellectuals and nationalist leaders. The atmoshere was comletely ready. National leaders and reformists

considered modern education )the key to the treasures of scientic and democratic thou"ht of the modern Gest.- +read of

the 'rinciles of Democracy across the nation led the eole to resist imerialism and tyranny of British rule. The elite and

intellectual sections of society hoed that modern education would "ive the eole the key to oen the treasures of scientic

discoveries. Throu"h Gestern literature and hilosohy eole would understand the democratic, liberal and humanitarian

thou"hts of the modern 9Gest:.

$t was hoed that modern education would make eole aware of the real issues hamerin" the ro"ress of $ndian society,

remedy the social, olitical and economic ills of the country and imrove the life of common men by enablin" them to

conuer i"norance, hun"er, overty and disease. &s hoed modern education, ei"hteenth century onwards, led to social

awakenin", "ave imetus to social ro"ress and brou"ht many reforms. $t had inIuenced substantially the workin" style and

thinkin" of the eole. National leaders welcomed rationality and "ood features of %odern ?n"lish education. +ome of the

ositive eects of modern education on $ndian society were as follows –

,"ened u" the doors of the *nowledge ( %odern education oened u the doors of the knowled"e Iourished in ?uroe after

#enaissance movement of %iddle &"es. $t had widened the mental hori8ons of $ndian intelli"entsia.

%ducation for all – Durin" second half of the nineteenth century, British "overnment in $ndia oened the doors of education

to all the sections of $ndian society, irresective of caste or creed. +till, very few amon"st the "eneral ublic could avail the

advanta"es of formal modern education. ?ducation remained conned within a small section of society.

$ighlighted evil "ractices – %odern education had hi"hli"hted the evil ractices and weaknesses develoed into the system

like ri"idity and harshness of many social customs and ractices revalent at that time for the weaker sections of the society

i.e. un!touch!ability and inhuman treatment to women, +ati, 'oly"amy, child marria"e etc. etc. revalent at that time.

Attracted attention of social reformers – %odern education had attracted the attention of intellectuals and social reformers

towards real issues evils caused by i"norance, irrationality of mumbo!jumbo of rituals and suerstitions created by some

selsh eole to entan"le the i"norant and oor masses. They su""ested remedies for social, olitical and economic ills of

the country. They took uon themselves the resonsibility to build a modern, oen, lural, culturally rich, roserous and

owerful $ndia out of a fra"mented, overty stricken, suerstitious, weak, indierent, backward and inward lookin" society.

Reali/ation of the worth of liberty and freedom – $t euied national leaders with intellectuals tools with which they fou"ht

the oressive British #aj. $ndians reali8ed the worth of liberty and freedom. They "ot e7osure to the hilosohies of thinkers

like Eocke, %ill, #oussseau,


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cultural and intellectual attainments-. The traditional $ndian system of education had withered away for the lack of oLcial

suort. $ts "radual disaearance had disassociated $ndian eole from their culture, classical roots, knowled"e and

traditional way of livin". &lon" with it faded $ndian values, hilosohies and traditions. +ome of the adverse eects of modern

education system on $ndian society were as followin" –

5rainwashing through education – $n educational institutions under British "overnment or %issionary schools, educated

them, reached eole and instilled in the minds so much comle7 about the rimitiveness of $ndian society, its social

structure and its values and systems that they started feelin" their social ractices as indefensible.

%any ?ducated $ndians re"arded native ractices as )discriminatory,- )iniuitous,- )e7loitative,- )oressive- )barbarous,-

)uncivili8ed- and )hi"hly stratied-. $ndian social!structure, based on caste system, was held resonsible for all evil social

ractices, feudalistic attitude, backward thinkin", belief in do"mas and suerstitions sustained by a uniue set of rituals, and

whimsical concet of urity and ollution.

A good reci"e to convert individuals into christianity ( %issionaries considered modern education a "ood recie to brainwash

$ndians and to attract $ndians towards hristianity. %odern education system had made their job easy. %issionaries: schools

were oened allover $ndia. ;overnment "ave them liberal "rants for rovidin" free education to lower strata of $ndian society

and rovidin" for them ermanent jobs. %odern education reared "round for mass conversions.

Disassociated Indian "eo"le from classical roots – %odern education has also disassociated many $ndian eole from their

traditional way of learnin", classical roots and knowled"e. Gith it faded $ndian values, hilosohies, systems and traditions. $t

made them to loose their faith in social values and systems.

Rise to unhealthy com"etition ( %oderni8ation of the attern of education and occuations makin" knowled"e of ?n"lish as

basic ualication for white collared jobs esecially in "overnment6 increased role of formal education and trainin" for

emloyment. Eimited oortunities in modern education and "overnment jobs became the bone of contention between

dierent sections of the society. Tou"h cometition between dierent sections of society to "et hold on modern occuations,

led to inter!caste rivalries, social tensions and "rou conIicts amon" $ndians.

=Start of 5rahmin vs )on-5rahmin movement ( The monooly of Brahmins in these areas cautioned the British and "enerated

an"er amon"st the non!Brahmin communities and %uslims. $n the +outhern states, there emer"ed two rival "rous –

Brahmins and Non!Brahmins and in the North – Aindu and %uslims.

‘Census operations’

Regenerative e!ect of #ensus o"erations – &fter consolidatin" its osition, the British ;overnment in $ndia made an eort to

know about the eole, whom they want to rule and chalk out strate"ies for the colonial "overnance. British anthroolo"ists

worked very hard to collect data and to catalo"ue various castes and tribes. @or the rst time, the ensus oerations drew

the attention of the rulers, intelli"entsia and ublic to the diversity of $ndian society and multilicity of castes and sub!castes

throu"hout $ndia.


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Administrative convenience' main concern of rulers – British rulers redened the structure of $ndian society throu"h ensus

oerations accordin" to their administrative convenience.

Degenerative e!ect of #ensus (

• +o far, aste was a Ie7ible and Iuid unit of $ndian society. ensus oerations destroyed its Ie7ibility and "ave ri"idity tosocial stratication and hierarchical rankin".

• The older four .ower in numbers? – The introduction of electoral olitics, in the be"innin" of the 34th century "ave

rise to )'ower in numbers-. ;overnment of $ndia &ct of 1M4M also known as %into %orley #eforms "ranted searate %uslim

?lectorate.

Divided Indian "o"ulation into uncom"romising grou"s on caste and communal lines – $t brou"ht the idea of communal

electorate to the forefront in the minds of all the castes and communities and led to divide Aindu oulation also into two

uncomromisin" "rous, vi8. UGe- Non!Brahmins vs. UThey- Brahmins and caste Aindus. $t "ave olitical levera"e to the non!

Brahmin castes on account of their numerical stren"th.

Suggestion to e0clude 1ntouchables from $indu-fold – The su""estion of ensus ommissioner to e7clude untouchables from

Aindu fold in the comin" 1M11 census immediately increased the imortance of untouchables in olitical circle, in social

circle, and in their own eyes too. &round 1M4M, the non!Brahmin ommunity, which resented the Brahmins hold in modern

occuations, was divided into two Backwards and untouchables. @or the rst time, the lowest layer of Aindu ommunity was

concetuali8ed under the name of 9untouchabes: in the olitical circles.

#ommunal Award' .oona "act of @BC – ommunal &ward of 1M3 created a ermanent slit in Aindu +ociety and

eretuated casteism further. Dr. #ajendra 'rasad said, 9the rincile of dividin" oulation into communal "rous, which had


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been adoted in the %into %orley reforms had been considerably e7tended, even beyond what had been done by %onta"u

helmsford #eformsF The electorate in 1M1M was broken u into 14 arts, now it is fra"mented into seventeen uneual

bitsF: Aindu community was further weakened by "ivin" searate reresentation to +cheduled castes. Division on the basis

of reli"ion, occuation and service were made. ?very ossible cross division was introduced by the British. The ommunal

&ward stren"thened the roots of casteism in olitics.

Instilled venom a"ainst caste system and (induism – The leaders of the downtrodden like %ahatma 'hule, &mbedkar

or ;oal ;anesh tau"ht the lower castes to "et united. They instilled deely in the minds of millions of unlettered Aindus,

venom a"ainst caste!system and the Brahmin community. aste system, to them, was resonsible for treatin" them as lesser

human bein"sO en"a"in" them in forced labour, unsavory jobs imosin" many restrictions on themO reventin" them from

joinin" the mainstream of the societyO and the subju"ation of lower castes with the hel of reli"ion. They vehemently

critici8ed its hierarchical structure, and re"arded untouchability as an inevitable concomitant of caste system. Dr. &mbedkar

made it abundantly clear that, it was throu"h olitical ower that untouchables were to nd their solution, not throu"h

accetance by Aindus. ?radication of caste system became the major lank of 9backward: castes and 9untouchable: castes.

Start of the practice of "ivin" 0,references1 23eservation ,olicy4

British rulers devised a novel method to distribute and balance ower on 9referential!basis:. To restrict Brahmin:s entry in

;overnment jobs and make it available to non!Brahmins communities, British rulers started ractice of )'references- by

"ivin" non!Brahmins nancial assistance and references in education and ;overnment emloyment at local and rovincial

level. $t served double urose for them – "ettin" credit for amelioration and rotection of downtrodden and keein" natives

busy in their in!"hts. Eater on, it "ave birth to the 9'olicy of #eservations:.

5rahmin-)on-5rahmin movement in South – 'ractice of "ivin" non!Brahmins nancial assistance and references in

education and ;overnment emloyment at local and rovincial level by the "overnment was stron"ly established in the +outh

at rovincial level. The atrona"e of British rulers to non!Brahmin castes had led to the emer"ence of owerful ressure

"rous and increased their demand for referential treatment in education, jobs and elections. $t ultimately "ave birth to the

uota system. 1M45 to 1MH4 was the eriod, when idea of #eservation>ositive discrimination was conceived, e7erimented

and established rmly. $t oened u various channels of confrontation.

Sans5ritiation of Caste system

%odern education, Gestern literature and hilosohy widened the mental hori8ons of visionary national leaders and

reformers. They welcomed rationality and other "ood features of and made "ood use of liberal, and humanitarian

ideas>thou"hts of %odern Gestern Gorld. But at the same time destructive nature of new olicies alarmed national leaders.

National leaders "ot alarmed at the erosion of $ndian ulture and divisible olicies of the rulers. They reali8ed the imact of

British racial discrimination and their reressive olicies on the $ndian eole. The destructive character of British imerialism

lit the re and "ave birth to national movement. ?conomic loot, olitical subju"ation, assertion of lordly sueriority over the


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subject on the "round of race, assumtion of a hau"hty e7clusiveness, ersistent insultin" and suercilious behavior towards

all $ndians, e7clusion of $ndians from all laces of authority and resonsibility and denial of their caacity for self!"overnance

united $ndians a"ainst British rule.

National leaders and reformers tried to revive their own rich ancient culture and revent the masses from bein" swayed away

by the "lamour and materialism of alien culture. +ocial #eformers advised eole to remain rmly rooted to the $ndian

ulture.

'eformers an# intellectuals fought for 'eformation – #eformers observed that i"norance, suerstitions or irrationality

of eole was hamerin" the ro"ress of $ndian society. #eformers or"ani8ed meetin"s to make eole aware of the social

evils>real issues. They advised eole to sto treatin" low caste Aindus inhumanly. They advocated for "ivin" women their

ri"htful lace in society. $t was considered it vital because woman as a mother is the best teacher. &lso women needed to be

rotected from evil social ractices like +ati, 'oly"amy, child marria"e, infanticide, feticide etc.

The intellectual ferment was stron"est in Gest Ben"al, %aharashtra and Tamil Nadu. $n 1M32, #aja #am %ohan #oy founded

Brahma +amaj in Ben"al. Ae insired the eole of Ben"al, *', 'unjab, %adras and other rovinces, to form similar

or"ani8ations and interret reli"ion rationally. 'rarthana +amaj in %aharashtra 12C6, &rya +amaj in Northern $ndia, #ama

=rishna %ission, Theosohical +ociety of $ndia 12M6, Dev +amaj in Eahore and +ervants of $ndia +ociety took u the job to

awaken the masses. They talked about the "reatness of Aindu


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True reli"ion does not discriminate mankind in terms of race, color, nationality, caste or "ender.

The most noble task of every individual is to work for the enli"htenment and ulift the weaker ersons.

The markin"s of $ndian culture are simlicity and solidity.

They advised eole not to be swayed away by Gestern culture. @irst they should know their own herita"e and try to revive

what is "ood in it. They made sincere eorts to make reli"ion as bedrock of the value!system. #eli"ion in its ure sense does

not lead to discrimination. $t does not teach eole to hate or divide mankind. These were the noble ideas that had inIuenced

"reatly the youn" minds of educated middle class.

Moderniation of caste system

)By indeendence, we have lost the e7cuse of blamin" the British for anythin" "oin" wron"- B# &mbedkar, uoted from T($,

'.34, 0an 3C, 34146

,ost Independent India – @rom 15th of &u"ust 1MH onwards, $ndeendent $ndia is committed to democratic, secular and

e"alitarian rinciles as enshrined in the onstitution of $ndia. 'reamble of the $ndian onstitution romises to secure to all its

citi8ensP 0*+T$?, social, economic and oliticalO E$B?#TK of thou"ht, e7ression, belief, faith and worshiO ?/*&E$TK of status

and of oortunityO and to romote amon" them all @#&T?#N$TK assurin" the di"nity of the individual and the unity and

inte"rity of the Nation. &rticle 15 of the onstitution rohibits any kind of discrimination on "rounds of caste, race, reli"ion,

"ender or lace of birthO &rticle 1C "ives euality of oortunity in matter of ublic emloyment, &rticle 2 creates National

commission for +cheduled astes to safe"uard their interests etc.

#oncern of Government for the "rotection of under"rivileged-castes – & number of amendments in the onstitution and

le"islation have been assed to remove the disabilities of backward eole. *ntouchability has been declared a crime.

Bonded labor is abolished by law. ivil #i"hts &ct, 1M55, aims to eliminate injustice a"ainst weaker sections. &mendment to

'revention of &trocities &ct +T6 1M2M rovides for stern unishments for oenses committed a"ainst +T by *er astes.

+ecial ourts, under +T &ct, have been established for unishin" oLcials, if found "uilty. +till, there is no resite from

discriminatory ractices. GhyJ $s caste system resonsible for it or roblems lie somewhere elseJ

(aste more li)eral in social sphere – $n modern $ndia, sread of literacy and "rowin" awareness amon" masses has

already brou"ht to an end slowly but steadily many of the discriminatory ractices and deformities develoed in aste

system, while livin" under alien rule. $t has become more liberal and less restrictive in social life of the eole. astes no

lon"er enjoy le"al or reli"ious sanctions.

#astes ess restrictive – ?7ulsion from castes means little, while earlier it meant comlete social ostracism. (ld style of

authority and ower e7ercised by caste!elders has already diminished e7cet for a few rural areas esecially in Aaryana and

#ajasthan. #estrictions or interactions between dierent castes arisin" due to considerations for urity and ollution are

fadin" away from ublic life even from rural areas. Traditional barriers on marria"e, hereditary occuations and commonality

are loosin" its imortance.


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.oor governance – $n modern $ndia, millions of submer"ed eole suer from discrimination and e7loitation, it is not the

caste!system, but the bad olitics and oor "overnance, which is resonsible. %odern $ndia is sharly divided into two –

)haves- and )have!nots-. The most imortant factors resonsible for disarities are vote!bank olitics, irrational and corrut

ways of ursuin" the aternal olicies and "overnment:s failure to address real issues at central and +tate levels.

‘#aste' the most "owerful tool for creation of vote-ban*s – 9aste: has become a bye!word for $ndian oliticians. @or the

resent!day olitical leaders caste is the easiest and most owerful tool to sway ublic oinion emotionally and to create a

lar"er vote bank for them. $t may be called ossication of caste!system fallen into the hands of ower brokers and vote

"u88lers.

%mergence of "olitical identities ( @or olitical and "overnance uroses, modern $ndian society has been stratied in most

insensitive manner. @or "rabbin" the olitical ower, the modern $ndian society has been divided into the followin"

unbrid"eable "rous – *er castes, +cheduled astes, +cheduled tribes, (ther Backward lass and %inorities. +ectional

interests are bein" romoted on caste or communal basis shamelessly.

)arrow loyalties of caste and religion – Narrow loyalties of caste and reli"ion are encoura"ed in olitical arena. $t has

"enerated sub!cultures like caste!ism, favoritism, and lure for easy money, neotism, arochialism, communalism,

re"ionalism etc. Bi"oted sentiments and irresonsible comments are sreadin" in!disciline in the society. The risin"

asirations and demands of eole, with the sread of education and awareness, has created added roblem for the

"overnment.

1nder-currents of caste "olitics – *nder!currents of caste olitics have made the "overnment incaable to solve the burnin"

national issues. $t has made to maintain law and order diLcult. $nter!caste and intra!caste, inter!community and intra!

community and inter!tribal and intra!tribal conIicts are increasin" day by day in order to "et more sace in the corridors of

ower.

Real issues "ushed into the bac*ground – #eal issues like mass!scale illiteracy, overty, unemloyment, inIation,

deteriorated law and order situation, increasin" violence or "eneral coarsenin" of moral ber of the $ndian society etc. are

ushed into the back"round. the voice of uri"ht and honest eole belon"in" to middle class is bein" continuously throttled

mercilessly. They are bein" unished for followin" sincerely family!lannin" norms, which has decreased their numbers. $n

resent day vote!bank olitics based on "ame of numbers, it is very easy now for the ursuers of olitical ower to sideline

them.

The voice of uri"ht and honest citi8ens of $ndia irresective of caste or community is bein" continuously throttled

mercilessly. $n resent day vote!bank olitics based on "ame of numbers, it is very easy now for the ursuers of olitical

ower to sideline them.


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35/63


36/63

Before formin" any oinion or reachin" to any conclusion, it would be better to understand the dierence between 9caste!

system: and 9caste!ism: and 9caste!less society: on the basis of "round realities that e7ist today.

*enom a"ainst caste+system started only in recent past – There was not so much heart!burnin" because of caste

earlier.


37/63

• aste as system – aste is an or"anised social institution. This term is secically used to refer the social structure of Aindu $ndia. Broadly seakin", the fourfold division of society has been sanctioned in ancient scritures and said tostructure all social relations.

• aste!ism – ?ntry of caste in olitics, "overnment basin" it ulift of submer"ed sections of society on caste, ri"id attitudein observance of caste ractices without havin" re"ard for reason or rhyme or usin" it for vested interests of owerfullobbies !be it Brhmins, musclemen, olitician to "arner vote!banks lead to casteism. $t has "enerated many abnormalitiesand distortions in the system. aste is a social institution. Brin"in" it into olitics and usin" it for olitical "ains is the

bi""est disservice one can do to the nation done by the leaders of various olitical arties in recent ast.

Caste as a tool to further their followin" for the Critics of caste+system – $t is an irony that those very eole, who

critici8e caste!system vehemently, them!selves clin" to their caste identity very stron"ly. ?ntry of 9caste: into olitics led to

unchecked "rowth of caste!ism. @or oliticians, it is a recie for creatin" vote!banks. @or others it is the base to enjoy secial

rivile"es>benets of aLrmative action ro"rams initiated and imlemented by the ;overnment of $ndia. ?lite section

amon"st lower castes rotects its turf under the banner of backward castes. The interest of all lies in keein" the majority of

eole i"norant, insecure and out of mainstream. &nd here lies the cru7 of resent day:s caste!ist olitics.

3aisin" e#pectations of a"itated youth – #isin" e7ectations of eole, olitical ambitions and economic interests have

aroused the militancy amon" the discontented youths of dierent castes and communities all over the nation, which has

divided the $ndians into innumerable unbrid"eable "rous. 9'olitici8ation of caste: needs to be arrested at its earliest.

Strati)cation of a society! a natural phenomenon

$ndividuals dier from each other in natural endowments, intelli"ence, atitudes, attitudes, skills, ersonal needs and other

innate characteristics. +uch dierences are at to "ive rise to the formations of dierent social "rous and systems. $t is uite

natural that in every society, anywhere in the world emer"e dierent "rous out of functional necessity. ?ach society devises

its own rinciles for stratication, for coordinated functionin" of all arts to"ether, for keein" its whole system t and

functional as well as for takin" care of the interests of its eole as a whole. $ts basis may dier from lace to lace. $t may be

on basis of class, caste, reli"ion, re"ion, lan"ua"e or occuation.

Class’ a $asis in &estern Societies

Individualistic by nature – *sually, class stratication be"ins with individuals. Division of society alon" 9lass: lines forms

dierent "rous on the basis their economic and cultural level. Ghat determines 9class: varies from one society to another.

*sually ossession of wealth determines hierarchical distinctions between individuals or "rous within a community .

Distinction between two "rous deends on their bein" owerful and owerless. +ocial classes with more ower usually

subordinate classes with less ower, which 'ower was closely linked to ability to assert one:s status throu"h hysical

stren"th.

Ran*ing ( Dierent variables are also adoted to decide status of dierent "rous within a society, like occuation, education

and ualications, income, wealth, ownershi of land, roerty etc. Besides, there are other factors as well considered as

imortant as one:s wealth in determinin" class status, at least at hi"her levels, like costume and "roomin", manners and

cultural ren

discrimination and caste

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