In this article you will learn about the Challenges of Caste System in India.
Caste System
Caste is a social occurrence or phenomena found in several human societies. However, it is functioning in its most elaborately defined and rigid form in India. Indian society has been basically a caste based social system and castes and the caste system still continue to be a major input of Indian polity and society. Caste system has several types of disadvantages which come in the way of social progress and political development. Casteism acts as a hindrance in the way of nation-building and national integration. It has been responsible for the existence of caste communalism and caste violence in the society and polity.
Caste system has been one of the biggest obstacles in the way of India's national unity. It demands foremost faithfulness to itself. It comes in the way of nation-building and national integration. It has been a hindering factor of the process of socio-economic development of all sections of its society. The rigid rules of caste system mainly compel some persons to follow their hereditary occupations and this acts a big limitation on the economic empowerment of the individual and society. Casteism has been acting as a major source of continued presence of social inequalities, discrimination and injustice. It has also been behind the continued presence of social injustice and exploitation against the people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Challenge of Caste and Casteism to Indian Democracy
Caste continues to be a major determinant of political and social life of India. Its presence as one of the most ancient features of Indian society has been naturally acting as a factor of political and social relations. Once Jai Prakash Narayan observed that caste has acted as “the most major political party in India”. It has been a determinant of political participation and voting behaviour and also among all other aspects of Indian politics.
Political leaders and parties use caste to secure their objectives in politics. Caste determines the organisation, nature and working of political parties and interest groups, bureaucracies, legislatures, and in fact almost all political structures and functions. Caste voting, caste based riots, caste based candidates, caste violence, caste conflicts and the issue of reservations versus non-reservations, have been factors of Indian politics. All these have been constituting a big hindrance and challenge to Indian Democracy. Caste based behaviour and caste based policies and decisions constitute casteism in India.
This article on Challenges of Caste System in India is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.