Question- What is caste inequality?

Related Short Answer Questions
1. How is the division based on caste affecting us?
2. On what belief is casteism based?

Answer -

There are divisions based on gender and religion all over the world, but division based on caste is seen only in Indian society. Some social inequalities and some form of division of labour exist in all societies. In most societies, the profession is passed from one generation to the next in the family. But the caste system is an extreme and permanent form of it. It differs in a certain sense from the inequalities that exist in other societies. In this, the hereditary division of profession is recognized by customs. People of a caste group not only belong to the same or similar professions, but they are also seen as a separate social community. In them, there is a relationship of daughter-roti i.e. marriage and food among themselves. In other caste groups, their children cannot get married, nor can people from other castes sit at their feet in important family and community events.

The varna system is based on the notion of discrimination against other caste groups and treating them as separate from oneself. In this, ‘Antyaj’ castes were treated with untouchability. This is the reason why politicians and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Ambedkar and Periyar Ramaswami Nayakar talked and worked for creating a social system free from caste discrimination.

Due to the efforts of these great men and the socio-economic changes, the caste structure and caste system in modern India has changed drastically. Due to economic development, urbanization, development of literacy and education, freedom to choose profession and weakening of Zamindari system in villages, the old form of caste system and mentality based on Varna system is changing.

In urban areas, now most of the time, no account is kept of who is sitting with you in the train or bus or what is the caste of the person eating at your table in the restaurant? Any kind of caste discrimination is prohibited in the constitution. The constitution has laid down the basis of policies to end the injustice born out of the caste system. If a person from a hundred years ago comes back to India once again, he will be surprised to see the changes that have taken place here.

However, the caste system has not departed from contemporary India. Some old aspects of the caste system are still intact. Still most people marry within their own caste or clan. Despite the clear constitutional provision, the practice of untouchability has not yet been completely eradicated. Under the caste system, for centuries, some groups have been kept in a position of advantage and some groups have been suppressed. Its effect is visible even after centuries. The castes in which the practice of education was already present and who had a hold on education, they also dominate in the modern education system. The members of the castes which were earlier denied education are still inherently backward. This is the reason why the proportion of upper caste people in the urban middle class is unusually high. There is a close relationship between caste and economic status.

Like communalism, casteism is also based on the belief that caste is the only basis for the formation of a social community. According to this method of thinking, people of one caste form a natural social community and have similar interests and do not match with those of other castes. As we have seen in the case of communalism, this belief is not confirmed by our experience. Our experiences show that caste is an aspect of our lives, but it is not the only or most important aspect.

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