Question

How far is it correct to say that it is not politics that gets caste ridden but it is the caste that gets politicised? Explain.

Answer 1

It is true that it is the caste that gets politicized because the politicians always try to push their agendas using the castes. This makes different castes feel like they have to align to some certain parties or that they have to have people with their interest at heart representing them in the government. This makes different castes to form coalitions with one another as the politicians use them as voting banks. The castes are used to as a means of gaining power through politics.

Answer 2

It is correct to say that it is not politics that gets caste ridden, but it is the caste that gets politicised. Caste can take various forms in politics.

(i) Each caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it neighbouring castes or sub-castes which were earlier excluded from it.

(ii) Various caste groups are required to enter a coalition with other castes or communities and thus enter a dialogue and negotiation.

(iii) New kinds of caste groups have came up in the political arena like ‘backward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups.

• Caste plays different kinds of roles in politics. In some cases, politics gives many disadvantaged communities the opportunity to demand their share of power.

• Politics has helped people from OBC and Dalit castes to gain better access to decision-making. But sometimes exclusive attention to caste can produce negative results like tensions, conflicts and violence in our society.