Indian society can be considered as pluralistic.Explain. Enumerate and explain any two inequalities that prevail in our society.
Answers
Explanation:
The normative and democratic pillars of institutions and doctrines enshrined in the Constitution
of India set the agenda of post-colonial state in India in terms of abolition or at least reduction
of social-inequalities. The objective of ‘welfare’ state was to make a modern caste-less
society by reducing centuries old disabilities inflicted upon the ‘depressed’ and attempt to
improve their lot by providing them ‘reservations’ and ‘quotas’ in education as well as job
market especially in state-bureaucracy and over-sized public sector enterprises. The Constitution
of India requires the state to treat all citizens equally, without regard to birth, gender or
religious belief. However, society does not function merely on the basis of formal principles.
Enforcement of legal doctrines and attempt to remove social discrimination is a process
entangled in the complexities of social formation. The pernicious aspects of jati, varna and
class, therefore, still permeate our families, localities and political institutions. In this unit, our
focus will be on various aspects of social inequality and their impact on democratic polity and
political economy of development in the post-colonial state of India.