Question

State the reasons of development of casteism.

Answer 1

Answer:

Casteism is due to a multiplicity of causes. Some important causes of casteism are given below:

1. The feeling of caste prestige:

The feeling of superiority by the members of a caste over the rest may be construed as an important cause of casteism. No doubt, the Hindu society is divided into many castes on the basis of super ordination and subordination. But members of any caste want to enhance the prestige of their own caste. Therefore, they endeavor to stabilize the position of their own caste, which ultimately results in casteism.

2. Connubium:

The practice of caste endogamy, which proclaims that a person can marry only within his caste, has been responsible for the emergence of the feeling of casteism. By restricting the circle of marriage to one’s own caste, people have developed different degrees of social distance within their own caste and outside their own caste.

3. The Impact of Urbanization:

Industrialisation and urbanization emerged in India with the British rule. People experienced the loss of identity, anonymity and impersonality in the city crowd. But being a social being and having gregarious instinct in him, man has to search for some sort of company, which could only be obtained in that caste line. Thus the impact of urbanisation could develop a common bond of relationship and social intercourse. This caused the emergence of casteism in the urban areas.

4. Developed means of Transport and Communication:

Developed means of communication and transport have abridged the communication gap and have cut down the physical distance. As such, people now move quickly and easily from one place to another. This has enabled the members of a caste to come together and exchange their views and ideas. Their physical proximity enables them to discuss various issues relating their caste interest. Accordingly, they formulate various programmes to solidify the base of their own caste group.