Write an essay on caste associations in politics.
Answers
In India caste has been playing a very big role since long time past. Indian society is a caste ridden one, is known to world all over. But it is in modern times that the system has degenerated itself. It was felt that after independence the system will gradually disintegrate and shall have no impact because in the constitution there is no place for it.
In fact, making discrimination on the basis of caste and creed is an offence and a punishable crime. But with the passage of time it has undoubtedly been established that caste has not ceased to play its part. It still plays an effective role in all walks of political life more at the local, less at state and lesser at national level. But its punch is felt at all levels.
But usually caste is proving a heavy weight on the political system and people under the influence of caste do not even vote for the most suitable person not belonging to their caste. Not only this, but candidates for contesting elections are picked up taking caste structure of constituency into consideration.
Some constituencies and areas have always returned people belonging to the same caste. There is today no state which is free from the influence of caste, though in some cases its hold may be more, while in others comparatively less.
Caste system finds its origin in the Spanish word “casta” meaning breed or race. Thus, basically caste means people belonging to the same breed. The term caste has been defined differently by different people. According to Cooley, “When a class is somewhat hereditary we call it caste.”
In the words of Risley, “A caste may be defined as a collection of families or groups of families bearing a common name which usually denotes or is associated with specific occupation claiming common descent from a mythical ancestor, human or divine professing to follow the same professional calling and are regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as forming single and homogenous community.”
According to Maclvex, “When status is wholly pre-determined, so that men are born to their lot without any hope of change in it, then the class takes the extreme form of caste.”
According to E.A.H. Blum, “A caste is an endogamous group, or collection of endogamous groups, bearing a common name, membership of which is hereditary imposing on its members certain restrictions in the matter of social intercourse, either following a common traditional occupation or claiming a common origin and generally regarded as forming a single homogenous community.”
Martindale and Monachese say, “A caste is an aggregate of persons whose share of obligations and privileges is fixed by birth, sanctioned and supported by religion and magic.”
Prof. M.N. Srinivas says, “A sociologist would define caste as a hereditary endogamous, usually localised group, having a traditional association with an occupation, and a particular position in the local hierarchy of castes. Relations between castes are governed among other things, by the concepts of pollution and purity, and generally, maximum commensality occurs within the caste.”
Majumdar and Madan say, “Caste in India is a social institution deriving sanction from and intimately interwoven with the Hindu religion.” According to G.S. Ghurye, “Castes are small and complete social words in themselves, marked off definitely from one another, though subsisting within the larger society.” Thus, there is no definition of caste which can be accepted as complete and perfect.
mark as best answer
Answer:
The caste system in India has been practiced since ancient times and its concept has been developed in different ways over the centuries by the people in power. Major changes were made in this system, especially during the Mughal rule and the British Raj. Despite this, even today people are treated differently in society on the basis of their castes. Varna and caste are basically two different concepts of social system.
The varna refers to four broad social divisions – Brahmins (teachers / priests), Kshatriyas (kings / warriors), Vaishyas (merchant classes) and Shudras (laborers / servants) but gradually it went into a state of further decline. Divided into castes on the basis of birth. Caste was generally determined according to the trade or community of the people, but today it has become hereditary.