Statement of research problem

Caste is closely connected with the Hindu philosophy and religion, custom and tradition. It is
believed to have had a divine origin and sanction. It is deeply rooted social institution in India.
There are more than 2800 castes and sub-castes with all their peculiarities. The term caste is
derived from the Spanish word caste-meaning breed or lineage. The word caste also signifies
race or kind. The Sanskrit word for caste is Varna that means color.

The caste stratification of the Indian society had its origin in the chaturvarna system. According
to this doctrine the Hindu society was divided into four main varnas - Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas and Shudras. The Varna system prevalent during the Vedic period was mainly based on
division of labor and occupation. Earlier there were only three varnas, the Shudras were added
later and occupational division was not rigid. A fifth group that falls outside the Varna system
and is called Avarna or outcaste or untouchable also exists. Caste is an endogamous group
having a relatively independent culture and structural existence. The caste system owns its origin
to the Varna system.

The Indian Caste System is historically one of the main dimensions where people in India are
socially differentiated through class, religion, region, tribe, gender, and language. Although this
or other forms of differentiation exist in all human societies, it becomes a problem when one or
more of these dimensions overlap each other and become the sole basis of systematic ranking
and unequal access to valued resources like wealth, income, power and prestige. The Indian
Caste System is considered a closed system of stratification, which means that a person’s social
status is obligated to which caste they were born into. There are limits on interaction and
behavior with people from another social status. This paper will be exploring the various aspects
of the Indian caste system and its effects on India today.
 Review of Literature
In the thesis “Approaches to the socio-political Development of the scheduled castes: A study of
Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R Ambedkar.” V.K.Nandakumar (2001) analyzes the sociopolitical
development of the SCs with reference to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Both
stressed the need for positive and progressive developments at the social and political levels to
streamline social integration. The effort is to bring out the similarities and differences in
approaches towards the issue of socio- political development of the SCs in Indian Society.

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya (2002) in his collection of political thoughts exhorted and led the SCs
in their struggles for human rights. This book evaluates the supremacy of caste Hindus over SCs
and other depressed classes. He believed that eradicating poverty by economic development can
never eradicate the caste discriminations. It needs purposeful and continuous struggle.

“Caste system and Indian Society -Marxian Approach” is a study of social inequality in Indian
society due to caste system and Marxian concepts by V. Thankayyah (2000). The subject of the
study is the reasons behind making the majority ‘untouchables’ that paved the way for more
complex social structure of moral stratifications. In the work he substantiates the need for
resistance of the secular powers and the dangerous religious politics practiced by the upper class.

“Educational and social mobility” is an elaborate study of Prem Marian Pandey(1988) on

analyzing the influence of education in the social mobility of the SCs. It revealed that in spite of
educational achievement and better occupational status SCs are not accorded equal recognition in
terms of prestige by the higher caste Hindus, as the sentimental and psychological attachments of
Hindus with their caste traditions have not died out. He observes that modern education is an
effective mechanism to elevate their socially degraded status.

Theoretical Framework

Though with time, many things have changed and so did the caste system. But still, it continues
to play an important role in the major events of life like marriage and religious worship. In India,
there are many places where shudras are still not allowed to enter the temple or do any kind of
puja. Whereas Kshatrya and Vaishya castes enjoy full rights regarding this. The caste system
becomes problematic when it is used for ranking the society as well as when it leads to unequal
access to natural as well as man-made resources.
In urban middle-class families, the caste system is not that significant but it plays a role during
marriage. Even adjustments are made into this.
In pre- as well as post-Independence era, many movements and governmental actions took place
to eradicate caste-based inequalities in India. In order to develop a positive attitude towards
lower castes, Gandhiji had started using the word ‘harijan’ (God’s people) for lower-caste
people. But this term was not universally accepted. He also encouraged incorporating lower caste
persons into reforms rather than creating a separate groups for the same purpose. The British
government also came up with a list of 400 groups that were regarded as untouchables. Later on
these groups were known as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In 1970s, the untouchables
started to be called Dalits.
In mid-19th century, Jyotirao Phule started a Dalit movement to uplift the status of lower caste
people. Contribution of Dr B. R. Ambedkar to support the lower caste people was very
prominent. He initiated a significant Dalit movement between 1920s and 1930s. He also created
a system of reservation in free India to improve the status of Dalits in India. Under his
leadership, six million Dalits adopted Buddhism.
But in modern India, relationships between different people have become more relaxed though
not completely. As everyone irrespective of caste can dine at one place, visit tourist places, etc
but still people are against inter-caste marriage. Significant change in the occupation sector has
taken place, as now it is not restricted to caste.

Significance of Research Problem

Caste system is both a social and a sociological problem in India. It is a social problem because a
large number of social, political and economic evils in the country are attributed to it. It is also a
sociological problem because the concept of caste is defying a clear definition by social
scientists. The present definitions are not adequate to explain the different phenomena associated
with caste. For instance, while there are some social scientists who hold that caste is fast
disappearing from the country, there are others who think that it is revitalizing itself. Yet, caste is
a key concept for the study and understanding of the Indian Society. In keeping with its
importance, no other sociological topic has received as much attention from social scientists—
both Indian and foreign—interested in the study of Indian society, as that of caste. It is also true
that our knowledge about caste has made a great advance. Nevertheless, the very plethora of
literature on the subject is apt to confuse even an advanced scholar.
 Research Objective

 To study the impact of caste system in post-independent India.

 To analyze the effects of reservation policy in eliminating caste based discrimination.
 To understand the problems faced by socially backward classes due to caste system.
 To understand the role of education in uplifting the status of socially backward classes.


Research Methodology
Area of Study- The paper covers whole of the Indian subcontinent as the problem of caste system
has its roots in almost every part of India.
Method of data collection- The observation method of data collection is used in the paper.

Tentative Chapterization

1. Introduction- What is caste system? Its origin

2. Impact of caste system on modern Indian society.
3. Analysis of steps taken by government to prevent caste based discrimination.
4. Conclusion.
 References

1. M.N. Srinivas, 1977, Castes in Modern India and Other Essays, Asia Publishing House,
Bombay.
2.