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Essay on Caste System in India

List of essays on caste system in india, essay on caste system in india – for children (essay 1 – 250 words), essay on caste system in india – short essay on the caste system in india (essay 2 – 300 words), essay on caste system in india – for school students (class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 standard) (essay 3 – 400 words), essay on caste system in india – introduction, types, effects and conclusion (essay 4 – 550 words), essay on caste system in india – origin, implications and solution (essay 5 – 600 words), essay on caste system in india – for college and university students (essay 6 – 800 words).

• Essay on the Caste System in India – Long Essay for Competitive Exams like IAS, IPS and UPSC (Essay 7 – 1000 Words)

The caste system in India is defined as the identification of a person as to from which family he belongs to. Since centuries, the caste system in India has been the basis of division among the Hindus. But, how has it affected society as a whole? Or how has it evolved over time is something which the students should definitely know about.

There are positives and negatives of everything including the caste system in India which should be known to the students. Therefore, we have come up with long essays for students along with some short essays so as to give them an insight on this ancient system of division of the society, prevalent even today.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 Standard) and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for competitive exams like IAS, IPS and UPSC can also increase their knowledge by studying these essays.

The caste system in India is one of the world’s oldest form of social stratification that is still surviving. Originally, the caste depended on a person’s work but it soon changed to hereditary. The caste system in India has been modified and evolved over the centuries by the rulers and those in power. There was a significant change in the caste system in India during the Mughal Raj and the British Rule. Although four primary castes were defined by Vedas – Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra, there are thousands of sub-castes and communities within the Indian society.

Independent India has banned any discrimination based on caste and in an attempt to correct the previous injustices against traditionally disadvantaged, the government has announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions. It was meant to support scheduled castes and tribes but now it has transformed into a whole different issue. Many communities are fighting and protesting violently to be recognized as OBCs. And even though most of such communities are prospering, they still want the caste quota by claiming that they are poor and suffering.

This problem is exacerbated by politicians and media. During the times of election, politicians woo a particular caste block by offering them certain benefits and such. Even though, the support to unprivileged was necessary, it has now become a vote-grabbing exercise for politicians and a short-cut to gain quotas for some communities. Caste system in India has simply become a system to gain reservation and benefits when people are acquiring education or applying for jobs.

Caste System in India came into existence in the period of ancient times and it still holds a sturdy base in the Indian society. On the other hand, the Caste system in India might not be incorrect to tell that the mentality of people is also changing with the passing time.

People who are living in the urban areas that comprise of an educated section are overcoming the firm caste system in India that was established eras back. The modifications in our laws have also transformed our old Indian society into a modern one.

Law against Caste System in India:

The caste system in India was always criticized by everybody and numerous people volunteer to battle against it, however, such effort could not shake the base of this evil system. After India got freedom from the British, the constitution of India declared to place a prohibition on discrimination over the basis of the caste system in India. It was a clear and loud message to all such people who mistreated the lower caste people.

Introduction of the Reservation System:

The formation of law against the caste system in India was a smart step but one more decision i.e., introduction of the quota or the reservation system has shown to be damaging for our modern Indian society. In such a system, there are reserved seats for the lower caste people in the government jobs and in the education sector. Such type of system was introduced to raise the backward class’ standard of living.

But, it has turned into a reason of great worry in modern India. Owing to this quota system, numerous times the worthy contenders from the general group do not have an employment opportunity whereas the applicants from the scheduled tribe or scheduled caste acquire the same without being enough capable or skilled.

Conclusion:

The system of the caste system in India has already spoiled the image of the nation on various international levels. The caste system in India must be totally abolished in modern India for the country to prosperous growth and development.

Introduction:

One of the ugliest words of human races is Caste. Caste system in India is one of the unjustifiable acts of our ancestors. Caste system in India appeared in the Vedic ages itself and distinguished people based on their tribe, region, class, and religion. It is very similar to the concept of racism in Western Countries. Caste System is a huge hindrance to the development of a country and it stops a country from becoming an absolute empowered entity.

Meaning & Origin:

Jati or Varna are the two terms alternatively used in the place of Caste , which merely enhances the cruelty of the word usage. The four major hereditary castes prevalent in India are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra . The scholars and the priests form the top most in this structure and are termed Brahmins. Kshatriyas are soldiers and political leaders while the Vaisya and Sudra’s are the merchants and servants respectively. They even had a sect of people not categorized in any of these called untouchables who were mostly janitors.

Negative Effects of Caste System in India:

Some of the negative impacts of the caste system earlier were that not all people can access the temple, take water from wells, and eat with lower caste people. Modern India still has the impacts but in a different way whereby occupation of a certain family is carried down and mobilizes the other sect of people to pick up jobs in that Job family. Inter-caste marriages and honor killings have become common. National development has gone downhill since Caste System still exists in India.

Government Reforms:

The upper castes usually treated the lower castes people as their slaves and mostly occupied the higher positions in all the institutions.To rectify the past unfairness effects of the Caste System in India, Government has introduced quotas and reservation systems thereby giving access to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to help them ramp up to positions that matter. Discrimination based on Caste System is a crime.

It is a common say that Caste System in India would’ve long gone if the politicians didn’t fan it up for their conveniences. Despite many reforms and government regulations it is unfortunate that caste system in India still exists. We as citizens must take cautious steps and uphold discrimination as a serious offense. Equality of human race regardless of their gender, tribe, race, colour and the Job they do is a must. Whilst we look out to human kind for the paradigm shift, it is necessary stricter rules apply when inequality shows up.

Caste system in India is a huge hindrance to the development of our country. During British rule, millions of lives were lost in the struggle for freedom, only to establish a society of equality. But their efforts seem fruitless due to the divide caused by caste system in India. Caste system in India is derived from the ancient Varna system. Varna means colours and denotes various races of people. As India is a country of many races having their own language, customs, traditions and dressing, caste system in India was introduced to celebrate the differences between castes and eliminate discrimination. However, the caste system in India only established a complete divide between each caste.

Different Types of Castes in India:

Initially caste system in India was based on the work a person did. Priests in the temples were called Brahmins and regarded highly in the society as they were close to God in work. Secondly, those who were involved in ruling the country, chiefs of army and warriors were called Kshatriyas and regarded next to Brahmins.

Caste system in India defined a third class of people called Vaishyas who were tradesmen, artists and farmers and made up the business class of the society. Below them came the Shudras, people who did manual work and were called labourers. There was a class even below Shudras, the Dalits which referred to people who did cleaning works.

Due to caste system in India, Dalits were regarded as untouchables by the other four castes. Since the kind of work done by a person determined his status in the society, as time went by, a priest’s son became a priest, a king’s son became the next ruler and so on and even before anybody realized, caste system in India was firmly established.

People retained the work line of their older generations to retain their identity in the society. Finally, caste system in India divided people into different classes of status and nobody could move up a class or down a class. It became hereditary and a child was labelled with the caste of his parents’ right at birth.

Effects of Caste System in India:

Caste system in India totally eliminated the freedom of choice of occupation and every person was forced to take up the occupation of his family. Its workings are against that of a democracy which preaches equal rights and opportunities to all while caste system in India inflicts discrimination based on status. Inter-caste marriages were considered immoral and unholy and even punished by death.

Marrying with sub-castes was also not allowed. This resulted in poor health of descendants as marrying within the family or with close relatives led to children being born with immunity disorders. Untouchability came into practise due to caste system in India.

Caste system in India is still prevalent; however, today the impact of caste has diminished subsequently due to education and modernization of the society. People of different castes live side-by-side and inter-caste marriages are encouraged and have become a norm. Still it is necessary that caste system in India is fully abolished in papers and in the minds of people to truly realize and experience democracy in the country. This is possible only when the educated members of the society join hands in denouncing orthodox beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation and take measures against the caste system in India.

The origin of caste system in India can be traced back to the ancient times, more importantly the Mughal Empire. It is hard to pinpoint a specific era wherein the caste system in India became prevalent but it has been mostly seen that just when the Mughal era began to collapse, there was a strata of the society who rose to power and they started this segregation of people into several caste. The British rule farther strengthened the principle of caste system in India and thereby led to this vice getting a strong grip in the Indian society.

Let us check out more details pertaining to the caste system in India.

What is the caste system in India?

The caste system in India essentially refers to segregation of people on the basis of their race, lineage and breed. Therefore, this is the form of segregation wherein people are positioned not on the basis of talent or merit rather by their birth and descent.

The Origin of the Caste System in India:

There are different theories with regards to the origin of caste system in India. Some people believe that the caste system can be traced back to the divine origin. It is also perceived as an extension of the varna system because there are 4 varnas which are:

Brahmins – the top class

The Kshatriyas – the warrior section

The Vaishyas – the traders

The Shudras – the lowest caste

As it is believed that Shudras were made from Lord Brahma’s feet, they were designated to serve others and so they were not allowed to be at par with people of other caste.

Further, the segregation was also done on the basis of occupation. People who were employed doing dirty and filthy jobs were hailed to be untouchables and they were segregated from the upper caste and labelled to be the ones belonging to lower caste.

The Implications of Caste System in India:

There were several implications of the caste system in India. As per the dogma of the caste system, people hailing from the lower caste could only marry within their caste. They were not allowed access to temples and other religious buildings. At the same time, there was also restriction on their use of food and drinks. They were not allowed to touch the same vessels as the ones used by the members of the upper caste. It was believed that if a person from the lower caste would touch a vessel, the food would become polluted.

The treatment met out to members of the lower caste was so harsh that it led to scholars fighting for the need of reforms.

The Solution:

There were a lot of scholars who put forth their voice against the caste system in India. They fought for the need of reforms. Raja Ram Mohan Roy and even Mahatma Gandhi were phenomenal in their work. It is believed that it was with the right awareness that things started taking a turn for the good.

However, we are far away from reaching the state of equality. Even today, the fighting for the need of reforms still needs to go on.

Caste system in India still has its root firmly set. The lower segment of the society does not have easy access to all the facilities and they cannot walk with their head held high. It is important to create education and awareness campaign because such vices can cripple not just the society but the nation as a whole.

The youth needs to understand the futility of the concept behind the caste system in India and come forth with the right ideas to eradicate the problem once and for all.

The caste system in India has been prevalent in Hindus since ancient times. In fact, it has remained the main basis of division of the society and now is the main basis for reservation in education and jobs as well. But who laid down the principles of the caste system in India and what is it that this system has been followed as it is for centuries?

History of Caste System in India:

Early available evidence about the caste system in India shows up in the Vedas, Sanskrit-dialect writings from as back as 1500 BC, which is the base on which the Hindu scriptures rest. The Rigveda, from 1700-1100 BC, also makes reference to caste system in India and shows that social division was acceptable. The Bhagavad Gita, dated as back as 200 BC, also mentions the significance of caste. Likewise, the Laws of Manu or Manusmriti from a similar period characterizes the rights and obligations of the four unique castes or varnas. Therefore, it appears that the Hindu castes system in India started to set at some point somewhere in the range of 1000 and 200 BC.

The caste system in India was not an absolute reality during some part of Indian history. For instance, the prestigious Gupta Dynasty, which ruled from 320 to 550 BC, were from the Vaishya rank as opposed to the Kshatriya. Numerous later rulers likewise were from various caste system in India, for example, the Madurai Nayaks (1559-1739) who were Balijas, commonly known as dealers.

Divisions under the Caste system in India:

There are four major divisions of the caste system in India namely, the Brahmins which are considered as the priests, the Kshatriyas who take on the role of warriors and rulers, the Vaishyas who are the farmers, artisans and traders and lastly the Shudras who are servants and tenants.

The Significance of the Caste System in India:

Practices related with the caste system in India changed through time and crosswise over India, however, all have some regular features which are integral to the caste system in India. The three key everyday issues ruled by caste system in India are marriage, religious worship and meals.

Marriage crosswise over different castes was entirely prohibited in earlier times, a great many people even wedded inside their own sub-position or jati, although a lot has been changed now. Similarly, at feast times, anybody could acknowledge meals from the hands of a Brahmin, however, a Brahmin was not allowed to accept a meal from a lower caste. The lower castes, were in fact not allowed to even drain out water from particular wells which were meant for the upper castes. As far as religion, as the Brahmins managed religious ceremonies and other services related to the festivals as well as funerals. The Kshatriya and Vaisya ranks had all the rights to worship, yet in a few spots, Shudras were not permitted to offer their goods in the temples.

The Darker Side – The Untouchables of the Caste System in India:

Although widely it is considered that the Shudra were considered as the untouchables among the caste system in India, the reality, however, is that it was not the case in earlier times. The people who did not follow the social rules or did something which was not acceptable by the society were punished and termed as untouchables. They were considered as impure and were kept out of villages and had to do their chores themselves. They were not even allowed to eat with others and in fact, it is believed that they were not even cremated as per the rituals. However, with time, the untouchables went on to be referred to as the Shudras which created a divide and imbalance in the Hindu culture leading to frequent revolts by the Shudra for the claim to equality with others.

The caste system in India was originally built in order to divide the society as per the role in the development of the society. However, with time the upper castes started thinking of themselves as the superior ones and look down upon the lower castes with disgrace. But, with changing times, awareness among the people and initiatives by the Government things have started to change. Now, we see a lot many inter-caste and even faith marriages happening which was a prohibited act in earlier times.

Moreover, the Shudras are also allowed to enter the temples and there have been efforts to treat all as equal irrespective of their castes. This is in fact has been guaranteed to us in the Constitution of India as well. However, there are still places where the caste system in India in is practiced blindly and it is only through education that we can spread awareness among the people so as to treat all around them as equal and not to have a bias against person belonging to any particular caste system in India.

Essay on the Caste System in India – Long Essay for Competitive Exams like IAS, IPS and UPSC   (Essay 7 – 1000 Words)

Caste System in India: An Overview:

The caste system in India has been dominant since ancient ages. The caste system in India is supposed to be introduced to the Indian society by the Aryans. Even today, both rural and urban areas remain under the spell of the caste system in India. However, the obsession is much more intense in the rural areas.

The caste system in India divides the whole society into many sections. In other words, the caste system in India results in the social stratification of the people. Our ancient Vedas refer to the Chaturvarna system. Here, Chatur means ‘four’ and Varna means ‘color’. So, basically, the caste system in India relies on four main pillars (castes) in the typical Hindu culture.

People were categorized into these four castes depending upon their skin color. From higher to lower status in the society, the four major divisions of the caste system in India are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. As stated, Brahmins hold the superior most position in Hindu society whereas Shudras were considered to be the lowest, only above the Dalits.

According to the orthodox rules related to the caste system in India, people belonging to one of the four castes could only opt for a particular set of occupations. For instance, Brahmins were basically involved in the academic and priestly tasks. Kshatriyas were known to become Kings and soldiers.

Trading, farming, and merchant tasks were available to Vaishyas. And lastly, the manual labor was assigned to the Shudras. Dalits were considered so low that they were not even included in the caste system in India and were left with the heinous jobs of manual scavenging.

Factors Flourishing the Caste System in India:

If we look at the factors that have contributed to the caste system in India since the ancient time, the first one happens to be patriarchal mindset and superiority complex of a particular section. This type of caste system in India aided the Kings and priests (religious authorities) to exploit the lower sections and manipulate them to their benefits.

Strict adherence to old customs, traditions, and superstitious beliefs, such as the concept of reincarnation and deeds of past life etc., have played a vital role in nourishing the caste system in India. Even in modern times, such conventional practices exist on a large level in society.

Thanks to our politicians banking on the gullible nature of the Indian public, their political careers and election results thrive on the caste system in India. Indian politics has a significant part in the existence and flourishing of the caste system in India.

Lack of education indirectly strengthens the caste system in India. When people are not well educated, their mindset remains rigid and orthodox. They are never able to develop an inner power to question the unfair practices such as the caste system in India which has been going on for thousands of years.

Perilous Effects of Caste System:

The 18 caste system in India has paralyzed the country in countless ways. First of all, it’s a huge blot on the progressive, democratic, and developing image of India. The caste system in India is also a severe violation of the basic human rights of the citizens of India.

The caste system in India prevents a wholesome and uniform growth of the country. Due to the evil practice of casteism, some sections enjoy a lot of social and economic luxuries whereas other sections struggle for their survival.

Untouchability is one of the many outputs of the caste system in India. It is the most degraded form of human behavior that is practiced in our country. But that is just the tip of the Iceberg. For several years, unreported and unpunished atrocities and killings of the lower castes have been going on.

The unshakable caste system in India is the foundation of honor killings in our society. People are so adamantly attached to their castes that when a couple opts for an inter-caste marriage, their ultimate punishment is death. What a shame!

Even in the job sectors, the caste system in India contributes to so many disparities and partialities when it comes to providing equal opportunities to all the citizens of India. Those occupying high ranks in the offices, do not want people from other castes entering into the system. As a result of the caste system in India, the jobs are given on the basis of caste, not talent.

In the rural areas, the situation is worse. People belonging to lower castes are often stripped of their basic income. Their lands are snatched away from them. Due to the caste system in India, rapes, murders, lynching, and ostracized of particular sections are too common to file a report for.

Counteracting the Caste System in India:

After several amendments in the constitutional rights and resulting influence of human rights, the scenario of the caste system in India is finally changing. Huge credit goes to social reformers like Dr. B R Ambedkar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Mahatma Gandhi was also against the practice of untouchability and tried his best to end the caste system in India.

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes have been given special protection in the legal system of India. Many laws have been created to stop any kind of discrimination on the basis of the caste system in India. The constitution has also abolished the shameful practice of untouchability.

Although it has been a controversial topic, the reservation system has been created for the backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes in the education and job sectors to help them progress.

There are acts that make it formidable to employ a person for the job of manual scavenging. To weaken the caste system in India, the constitution states reckless tortures and atrocities against the lower castes as criminal offenses.

To sum up, we can say that, our country is taking honest steps to end the caste system in India. Hopefully, in the coming years, the nation would be able to make a significant amount of progress in this context.

Caste System , Social Issues

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Jati: The Caste System in India

Travelers to India have commented on caste for more than two thousand years. In Indian society the group comes first, unlike our own society that gives so much importance to the individual personality. After a person’s family, the caste commands an individual’s major loyalty. Indians still often identify themselves by the community they belong to and caste is still a factor in marriage selection. In addition, caste has allowed countless groups that have migrated into India to find a place and to play an important role.

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The caste system, as it actually works in India is called jati. The term jati appears in almost all Indian languages and is related to the idea of lineage or kinship group. There are perhaps more than 3000 jatis in India and there is no one all-Indian system of ranking them in order of status. Yet in each local area jati ranking exists and is very much related to purity and pollution. Each jati has some unique job, but not everyone in the jati performs it. Thus there are barbers who do not shave, carpenters who do not build, and Brahmins who do not act as priests. A jati is identified in a local setting by whom its members will accept food and water from and to which jatis its members will give food and water. People will try to marry their sons and daughters to members of their same jati and will give their major loyalty to their jati. A jati will usually be organized into a biradari (a brotherhood), and this organization carries out the business and oversees the working of the jati and has the power to exclude an offender from the jati.

The jati system is not static in which all groups stay in the same position. There is mobility in the system and jatis have changed their position over the centuries of Indian history. However, the jati moves up the social scale as a group and not as individuals. A jati can improve its position in the class system by advancing economically and emulating social groups with money and power. At the same time, a jati can also move up in the caste hierarchy. Mobility in the caste system has been termed “Sanskritization” by the scholar M.N. Srinivas. To gain position in this process, a lower jati copies the habits and behavior patterns of the dominant jati in the area. This may mean a lower jati will change its name to one of a higher jati, adopt vegetarianism, observe more orthodox religious practices , build a temple, and treat its women in a more conservative way. The type of emulation will depend on the habits of the dominant jati being copied. If the jati can gain acceptance for its new name, new history, and new status, it will then marry its daughters to members of the jati in which it is seeking to gain membership. In due time the new position on the social scale will be solidified and accepted by other jatis. This practice is not totally unlike that of immigrant groups coming to America and copying the habits of the WASPs who were in control. In your own community you could probably identify the most prestigious group of people and observe other members of the community copying their behavior in ways such as sending their children to dancing classes and summer camps, and putting braces on their teeth.

The Indian Constitution has outlawed the practice of Untouchability and the Indian Government has established special quotas in schools and Parliament to aid the lowest jatis. Caste discrimination is not permitted in gaining employment and access to educational and other opportunities. But this does not mean that caste is illegal or has faded away. Caste groups as political pressure groups work very well in a democratic system. Caste may provide psychological support that people seem to need. Economists and political scientists are finding that caste is no real barrier to economic development or political democracy.

Authors: Donald Johnson, Jean Johnson.

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Cultural India

Caste system in india.

The Indian society is socio-politically stratified. Caste system has prevailed for ages and arranges the people into social strata or classes. Though this system is similar to the concept of racism that prevails in western countries where people are discriminated on the basis of their skin color, in India, people are socially differentiated on the basis of tribe, region, class, and religion. This means that when a child is born their status on the social hierarchy gets fixed on the basis of the caste he/she is born into. Caste system becomes an obstruction in the growth of the people and nation.

Meaning of Caste

Caste, which is also known as ‘Jati’ or ‘Varna,’ can be defined as the hereditary classes of Hindu society or the classification of individuals into hierarchically ranked classes that becomes the identity of an individual at the time of his/her birth. Going by the Hindu shastras, four hereditary castes exist in India, namely Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra.

The Brahmins are at the top of the caste hierarchy and comprise of scholars and priests. The next in line are Kshatriyas who are regarded to be soldiers and political leaders. These are followed by Vaishyas or merchants. The last in the hierarchy are Sudras who are usually servants, labourers, artisans or peasants. There are also the untouchables who are considered as outcaste and perform occupations like skinning dead animals and scavenging. The untouchables do not fall in the ranked castes.

The people of these classes derive their livelihood from specific occupations and the children born in their families follow the suit, acquiring the appropriate occupation as per their caste or jati, thus, maintaining the hierarchical ranking of occupations and hereditary occupational specialization.

Proper rituals, rules, and regulations govern the occupational pursuits and appropriate social behaviour of the people of these classes, including rules related to marriage as well.

Origin and History of Caste System in India

There are many theories relating to the origin of caste system in the country. While a few of these theories are historical, some are religious or biological. There is no universally accepted theory on caste system.

Going by the ancient Hindu book, the ‘Rig Veda,’ human body was created by ‘Purush’ by destroying himself. The different castes or varnas have been created from different parts of his body. It is said that the Brahmans were created from his head, Kshatriyas originated from his hands, Vaishias from his thighs and his feet created Sudras.

There is another theory pertaining to the origin of the caste system that states castes originated from the different body parts of ‘Brahma’, the Hindu deity referred to as the ‘Creator of the World.’ Going by this theory, inter-caste marriages, mixture of blood or contact of members of different races is regarded as a heinous crime.

Historically, it is believed that the caste system began in India around 1500 B.C during the arrival of Aryans in the country. It is believed that the Aryans, who possessed fair skin, came from northern Asia and southern Europe that contrasted with the indigenous natives of India. They started conquering regions all over north India and the locals were driven south towards jungles of mountains in northern part of the country at the same time. Aryans followed a specific social ordering called Varna Vyavastha which eventually resulted in four hierarchical divisions of the society.

Code of Conduct

Besides the stratification of people in different castes, these castes also followed some strict rules and regulations which were followed by the members of the caste religiously. Rules especially pertaining to religious worship, meals and marriage dominated their lives. However, the least amount of restrictions and regulations were implemented on Brahmins and Vaishyas. The most suffered ones were the Sudras as most of the society laws were applicable on them. Some of them were –

• Brahmins could give food to anyone if they wished but the person from a lower caste was not allowed to even go near the place where a Brahmin was eating.
• Sudras were not allowed to enter the temples or other places of worship whereas the other three classes had full rights to worship.
• Sudras were not allowed to take water from ponds or wells as their touch would pollute the water.
• Inter-caste marriages were forbidden. In many cases even marriages within one’s own sub-caste or jati was not allowed.
• Sudras were also pushed towards the outskirts of the city and were not allowed to live anywhere near the Brahmins, Kshtriyas and Vaishias.

Negative Effects of the Caste System On the Society

• It hinders the choice of occupation as per one’s preferences and individuals are forced to take up the occupation of the family. This resuls in debarring mobility of labour that hindered the growth if the nation.
• Higher classes look down upon the lower classes due to the rigidity of the caste system. This results in hindering the national unity. National interests are overlooked in the course of giving importance to caste interests.
• Cast system stands against the norms of democracy. It works towards suppressing the lower classes resulting in the exploitation of people belonging to the lower caste.
• National development and advancement gets hindered due to the deep rooted caste system.
• Caste system is also held responsible for some religious conversions. The dominance of Brahmins drove Sudras to take up Christianity, Islam and other religions as they were allured by the philosophy and ideology of these communities.

Reforms and Constitutional Provisions

The upper castes treated the lower castes as their slaves. The social stratification resulted in the exploitation of sudras and untouchables. The so-called upper castes held the leadership positions in society, religion, and economy of the nation.

However, a number of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and various others gave their entire life working towards opposing evil practices and educating masses. Thus, when India broke the shackles of slavery and the Constitution was framed, the founding fathers of the constitution added provisions in order to reduce the ill-effects of prevailing caste system in the country.

Constitutional Provisions

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution ideates India as a country that practises political, economical and social justice; a nation where the dignity and equality of status of the citizens is secured.

Discrimination on the basis of caste has been declared illegal by the independent India’s constitution. In 1950, in an attempt to rectify historical injustices, the authorities introduced reservations or quotas in educational institutions and government jobs for the lower castes referred to as scheduled tribes and schedule castes.

The reservation was extended to a group of people who fall between the traditional upper castes and the lowest, referring to then as other backward classes (OBCs) in 1989.

Article 14 of the constitution guarantees equality before law.

Article 15 (1) of the constitution enjoins the State not to make any discrimination on the grounds of caste against any citizen. Article 15 (2) of the constitution mandates that no citizen shall be subjected to any disability and restriction on grounds of race or caste.

Article 17 abolishes the practice of untouchability in any form.

Article 15 (4) and (5) empowers the state to make provisions for reservation in educational institutions. Article 16 (4), 16 (4A), 16 (4B) and Article 335 empowers to State to make reservations in appointments for posts in favour of Schedule Castes.

Article 330 provides for reservation of seats in Lok Sabha for Schedule Castes. The same is applied under Article 332 in state assemblies and Article 243D and Article 340T in the local self-government bodies.

The purpose of these reservations were to improve the situation of the underprivileged classes as a temporary affirmative, but over the years, it has become a vote-grabbing exercise for politicians who woe caste groups for their electoral gains in the name of reservation.

Article 46 of the constitutions makes sure that they are protected from social injustice and exploitation of all forms.

Acts That Ban Caste System

In order to make sure that the mandates laid by the constitution are fulfilled, a number of other acts were also passed in order to put an end to the discriminatory and exploitive practices against the lower classes. Following are some of those acts that ensure social justice for all.

• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Bill 2013.
• The Untouchability (Offenses) Act 1955. In 1976, it was renamed as Protection of Civil Rights Act.
• Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989.

Contemporary India

The scenario within the country has undergone a lot of change with the progress in technology, education, social outlook, urbanisation, and modernization. With the spread of urbanization and rowing secular education, influence of caste has decreased. This has occurred especially in cities where inter-caste marriages and people of different castes living side-by-side in societies have become common.

However, despite the growing changes the caste identity still holds a lot of importance in the society. The last name of an individual strongly indicates the caste to which a person belongs. Caste-related violence has also been witnessed by the country after independence.

Only the political parties cannot be blamed for this, the prejudice lies in the minds of the citizens of the country. The country still struggles with the problem of the caste system. A lot of work needs to be done in order to uproot the evils of the caste system from the country. The laws and acts can only provide protection, but the change in perception and attitude has to be brought by the society.

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Caste System in India – Origin, Features, and Problems

Last updated on July 15, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Table of Contents

Jana → Jati → Caste

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The word caste derives from the Spanish and Portuguese “casta”, means “race, lineage, or breed”. Portuguese employed casta in the modern sense when they applied it to hereditary Indian social groups called as ‘jati’ in India.  ‘Jati’ originates from the root word ‘Jana’ which implies taking birth. Thus, caste is concerned with birth.

According to Anderson and Parker, “Caste is that extreme form of social class organization in which the position of individuals in the status hierarchy is determined by descent and birth .”

How did Caste System originate in India: Various Theories

There are many theories like traditional, racial, political, occupational, evolutionary etc which try to explain the caste system in India.

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1.Traditional Theory

According to this theory, the caste system is of divine origin. It says the caste system is an extension of the varna system, where the 4 varnas originated from the body of Bramha.

At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and came from Brahma’s head. Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, came from his arms. Vaishyas, or the traders, were created from his thighs. At the bottom were the Shudras, who came from Brahma’s feet. The mouth signifies its use for preaching, learning etc, the arms – protections, thighs – to cultivate or business, feet – helps the whole body, so the duty of the Shudras is to serve all the others. The sub-castes emerged later due to intermarriages between the 4 varnas.

The proponents of this theory cite Purushasukta of Rigveda, Manusmriti etc to support their stand.

2. Racial Theory

The Sanskrit word for caste is varna which means colour. The caste stratification of the Indian society had its origin in the chaturvarna system – Brahmins, Kashtriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Indian sociologist D.N. Majumdar writes in his book, “ Races and Culture in India ”, the caste system took its birth after the arrival of Aryans in India.

Rig Vedic literature stresses very significantly the differences between the Arya and non-Aryans (Dasa), not only in their complexion but also in their speech, religious practices, and physical features.

The Varna system prevalent during the Vedic period was mainly based on division of labour and occupation. The three classes, Brahma, Kshatra and Vis are frequently mentioned in the Rig Veda. Brahma and Kshatra represented the poet-priest and the warrior-chief. Vis comprised all the common people. The name of the fourth class, the ‘Sudra’, occurs only once in the Rig Veda. The Sudra class represented domestic servants.

3. Political Theory

According to this theory, the caste system is a clever device invented by the Brahmins in order to place themselves on the highest ladder of social hierarchy.

Dr. Ghurye states, “Caste is a Brahminic child of Indo-Aryan culture cradled in the land of the Ganges and then transferred to other parts of India.”

The Brahmins even added the concept of spiritual merit of the king, through the priest or purohit in order to get the support of the ruler of the land.

4. Occupational Theory

Caste hierarchy is according to the occupation. Those professions which were regarded as better and respectable made the persons who performed them superior to those who were engaged in dirty professions.

According to Newfield, “Function and function alone is responsible for the origin of caste structure in India.” With functional differentiation there came in occupational differentiation and numerous sub-castes such as Lohar(blacksmith), Chamar(tanner), Teli(oil-pressers).

5. Evolution Theory

According to this theory, the caste system did not come into existence all of a sudden or at a particular date. It is the result of a long process of social evolution.

• Hereditary occupations;
• The desire of the Brahmins to keep themselves pure;
• The lack of rigid unitary control of the state;
• The unwillingness of rulers to enforce a uniform standard of law and custom
• The ‘Karma’ and ‘Dharma’ doctrines also explain the origin of caste system. Whereas the Karma doctrine holds the view that a man is born in a particular caste because of the result of his action in the previous incarnation, the doctrine of Dharma explains that a man who accepts the caste system and the principles of the caste to which he belongs, is living according to Dharma. Confirmation to one’s own dharma also remits on one’s birth in the rich high caste and violation gives a birth in a lower and poor caste.
• Ideas of exclusive family, ancestor worship, and the sacramental meal;
• Clash of antagonistic cultures particularly of the patriarchal and the matriarchal systems;
• Clash of races, colour prejudices and conquest;
• Deliberate economic and administrative policies followed by various conquerors
• Geographical isolation of the Indian peninsula;
• Foreign invasions;
• Rural social structure.

Note: It is from the post-Vedic period, the old distinction of Arya and Sudra appears as Dvija and Sudra, The first three classes are called Dvija (twice-born) because they have to go through the initiation ceremony which is symbolic of rebirth. “The Sudra was called “ekajati” (once born).

Note: Caste system developed on rigid lines post Mauryan period , especially after the establishment of Sunga dynasty by Pushyamitra Sunga (184 BC). This dynasty was an ardent patron of ‘Brahminism’. Through Manusmriti, Brahmins once again succeeded in organizing the supremacy and imposed severe restrictions on the Sudras. Manusmriti mentioned that, ‘the Sudra, who insults a twice-born man, shall have his tongue cut out’.

Note: Chinese scholar Hieun Tsang, who visited India in 630 AD , writes that, “Brahminism dominated the country, caste ruled the social structure and the persons following unclean occupations like butchers, scavengers had to live outside the city”.

Principal features of caste system in India

• Segmental Division of Society: The society is divided into various small social groups called castes. Each of these castes is a well developed social group, the membership of which is determined by the consideration of birth.
• Hierarchy: According to Louis Dumont, castes teach us a fundamental social principle of hierarchy. At the top of this hierarchy is the Brahmin caste and at the bottom is the untouchable caste. In between are the intermediate castes, the relative positions of which are not always clear.
• Endogamy: Endogamy is the chief characteristic of caste, i.e. the members of a caste or sub-caste should marry within their own caste or sub-caste. The violation of the rule of endogamy would mean ostracism and loss of caste. However, hypergamy (the practice of women marrying someone who is wealthier or of higher caste or social status.) and hypogamy (marriage with a person of lower social status) were also prevalent. Gotra exogamy is also maintained in each caste. Every caste is subdivided into different small units on the basis of gotra. The members of one gotra are believed to be successors of a common ancestor-hence prohibition of marriage within the same gotra.
• Hereditary status and occupation: Megasthenes, the Greek traveller to India in 300 B. C., mentions hereditary occupation as one of the two features of caste system, the other being endogamy.
• Restriction on Food and Drink: Usually a caste would not accept cooked food from any other caste that stands lower than itself in the social scale, due to the notion of getting polluted. There were also variously associated taboos related to food. The cooking taboo, which defines the persons who may cook the food. The eating taboo which may lay down the ritual to be followed at meals. The commensal taboo which is concerned with the person with whom one may take food. Finally, the taboo which has to do with the nature of the vessel (whether made of earth, copper or brass) that one may use for drinking or cooking. For eg: In North India Brahmin would accept pakka food (cooked in ghee) only from some castes lower than his own. However, no individual would accept kachcha(cooked in water) food prepared by an inferior caste. Food prepared by Brahmin is acceptable to all, the reason for which domination of Brahmins in the hotel industry for a long time. The beef was not allowed by any castes, except harijans.
• A Particular Name: Every caste has a particular name though which we can identify it. Sometimes, an occupation is also associated with a particular caste.
•   The Concept of Purity and Pollution: The higher castes claimed to have ritual, spiritual and racial purity which they maintained by keeping the lower castes away through the notion of pollution. The idea of pollution means a touch of lower caste man would pollute or defile a man of higher caste. Even his shadow is considered enough to pollute a higher caste man.
• Jati Panchayat: The status of each caste is carefully protected, not only by caste laws but also by the conventions. These are openly enforced by the community through a governing body or board called Jati Panchayat. These Panchayats in different regions and castes are named in a particular fashion such as Kuldriya in Madhya Pradesh and Jokhila in South Rajasthan.

Varna vs Caste – The difference

Varna and caste are 2 different concepts, though some people wrongly consider it the same.

Functions of the caste system

• It continued the traditional social organization of India.
• It has accommodated multiple communities by ensuring each of them a monopoly of a specific means of livelihood.
• Provided social security and social recognition to individuals. It is the individual’s caste that canalizes his choice in marriage, plays the roles of the state-club, the orphanage and the benefits society. Besides, it also provides him with health insurance benefits. It even provides for his funeral.
• It has handed over the knowledge and skills of the hereditary occupation of a caste from one generation to another, which has helped the preservation of culture and ensured productivity.
• Caste plays a crucial role in the process of socialization by teaching individuals the culture and traditions, values and norms of their society.
• It has also led to interdependent interaction between different castes, through jajmani relationships. Caste acted as a trade union and protected its members from the exploitation.
• Promoted political stability, as Kshatriyas were generally protected from political competition, conflict and violence by the caste system.
• Maintained racial purity through endogamy.
• Specialization led to quality production of goods and thus promoted economic development. For eg: Many handicraft items of India gained international recognition due to this.

Dysfunctions of the caste system

• The caste system is a check on economic and intellectual advancement and a great stumbling block in the way of social reforms because it keeps economic and intellectual opportunities confined to a certain section of the population only.
• It undermines the efficiency of labour and prevents perfect mobility of labour, capital and productive effort
• It perpetuates the exploitation of the economically weaker and socially inferior castes, especially the untouchables.
• It has inflicted untold hardships on women through its insistence on practices like child-marriage, prohibition of widow-remarriage, seclusion of women etc.
• It opposes real democracy by giving a political monopoly to Kshatriyas in the past and acting as a vote bank in the present political scenario. There are political parties which solely represent a caste. eg: BSP was formed by Kanshi Ram mainly to represent SC, ST and OBC.
• It has stood in the way of national and collective consciousness and proved to be a disintegrating rather than an integrating factor. Caste conflicts are widely prevalent in politics, reservation in jobs and education , inter-caste marriages etc. eg: Demand for Jat reservation, agitation by Patidar community.
• It has given scope for religious conversion. The lower caste people are getting converted into Islam and Christianity due to the tyranny of the upper castes.
• The caste system by compelling an individual to act strictly in accordance with caste norms stands in the way of modernization, by opposing change.

Is the caste system unique to India?

The caste system is found in other countries like Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Caste-like systems are also found in countries like Indonesia, China, Korea, Yemen and certain countries in Africa, Europe as well.

But what distinguishes Indian caste system from the rest is the core theme of purity and pollution, which is either peripheral or negligible in other similar systems of the world. In Yemen, there exists a hereditary caste, Al-Akhdam who are kept as perennial manual workers. Burakumin in Japan, originally members of outcast communities in the Japanese feudal era, includes those with occupations considered impure or tainted by death.

However, India is unique in some aspects.

• India has had a cultural continuity that no other civilization has had. The ancient systems, religions, cultures of other civilizations have been mostly gone. In India, history is present and even the external empires mostly co-opted the system rather than changing them.
• The caste has been merged into a modern religion, making it hard to remove.
• India has integrated multiple systems more easily. What is known as “caste” in Portuguese/English is actually made of 3 distinct components –  jati, jana, varna.  Jati is an occupational identification. Jana is an ethnic identification. Varna is a philosophical identification. These have been more tightly merged over the centuries.
• In the world’s most transformative period – of the past 3 centuries, India spent most of it under European colonialism. Thus, India lost a lot of time changing. Most of the changes to the system came only in 1950 when India became a republic .

To summarize theoretically, caste as a cultural phenomenon (i.e., as a matter of ideology or value system) is found only in India while when it is viewed as a structural phenomenon, it is found in other societies too.

There are four sociological approaches to caste by distin­guishing between the two levels of theoretical formulation, i.e., cultural and structural, and universalistic and particularistic. These four ap­proaches are cultural-universalistic, cultural-particularistic, structural- universalistic and structural-particularistic.

• Structural-particularistic view of caste has maintained that the caste system is restricted to the Indian society
• Structural-universalistic category holds that caste in India is a general phenomenon of a closed form of social stratification found across the world.
• The third position of sociologists like Ghurye who treat caste as a cultural universalistic phenome­non maintains that caste-like cultural bases of stratifica­tion are found in most traditional societies. Caste in India is a special form of status-based social stratification. This viewpoint was early formulated by Max Weber.
• The cultural-particularistic view is held by Louis Dumont who holds that caste is found only in India.

Is the caste system unique to Hinduism?

Caste-based differences are practised in other religions like Nepalese Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. But the main difference is – caste system in Hinduism is mentioned in its scriptures while other religions adopted casteism as a part of socialization or religious conversions. In other words, the caste system in Hinduism is a religious institution while it is social in others.

As a general rule, higher castes converts became higher castes in other religions while lower caste converts acquired lower caste positions.

• Islam – Some upper caste Hindus converted to Islam and became part of the governing group of Sultanates and Mughal Empire, who along with Arabs, Persians and Afghans came to be known as Ashrafs . Below them are the middle caste Muslims called Ajlafs , and the lowest status is those of the
• Christianity – In Goa, Hindu converts became Christian Bamonns while Kshatriya and Vaishya became Christian noblemen called Chardos. Those Vaishya who could not get admitted into the Chardo caste became Gauddos, and Shudras became Sudirs. Dalits who converted to Christianity became Mahars and Chamars
• Buddhism – various forms of the caste system are practised in several Buddhist countries, mainly in Sri Lanka, Tibet, and Japan where butchers, leather and metal workers and janitors are sometimes regarded as being impure.
• Jainism – There are Jain castes wherein all the members of a particular caste are Jains. At the same time, there have been Jain divisions of several Hindu castes.
• Sikhism – Sikh literature mention Varna  as  Varan , and  Jati  as Zat. Eleanor Nesbitt, a professor of Religion, states that the  Varan  is described as a class system, while  Zat  has some caste system features in Sikh literature.  All Gurus of Sikhs married within their  Zat , and they did not condemn or break with the convention of endogamous marriages.

Caste Divisions – The future?

The caste system in India is undergoing changes due to progress in education, technology, modernization and changes in general social outlook. In spite of the general improvement in conditions of the lower castes, India has still a long way to go, to root out the evils of the caste system from the society.

References:

• https://www.sociologyguide.com
• Sociology for Nurses by Shama Lohumi
• Indian Social system by Ram Ahuja

Article contributed by: Rehna R. Rehna is a UPSC Civil Services Exam 2016 Rank Holder.

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Reader Interactions

August 18, 2017 at 3:14 pm

wow…..exclnt…

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August 18, 2017 at 10:29 pm

i would like to receive the new posts updates to my email. i didnt find the option to join or subscribe….

August 19, 2017 at 8:53 am

Hi, Open clearias.com from a new browser (or clear your cache) and you will see the option for free email subscription.

August 29, 2017 at 4:37 pm

Wonderful explanation in all dimensions.

February 11, 2018 at 11:58 am

April 28, 2018 at 11:03 am

very nice.. matter is exactly what i was searching to teach my students..

August 18, 2018 at 9:14 am

You guys must see this video strong message.

https://youtu.be/AKTdd6GgnQw

November 9, 2021 at 7:45 pm

Good balanced writeup. Would have liked some speculation on the future of Caste in India, the appearance of the ‘fifth’ caste of Untouchables etc. But thanks.

December 24, 2021 at 10:02 pm

“All Gurus of Sikhs married within their Zat, and they did not condemn or break with the convention of endogamous marriages.” I would like to recommend a correction in this sentence given in the article. All of the Sikh Gurus condemned the caste system and the concept of endogamous marriages. The tenth Sikh Guru bestowed the last names of Kaur and Singh so that the concept of caste could be removed. Another reason for this was stop the practice of forcing females to take up the surname of their husband after marriage.

March 19, 2022 at 6:47 pm

A pure propaganda without covering any view from the natives and covers only the colonial views and you wonder why the IAS officers hate this country and dont have speck of nationalism. Next some serious question, if caste existed for thousands of years why it has its origin in spanish or porteguse race system? basically it shows europeans shoved their race system in the existing indian social system. So how does it make it a old system it is just a new system created by colonialist but blamed on indians for it. Next Both Varna and Jati are different from colonial caste. It seems govt needs to change syllabus otherwise our country will never develop.

February 4, 2023 at 10:01 pm

Exactly said. Wonder how aspiring IAS candidates are brainwashed with this false information undermining the original societal demarcation, and creating false propaganda. British have created the caste system to create infighting in India. The syllabus needs to change asap to reflect the truth.

January 7, 2023 at 9:13 pm

informative love it, thankyou <3

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Essay on Casteism in India for Students and Children

500 words essay on casteism in india.

India is a country which is known to be very cultural throughout the world. However, the culture rooted deep in the country also has various problems. We are a country that has a prevalent problem of Casteism. Casteism refers to discrimination based on the caste of a person. It is a great social evil that needs to be done away with. It is responsible for stopping the country from developing. Furthermore, it also causes oppression which is very bad for society.

Impact on Life

Basically, the religious and social circles dictate Casteism in India. Mostly, people living in rural areas are facing this problem tremendously. This problem is centuries old and needs time to be abolished completely.

During the early times, the villages were segregated on the basis of their caste. They were made to live in separated colonies. Even the place for buying food or getting water was segregated from those of the upper castes. For instance, the highest caste i.e. Brahmin never touched anything which belonged to a person of a lower caste. Moreover, they were denied entry into temples as they though them to be impure.

When we look at the present scenario, the impact may not be as severe as in the early periods, but it is still worrying. The people of the upper caste are very much looked up to and given access to all amenities. Whereas, on the other hand, the people of lower caste are not given such respect in certain areas even today. Sometimes, they don’t even get the same rights.

Furthermore, inter-caste marriage is considered such a taboo. It is almost a crime to marry someone you love from the other caste. While the people in urban areas have broadened their thinking, rural ones have still not. The villagers still do not believe in this concept and it also gives rise to honor killings.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

A Social Evil

Casteism is a great social evil that must be fought against. We need to get rid of this unjust system. Moreover, it only exploits the lower caste sector and mends out ruthless treatment. The lower caste people are working hard and making a place for themselves in society today.

We need to abolish this social evil right away for a progressive India. Just because a person is born into a lower caste family, does not mean it will determine their value. Caste is nothing but a concept with no reference to the worth of a person. Therefore, we must not discriminate on the basis of a caste of a person.

The government also tries to help the lower caste people through their reservation system. As they do not get equal opportunities, the government ensures they get it through the reservation. However, it also has its negative points. It kills the opportunity for deserving people and hampers the growth by barring actual talent.

FAQs on Casteism in India

Q.1 How does Casteism impact life?

A.1 Casteism impacts the quality of life of a person. It deprives them of equal opportunities. Further, it also discriminates against them and makes them feel isolated from society. People don’t feel like they belong when we discriminate against them. Moreover, people also kill others in the name of honor killing due to Casteism.

Q.2 How is Casteism a social evil?

A.2 Casteism is a social evil which hinders the growth of a country. You see it is a very regressive concept that determines a person’s worth based on their value, giving no attention to their talent and qualifications. It also causes violence and hatred amongst communities.

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Caste System Essay

Caste system is a social evil that is present in the Indian society since the ancient times. It has been criticized immensely by the people over the years. However, it still has a strong hold on the social and political system of the country. A number of social evils have been prevalent in the Indian society since centuries and caste system is one of them. The concept has undergone certain changes over the centuries and is not as stringent as it was in the earlier times. However, it still impacts the religious, social and political lives of the people in the country.

Long and Short Essay on Caste System in India in English

We have provided below short and long essay on caste system in India for your knowledge and information.

After going through these essays you will know where from the caste system originated and its impact on the society and nation’s growth.

You will also know what steps should be taken to eliminate caste discrimination.

You can choose a Caste System in India Essay from the following and present it during your school/college events where you need to write an essay, take part in a debate, give speech etc.

Caste System in India Essay 1 (100 words)

Caste system in India has been prevalent since the ancient times. However, the concept has been moulded and evolved over the centuries by those in power. It underwent a major change particularly during the Mughal Rule and the British Raj. Nevertheless, people were and are still treated differently based on their caste. The social system basically has two varied concepts – Varna and Jati.

While Varna refers to the four broad social divisions namely Brahmins (teacher/priests), Kshatriyas (kings/warriors), Vaishyas (traders) and Shudras (labourers/servants), it got degenerated into Jatis, determined by birth. Jati is generally derived from the trade or occupation of the community, and is known to be hereditary.

Caste System in India Essay 2 (150 words)

India has been under the spell of the evil caste system since centuries. This system finds its roots in the ancient times and has undergone change over the time. The rulers of medieval, early modern and modern India moulded it to suit their convenience. Those belonging to the higher castes were treated with high regard and those from the lower caste were looked down upon all along.

In today’s times, caste system in India has become the basis of reservation when it comes to acquiring education and securing jobs.

The social system in India basically comprises two different concepts, Varna and Jati. Varna is said to be the class of the person. Under this there are four categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Jati on the other hand is said to be a person’s caste and finds reference to a person’s birth. There are thousands of Jatis and these are generally determined by the traditional occupation of a community.

Caste System in India Essay 3 (200 words)

The origin of caste system in India dates back to the ancient times. There are two different perspectives for its origin in the country. These are either based on socio-economic factors or ideological factors.

The first school of thought is based on the ideological factors and as per this, caste system finds its base in four Varnas. The perspective formed centuries ago was especially common among the scholars from the British colonial era. This school of thought categorises people based on their class. There are basically four classes – Brahmins (teachers/priests) , Kshatriyas (kings/warriors), Vaishyas (traders) and Shudras (labourers/servants).

The second school of thought is based on the socio-economic factors and as per this the system is rooted in the political, economic and material history of India. This perspective was common among the post-colonial era scholars. This school of thought categorises people based on their caste, which is determined by the traditional occupation of their community.

Caste system has had a strong hold in India and continues to do so. Today, this system has become the basis of reservation in education and jobs. Due to political reasons where castes constitute vote banks for parties; the reservation system is still intact in the country.

Caste System in India Essay 4 (250 words)

Caste System in India divides people into four different categories – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. It is believed that these groups came into being from Brahma, the Hindu God of creation. Priests, intellectuals and teachers come under the category of Brahmins. They stand at the top of the hierarchy and it is believed that they came from Brahma’s head. Next in line are the Kshatriyas who are the rulers and warriors. These apparently came from God’s arms. Merchants, traders and farmers come under the Vaishya category and are said to have come from His thighs and the labour class forms a part of the fourth category that is the Shudras – these are said to have come from Brahma’s feet.

Then there is yet another category which was added later on and is now known as the dalits or the untouchables. These comprise of the street sweepers or cleaners. This category was considered to be outcastes.

These main categories are further divided into as many as 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, based on their occupation.

As per Manusmriti, the most significant book on the Hindu laws, Varna system came into being to establish order and regularity in the society. The concept is said to be 3,000 years old and distinguishes people based on their dharma (duty) and karma (work).

The religious as well as social life of the people in the country has been influenced largely by the caste system since centuries and the trend continues today, with political parties misusing it for their own ends.

Caste System in India Essay 5 (300 words)

Caste system has been prevalent in our country since time immemorial and continues to have a strong hold on the society and political system. People have been divided in four different categories of class – Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Historically it is believed that this social system came into being in the country in around 1500 BC with the arrival of the Aryans. It is said that Aryans introduced this system in order to control the local population at that time. In order to make things systematic, they defined main roles and assigned them to groups of people. However, in the 20 th century, this theory was dismissed as it was stated that Aryans never invaded the country.

As per Hindu theologians, it is said that this system came into being with the Hindu God Brahma who is known as the creator of the universe. As per this theory, the people who hold the highest stature in the society that is the priests and teachers came from Brahma’s head, the ones from the second category were the warriors who came from God’s arm, those belonging to the third category, that is, the traders and merchants came from God’s thighs and the peasants and workers, that is, those belonging to the lowest category came from Brahma’s feet.

The actual origin of the caste system is thus not known yet. Manusmriti, the most ancient text on Hinduism, however has cited this system in 1,000 BC. In the ancient times, the communities followed the class system stringently. While the people from the upper classes enjoyed several privileges, those from the lower class were deprived of many things and thus suffered immensely. Though not as stringent as in the earlier times, even today a lot of discrimination is done based on a person’s caste.

Caste System in India Essay 6 (400 words)

India has been under the clutches of the evil caste system since the ancient period though the exact origin of this system isn’t known as there are different theories that state different stories about its initiation. As per Varna system, people were broadly divided into four different categories. Here is a look at the people who fall under each of these categories:

• Brahmins – Priests, Teachers and Scholars
• Kshatriyas – Rulers and Warriors
• Vaishyas – Farmers, Merchants and Traders
• Shudras – Labourers

The Varna system later got degenerated into caste system. The society was divided into 3,000 castes and as many as 25,000 sub-castes based on the occupation of the community that a person was born into.

As per one theory, the Varna system initiated in the country as the Aryans arrived here in around 1500 BC. It is said that Aryans introduced this system to have control over people and make things work more systematically. They assigned different roles to different groups of people. As per the Hindu theologians, on the other hand, the system initiated with Brahma, the Hindu God who is known as the creator of the universe.

As Varna system degenerated into caste system, a lot of discrimination was done on the basis of caste. People belonging to the higher castes were treated with great respect and enjoyed several privileges while those from the lower classes were scorned at and were deprived of several things. Inter-caste marriages were strictly forbidden.

The caste system in urban India today has declined immensely. Though, people from the lower classes are still not respected in the society as the government offers several benefits to them. Caste has become the basis of reservation in the country. People belonging to lower classes have a reserved quota in the education sector and also when it comes to securing government jobs.

After the departure of the British, the Constitution of India banned the discrimination based on the caste system. It is then that the quota system was introduced for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. BR Ambedkar who authored the Constitution of India was himself a Dalit and the concept of social justice for protecting the interests of these communities on the lower rung of society was considered to be a great move in the Indian history, though now it is being misused for narrow political reasons by different parties in the country.

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Essay on Casteism in India

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Essay on Caste Discrimination in India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Caste Discrimination in India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

100 Words Essay on Caste Discrimination in India

Introduction.

Caste discrimination in India is a long-standing issue. It is a form of bias where people are divided into different social groups, known as castes. This system often leads to inequality and unfair treatment.

Origins of Caste System

The caste system began thousands of years ago in India. It was initially based on occupation, but over time, it became hereditary, causing deep-rooted divisions in society.

Effects of Caste Discrimination

It’s crucial to eradicate caste discrimination for a fair and inclusive society. Education, awareness, and strict laws can play a significant role in this process.

250 Words Essay on Caste Discrimination in India

Manifestations of caste discrimination.

Caste discrimination manifests in various forms, from social ostracism and economic deprivation to physical violence and educational disparities. The lower castes, often referred to as the Scheduled Castes or Dalits, face the brunt of this discrimination. They are denied access to public services, educational institutions, and job opportunities.

Legislative Measures and Their Effectiveness

India has enacted numerous laws to eradicate caste discrimination, such as the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. However, the efficacy of these laws is questionable. Despite the legislation, the caste system remains deeply ingrained in Indian society, perpetuated by cultural norms, political manipulation, and economic disparity.

500 Words Essay on Caste Discrimination in India

Caste discrimination in India is a deeply rooted social issue that has been prevalent for centuries. This hierarchical system, initially intended for division of labor, has morphed into a tool of oppression, perpetuating inequality and social injustice.

The Caste System: A Historical Perspective

The caste system in India, dating back to around 1500 BCE, was initially based on individuals’ professions. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary system, with four primary castes or ‘Varnas’: Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (farmers, traders, and merchants), and Shudras (laborers). Outside of this structure were the ‘Dalits’ or ‘Untouchables’, subjected to the most severe forms of discrimination.

Caste Discrimination and Human Rights

Caste-based discrimination is a gross violation of human rights. It contradicts the principles of equality and non-discrimination, fundamental to human dignity. International bodies like the United Nations have recognized caste-based discrimination as a form of human rights abuse and called for its elimination.

Legal Framework and Government Initiatives

The Indian Constitution prohibits caste discrimination and promotes social justice through affirmative action policies, like reservation quotas for lower castes in education and government jobs. However, the implementation of these laws and policies has been challenging due to deep-seated societal biases.

Challenges in Eradicating Caste Discrimination

Caste discrimination in India is a pressing issue that requires collective societal effort for its eradication. While legal measures are crucial, they must be complemented by social reforms. Education and awareness can play a pivotal role in challenging caste-based prejudices. The fight against caste discrimination is not just about legal and policy changes; it is about fostering a culture of respect, equality, and social justice. It is about transforming mindsets and challenging the status quo, to create an inclusive society where every individual is valued for their abilities, not their caste.

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Essay On Caste Based Reservation In India | Essay on Caste Based Reservation In India for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay On Caste Based Reservation In India:  Dr BR Ambedkar, Mayawati, Abhijeet Sawant, PT Usha, we all know these notable people of society. They all are known for their distinguished effort and hard work. But do their caste or social backwardness has to do anything with their work as they all belong to the weaker sections of society? Are they at their stature because their caste had a reservation? Indeed the answer to all these questions is ‘no’.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Caste Based Reservation In India for Kids and Students in English

Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Caste Based Reservation In India’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on the Caste Based Reservation In India of 400-500 words. This long essay about Caste Based Reservation In India is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Caste Based Reservation In India of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.

Long Essay on Caste Based Reservation In India 500 Words in English

Below we have given a long essay on Caste Based Reservation In India of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.

Reservation in India is the process of setting aside a certain percentage of seats (vacancies) in government institutions for the members of backward and under-represented communities. Reservation is a form of quota-based affirmative action. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are the primary beneficiaries of the reservation policies under the Constitution. The concept was enshrined in the Constitution to allow the so called deprived classes to come at par with the so called privileged ones.

Initially, the reservation policy was only for 10 years after the independence to uplift the socially and under-privileged to stabilise them economically. Yet, even after 68 years of independence the Government has failed to truly uplift the backward sections properly.

The reservation system finds its origin in the age-old caste system of India. The caste system at its birth was meant to divide people on the basis of their occupation like teaching and preaching (Brahmins), kingship and war (Kshatriya), and lastly business (Vaish) etc, but soon it became an instrument to divide the society on caste basis, creating various walls between different sections of the society. After independence, the primary objective of the reservation was to uplift the untouchable who were the most marginalised.

But today we stand divided widely into Hindu, Muslim, SC, ST, OBC with newer reservations coming up from different sections of society like Christians, jats, Pandits, Tribals etc. Unfortunately, the policy has failed to achieve the desired aim of bringing the non-privileged classes into the mainstream. It has instead marginalised them all the more and has deepened the rift created by the caste system even more. Moreover, today it is not taken as a right but it is considered more of a privilege by people, provoking unending debates.

The 93 rd Amendment and the recent declaration of the government for reservation in institutions of higher education has stirred the anger of the youth in general all over the country. The UGC cell helps universities implement the reservation policy in student admission and staff recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching jobs. Protests from various sections of society had come stating that development of one section of the society should not be at the cost of the other section.

They have argued caste category cannot decide whether he/she is eligible for admission or not, what matters is merit. Further some have argued that in some cases children belonging to the backward classes do not even possess the necessary merit, thereby snatching away one seat, just because they come from a particular religion or caste for’which our government provides reservation.

Recent ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010 got majority support but it has not been voted on the bill as yet. Its opposers say gender cannot be held as a basis for reservation alone. True, as Pratibha Patil, Meera Kumar, Sonia Gandhi and other women do not hold their position merely because of their gender reservation.

If one takes a look at the issue objectively, one will realise that the intention behind reservation is not faulty at all but it is the implementation and application that has proved ineffective. The benefit of reservation has failed to trickle down to the lowest section of the society. Also, it has killed the spirit of brotherhood and healthy competition.

Short Essay on Caste Based Reservation In India 200 Words in English

Below we have given a short essay on Caste Based Reservation In India is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.

India can take a lesson from the United States in this regard. For instance, US has long abandoned the quota system for affirmative action. They have put in place a point system under which candidates from Blacks, backward regions, immigrants etc., are given a few extra points in admission and appointment procedures. Caste of a person cannot be the sole criteria for ascertaining whether a particular caste is backward or not. Determinants such as poverty, occupation, place of habitation could be the relevant factors to be taken into consideration. All sections of the society that need development and financial aids should be clearly identified. Then to uplift them with free-education or incentives and financial assistance should be provided. And if a class reaches the state of progress where reservation is not necessary then government should delete that caste from the list of backward classes.

With time, people have started misusing this policy. There are many examples of people making false documents just to get a seat in a college or a job. Politicians are playing a major role in fueling reservation policy. The reason behind this is that SC and ST make upto 33% of the population of our country. Politicians fear losing out on their vote bank if they make changes against SC and ST.

Let us not do such that these policies hinder the growth of our economy. Need of the hour is to remove this evil. Making education mandatory and free for all till the age of 15 is one good resolution that has been adopted. Other could be proposing reservation based on economic status and providing opportunities to students to earn while they study. Also from time to time such laws must be evaluated by experts and their impact on the development of under-privileged, and over all society must be assessed. Let us believe in what Mahavira has said

“If you want to cultivate a habit, do it without any reservation till it is firmly established…

Caste Based Reservation In India Essay Word Meanings for Simple Understanding

• Affirmative – positive, confirmatory
• Beneficiaries – receiver, a person who derives advantage from something
• Enshrined – place, preserve
• Deprived – disadvantaged, poor
• Marginalised – treat as insignificant
• Privilege – freedom, license, benefit, advantage
• Trickle – gradually benefit the poorest
• Hinder – delay, hamper, obstruct
• Resolution – decision, formal expression
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"The Shroud" and Other Short Stories

By munshi premchand, "the shroud" and other short stories the caste system in india.

India's caste system is often seen as the most prominent global example of caste and one of the world's oldest systems of social hierarchy. It refers to a complex system for dividing people into hierarchical social groups on the basis of kinship, occupation, and religious purity.

Scholars say that the caste system is more than 2,000 years old and has its origins in ancient Hinduism, the religion of the majority of people in India. In this context some ancient texts referred to the division of Hindus into four large caste categories, or varnas : the Brahmins, who were traditionally priests and teachers; the Ksyatriyas, who were rulers, warriors, and administrators; the Vaisyas, who worked as merchants, traders and farmers; and the Shudras, who were laborers and artisans. These large castes were divided into thousands of smaller sub-castes. Finally, the Dalits, known as the "untouchables," were placed outside of the varna system, since they performed tasks that were considered to be ritually impure. In early-modern India, the castes were governed by strict rules limiting social interaction and marriage between different groups.

However, while the basis for the caste system may exist in some ancient Hindu texts, many historians say that this system of social hierarchy was far less important, and social identities were far more flexible, prior to interventions of the Mughal Empire and the British Raj. In particular, recent scholarship shows British colonial rulers made caste into the defining feature of Indian social life. According to Sanjoy Chakravorty, the author of The Truth About Us: The Politics of Information from Manu to Modi , the "social categories of religion and caste as they are perceived in modern-day India were developed during the British colonial rule, at a time when information was scarce and the coloniser's power over information was absolute."

In 1950, India's caste system was constitutionally abolished. The government also created a system of affirmative action to try to create more opportunities for people from lower castes who suffered discrimination. However, according to Human Rights Watch, Dalits continue to face significant social and economic discrimination in many parts of India.

“The Shroud” and Other Short Stories Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for “The Shroud” and Other Short Stories is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Describe the poverty of Ghisu and Madhav.

"The Shroud" depicts a poor family of a low caste in India in the 1930s. On the one hand, the author depicts the protagonists, Ghisu and Madhav, as awful, lazy, and to blame for their predicament. There is no shortage of work in the village, yet...

What did Ghisu buy from the liquor shop

He basically bought alcohol and food. "Ghisu bought one bottle of liquor, and some sesame sweets."

What did ghisu and madhav do instead of buying the shroud?

Eventually, they spend all of the donated money on alcohol and food rather than on a shroud for Budhiya.

Study Guide for “The Shroud” and Other Short Stories

"The Shroud" and Other Short Stories study guide contains a biography of Munshi Premchand, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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Lesson Plan for “The Shroud” and Other Short Stories

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• Introduction

Essay on Casteism in India in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

India encompasses people belonging to a number of castes and religions. The caste system in our country has been prevalent since the ancient times. It has been a cause of numerous problems in our country. It is considered to be a social evil. Many notable Indian leaders have opposed this system. However, the caste system and the problems related to it continue to haunt our society.

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Long and Short Essay on Casteism in India in English

We have provided below short and long essay on casteism in India in English for your information and knowledge.

The essays have been written in simple yet effective English so that you can easily grasp the information and present it whenever needed.

After going through these casteism in India essay you will know what the effects of casteism in India and its society, what people are most affected by the casteism, how can casteism be controlled and what is already done by the governments etc.

The information given in the essays can be used in school/college during speech giving, essay writing and other competitions.

Short Essay on Casteism – Essay 1 (200 words)

Casteism is a system that finds its roots in the ancient times. It is being followed blindly since years and furthering the interests of the people belonging to the upper castes. The lower caste people are being exploited and there is no one to listen to their concerns.

The Indian society has broadly been classified into people belonging to four castes – The Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The Brahmins belong to the upper most class. In the ancient times, these people were involved in priestly activities and people held high regard for them. The Kshatriyas were the rulers and the warriors. They were considered brave and powerful and were seen next only to the Brahmins.

The Vaishyas came next. These people were involved in farming, trade and business. The Shudhras were the lower most caste. People belonging to this caste were labourers. There was also a fifth caste. These people were considered untouchables and were not even treated as humans. Although, people have taken over different professions these days the caste system still exists. People are still judged and treated based on their caste and not their profession, talent or achievements.

Casteism does not only exist in India but is also prevalent in various other countries such as Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and Nepal to name a few. Just as India, people in these countries are also facing the wrath of this evil system.

Essay on Caste System in Modern India – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Caste System in India came into being during the ancient times and still has a strong foothold in the society. However, it would not be wrong to say that the mindset of people is changing with time. This particularly holds good for the people living in the metropolitan cities. The educated lot are becoming more accepting and are not stuck with the rigid caste system defined centuries back. The amendments in our laws have also brought about a change in this regard in the modern Indian society.

Law against Caste Discrimination

The age old Indian caste system has earned a lot of criticism. Many people came forward to fight against it but could not shake it. A dire need to establish a law against caste discrimination was felt in order to do away with this heinous social evil. Thus, after India got independence, it was decided to put a ban on discrimination based on Casteism. The constitution of India banned it in its constitution. This was a message loud and clear to all those who ill-treated the people belonging to the lower classes.

The Reservation System

While establishing law against caste discrimination was an intelligent move, another decision taken with this has proved to be destructive for our modern society. It was the introduction of the reservation or the quota system. The quota system reserved certain seats for the lower class people in the education sector as well as government jobs. This system was established to uplift the standard of living of the backward classes.

However, it has become a cause of great concern in modern India. Due to this reservation system, many times the deserving candidates from the general category do not get admission or employment opportunity while the candidates from the scheduled caste/scheduled tribe category get the same even when they are not skilled or capable enough.

Casteism should be completely done away with in modern India if we really want our country to grow and prosper.

Essay on Casteism in Indian Politics – Essay 3 (400 words)

Casteism in India is the root cause of several social and political problems. The people in power are using it as a tool to strengthen their position and juggle money. Casteism plays a major role in the decision making of the general public. It has a big impact on the vote bank and thus the politicians use it tactfully for their gain.

Casteism: A Tool to Earn Votes

Politicians visit different places to seek votes from the general public before the elections. This propaganda begins months before the elections during which the politicians put in all their efforts to persuade and influence the public to vote in their favour. Our politicians are well aware about how sensitive Indians are when it comes to their caste and religion. Thus, they use this as a medium to acquire more and more votes.

Many people, especially in the rural areas do not assess the candidate’s qualification, experience or ability to handle the position and rather vote him if he is from the same caste as them as it gives them a feeling of kinship. The politicians know this and try to stress upon this factor all the more to ensure they get maximum votes.

Lack of Fair Play

While several voters choose their leaders based on their caste, these leaders further choose their staff based on the same criteria. They prefer giving prominent positions in the party office to people belonging to their caste. This bars the deserving candidates from coming to the forefront and taking on key roles. Those who are talented and can actually work for the betterment of the society are thus left behind and the non-deserving ones come to power.

Opposition Parties Use Casteism

Many times, the political parties use Casteism as a tool to invoke hatred among the general public and thus create disturbance. People in our country get hurt very easily in the name of religion and caste. A small issue at times leads to big riots that hamper the peace of the nation. This is the simplest way to create disturbance and gives the opposition a chance to question the ruling party. The position of the ruling party weakens due to such episodes and this usually works against it during the next elections.

The political system in India is known to be corrupt. The politicians make use of all that they can to further their interest. The strong belief of Indians in the caste system is their weakness and the Indian politicians make the most of their weak point.

Essay on Casteism in India – Essay 4 (500 words)

India is known to be divided by Casteism. Among other social evils, Casteism has been a major one that has hindered the growth of talent in our country. It has also been a cause of oppression. People have suffered immensely at the hands of this baseless system in the past and are still suffering. Many learned leaders in our country have tried to oppose and fight the caste system but it still persists and is only growing stronger.

Casteism: Dictates Religious and Social Life

Casteism in India has majorly dictated the religious and social life of people in India particularly of those living in the rural areas of our country. Since centuries, people living in the Indian villages have been segregated based on their caste. They live in different colonies and are treated on the basis of their caste. In the earlier times, people from different castes strictly went to different wells to fetch water and bought food from different places. A Brahmin never had food touched by a person belonging to the lower caste.

The upper class people in India are looked up to and respected. They are the privileged ones. The lower class people on the other hand are looked down upon. They are treated badly and are deprived of many rights. In the earlier times, people belonging to the lower castes were not even allowed to enter the temples as they were considered impure.

Marrying a person belonging to the other caste is considered to be a crime in our country. While people living in the metropolitans have become open to the idea of inter-caste marriages in the modern era, in the villages it is still seen as a heinous crime. People do not hesitate taking the lives of those who marry someone from another caste.

Casteism: A Social Evil

Casteism is considered to be a social evil. It is an unjust system which is ruthlessly exploiting a section of the society. People from the lower classes are trying hard to make a place in the society. However, even if a person from the lower class seeks education and gets a good job, he is still not given the kind of respect he should get in the society. This has been a cause of distress in the people belonging to the lower classes.

Casteism: A Cause of Concern for Upper Classes

Casteism in the modern era has become a cause of concern for the people belonging to the upper classes too. This is because the government of India has introduced quota system in order to raise the standard of living of people belonging to the lower classes. This has been done to provide greater opportunities to the people belonging to the lower classes so that they can come at par with the upper class people. However, this has done more harm than good to the society. This is killing talent and contributing to brain drain in India.

Casteism is hampering the growth and development of our country as it bars the actual talent to nurture properly. It also becomes a basis of hatred among people belonging to different sections. This system is causing harm to the individuals as well as the society as a whole.

Long Essay on Casteism – Essay 5 (600 words)

Casteism divides the society into several parts. It is a threat to any society as it creates biasness and negatively impacts the behaviour of the individuals. It is prevalent in many parts of the world. India has been a victim of casteism since centuries. This evil system has been eating our society and hindering its development.

Origin of Casteism in India

Many theories have sprung up regarding the origin of casteism in India. As per one of these theories, the caste system in India was introduced with the arrival of the Aryans who intruded our country in 1500 BC. It is believed that they came up with this system to segregate the society to make things more manageable and exercise better control.

They segregated people based on their profession. It was their strategy to rule more efficiently. This system should have been done away with as their rule ended however it continued as it was serving the upper caste of the Indian society. The upper caste people have been promoting this system since centuries and the lower class people have been suffering at their hands.

As per Manusmriti, the ancient text on Hinduism, Casteism came into being in 1,000 BC. On the other hand, according to the Hindu theologians, this system was introduced by Brahma who is the creator of the universe. The Hindu theologians believe that the people who came from the head of Lord Brahma became priests or teachers, those who came from his arm became warriors or rulers, those who came from his thighs became labourers or peasants while those who came from his feet indulged in cleaning and sweeping tasks.

Different Castes and Impact on the Society

The Indian society has been divided into four sections based on Casteism. These are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudhras. The Brahmins are the top most in the hierarchy. They are considered to be the superior caste. In the ancient times, the priests formed a part of this section. Then came the Kshatriyas who were the rulers and warriors in the earlier times.

The Vaishyas belonged to the working class. The merchants, artisans and labourers formed a part of this group in the ancient times. The shudhras were the ones who indulged in cleaning and sweeping tasks. This is the lowest caste. Although people have changed their professions over the time, they are still divided into different castes based on the profession their ancestors were involved in.

The upper caste people look down upon the lower caste people and exploit them. Unity among citizens is important for the growth and development of any country. The citizens must all stand united and get equal opportunities to work, study and prosper. A country where people do not stand together and support each other cannot develop. Unfortunately, Casteism has divided India. People in our country are divided in the name of religion and castes. They have a lot of hatred for the people belonging to other castes and religions. This is proving to be a big hindrance in the growth of our society.

Casteism is a deep rooted evil in the Indian society. Although the mindset of people has been changing with time and laws have been introduced to stop discrimination against it nothing much has been achieved in this direction. The lower class people are still being exploited by the upper class people in India.

On the other hand, the reservation law introduced to uplift the lower class people has proved to be unjust. The constitution of India must do away with the caste system completely. People should be given admission and employment based on their knowledge, skill and ability and not based on their caste. This would bring in true freedom.

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Caste Census in India: A Comprehensive Guide to its History, Importance, and Challenges Sociology Optional UPSC | Sociology Optional for UPSC Civil Services Examination | Triumph IAS

Table of Contents

Caste Census in India

(Relevant for Sociology Optional for Civil Services Examination)

Caste Census

Context: The Supreme Court has refused to entertain various pleas challenging the Bihar Government’s notification to conduct a caste-based census in the state

SOCIOLOGICL ANALYSIS OF CASTE CENSUS

• N.Srinivas : caste census does not reflect social realities . Some has used it for secular and ritual mobility.
• Ander Beteille : caste is a device of political manipulation .
• Yogendra Singh : already many committee and commissions reports are laying in dust, there are least chances that csste census will be used for benefit.
• L. Sharma : caste as a form of structure / system of society has changed to caste as a form of identity .
• Louis Dumont : caste is passport to politics in India.
• Christophe Jaffrelo t – A caste census would assist in mapping political representation and allowing for the better inclusion of underrepresented groups.
• Satish Despande – the caste-based census would make visible “the most powerful and most pampered minority: the upper caste
• Scholars like Sudipta Kaviraj, Arjun Appadurai have argued about the constitutive role of official statistical records. In order to abolish caste, caste-based discrimination, caste-based distribution of wealth and socio-cultural inequalities generated by caste it is essential to understand its expansiveness.

What Is Caste Census?

• The Caste Census is a comprehensive enumeration and collection of demographic and socio-economic information on the Indian population, specifically focusing on caste affiliations.
• It is aimed at understanding the complex societal structure, capturing inequalities, and providing data for policy formulation.

History of Caste Census:

• The Indian census started in 1881 during colonial times and evolved over the years.
• First Caste Census : The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted in 1931, aiming to capture economic status and caste information.
• Census vs. SECC : While the census provides a population portrait, SECC identifies beneficiaries of state support, and its data is open for government use.

Need for Caste Census:

• Policy Insights: A caste census offers a detailed understanding of societal issues beyond reservations, aiding policymakers in devising effective strategies and addressing marginalized populations.
• Revealing Privilege: Caste isn’t only about disadvantage; it also encompasses privilege and advantage , necessitating a comprehensive data collection.
• Caste’s Importance: As caste holds a prominent place in Indian society, profiling all castes is essential to grasp societal dynamics accurately .
• Addressing Inequalities : Caste census enables a scientific and democratic approach to address wealth, resource, and education disparities.
• Proper Estimate For The Population Of OBCs: There is no proper estimate for the population of OBCs, various groups within the OBCs, and others. Mandal Commission estimated the OBC population at 52% while political parties make their own estimates.
• Constitutional Mandate: The Constitution mandates investigations into socially and educationally backward classes, aligning with caste census objectives.
• Debunking Myths: Caste census can dispel misconceptions, fostering a more informed and inclusive society.
• Research: Caste-based census data can be used by researchers to study various aspects of social, economic, and political life in India.

Disadvantages of Caste Census:

• Political and Social Repercussion s: Caste census might solidify identities, promoting caste-based political mobilization and strong sentiments for or against reservations.
• Context-Specific Discrimination: Caste’s embedded discrimination can be hard to measure and may not correlate with class or deprivation.
• Lack of Trust and Clarity : Historical mistrust and data availability issues hinder caste-based data collection.

Challenges of Caste Census:

• Emotive Element : Caste census holds political and social implications, potentially hardening identities and sparking resistance.
• Data Reliability : Concerns over data accuracy and privacy have led to partial release of SECC data.
• Complex Discrimination : Caste is distinct from class and challenging to quantify due to entrenched societal biases.
• Privacy concerns : Collecting caste-based data raises concerns about the privacy of individuals and their right to not disclose their caste identity

Way Forward:

• Leverage Existing Data : Link Census and SECC data with other datasets like National Sample Surveys for comprehensive analysis.
• Embrace Digital Methods : Employ modern, inclusive, and non-discriminatory digital alternatives for data collection.
• Preliminary Studies: Conduct socio-anthropological studies at state and district levels to establish sects and sub-castes present in the population.

Census: method of data collection

Definition: The census method encompasses a comprehensive process of gathering, organizing, analyzing, evaluating, disseminating, and publishing statistical data pertaining to the population and its attributes.

Importance of Census Method:

• Data Compilation: Census provides valuable insights into economic activity, literacy, education, housing, urbanization, fertility, mortality, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, language, religion, and migration.
• Historical Context: Historical references like ‘Arthashastra by Kautilya’ and ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ emphasize population statistics as a state policy tool dating back to 3 BC, shedding light on industry and wealth.

Research Facilitation:

• Population Study: Census data enables research on urban-rural distribution, urban area growth, geographical population distribution by occupation and education, as well as age and gender structures.

Example: Census 1971 introduced fertility-related inquiries for currently married women.

Vital Information Source:

• Migration and Demographics: Census contributes crucial data on migration, birth and death rates, fertility rates, and gross/net birth rates.

Example: Census of 1921 recorded a population decline of 0.31% during 1911-21 due to the 1918 flu pandemic.

Challenges of Census:

• High Expenses: Conducting a census involves substantial financial outlay.
• Accuracy Concerns: Prone to errors in content and coverage.
• Misrepresentation: False information may be furnished due to fears of losing government benefits, citizenship status (Citizenship Amendment Act), and limited education.
• Data Security: Ensuring secure data storage and application, especially with the transition to digital collection (e.g., 2021 census).
• Potential Misuse: Possibility of government officials misusing comprehensive family data, raising concerns, especially for vulnerable groups like the transgender community.

Human Resource Limitations: Insufficient training for enumerators, which can impact data quality.

Sample Questions for UPSC Sociology Optional Paper:

What is the Caste Census and why is it significant?

The Caste Census is a demographic survey focused on caste affiliations in India to aid policy formulation and address inequalities.

What is the primary difference between the general Census and SECC?

General Census provides overall population statistics, while SECC identifies beneficiaries for state support and captures caste data.

What drawbacks are associated with the Caste Census?

It can harden caste identities, lead to political mobilization based on caste, and raise privacy concerns.

What did the Mandal Commission estimate about the OBC population?

The Mandal Commission estimated that OBCs make up 52% of the Indian population.

What did N. Srinivas mean by “caste census does not reflect social realities”?

He implied that caste census may not capture the nuanced social and cultural dynamics of caste in India.

Why are there concerns about data reliability in Caste Census?

Due to historical mistrust and potential inaccuracies in reporting.

How can a Caste Census help in debunking myths?

It can provide empirical data to challenge prevalent stereotypes and misconceptions about caste groups.

What is Christophe Jaffrelot’s view on the caste census?

He believes it would assist in mapping political representation and improving the inclusion of underrepresented groups.

What challenge does the Caste Census pose concerning privacy?

Collecting caste-based data can intrude on individual privacy rights and the choice not to disclose one’s caste

what are constraints in conducting the such census ?

it requires huge finances , trained manpower , time consuming exercise.

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Caste Census, Indian Population, Sociological Analysis, Policy Insights, SECC, M. N. Srinivas, Yogendra Singh, Satish Despande, Christophe Jaffrelot, caste-based discrimination, population study, Constitutional Mandate, caste identity, demographic data, Accuracy Concerns, Human Resource Limitations, Potential Misuse, Misrepresentation, Need for Caste Census, Disadvantages of Caste Census, Challenges of Caste Census 

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Introducing indian society.

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• Features of caste system.
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• Definitional problems.
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• Colonial policies and tribes.
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• Social Classes in India:
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• Middle classes in India.
• Lineage and descent in India.
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• Evolution of modern industry in India.
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4. Politics and Society:

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• Secularization

5. Social Movements in Modern India:

• Peasants and farmers movements.
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• Backward classes & Dalit movement.
• Environmental movements.
• Ethnicity and Identity movements.

6. Population Dynamics:

• Population size, growth, composition and distribution
• Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
• Population policy and family planning.
• Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.

7. Challenges of Social Transformation:

• Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability
• Poverty, deprivation and inequalities.
• Violence against women.
• Caste conflicts.
• Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.
• Illiteracy and disparities in education.

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Caste Census Significance and Challenges- Explained Pointwise

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• 1 What is Caste Census and Caste Survey?
• 2 What are the advantages of Caste Census?
• 3 What are the disadvantages of Caste Census?
• 4 What should be the way forward ?

Caste census is again back in focus in the political landscape of the country as the Bihar government released the results of its recently concluded Caste Survey in the state. Caste survey of Bihar was an attempt at enumerating the strength and socio-economic conditions of different caste groups of the state. The Caste survey of Bihar is an attempt to pressurise the central government for conducting a socio-economic caste census for 2021 which has been delayed due to corona.

The Caste Survey result reveals that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute more than 63% of the population of Bihar. EBCs OBCs SCs STs Unreserved What is Caste Census and Caste Survey? Census- Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analysing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data of all persons in a country at a specific period of time. Census in India is conducted at regular intervals of 10 years. Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes. Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste. Hence there has been demands for Socio-economic caste census to be conducted for 2021. Caste Census- Caste census or more precisely Socio Economic caste census was conducted for the first time in Independent India in 2011. However the findings were never made public . The last published data for all castes was done in the 1931 census. Caste Survey- Since only the Union govt has the power to conduct census, several state governments like Bihar and Odisha have been conducting socio economic caste surveys to ascertain the social and economic status of different castes for better policy making. The latest released Bihar caste survey is latest example of it. Difference between Census, Caste Census(Socio Economic Caste Census) and Caste Survey Census is backed by the Caste Census is Central govt by notification may provide for collection of Caste data Caste surveys are used by the state governments since they do not powers to conduct census Socio economic data of only were collected and released Socio Economic data of OBCs were collected for the after independence.However the data was not released. State Governments conducts to ascertain the socio economic data of castes. All census data are kept confidential All the personal information given in the SECC is open for use by Government departments to grant and/or restrict benefits to households. State governments use the Caste survey data for informed policy making of state policies. Read More- Forum IAS What are the advantages of Caste Census? Beneficial in Policy Making- Caste census will generate exhaustive data which will allow policymakers to develop better policies and implementation strategies for upliftment of marginalised classes. Caste census will lay the foundation for data-driven affirmative policy formulation in a society ridden with exclusion, discrimination and marginalization based on group identities. Rationalisation of reservation- The current policies are based on the last caste census  which was conducted in 1931. New caste census can help the government in identifying the most benefited section and reduce their share in the overall reservation to provide an opportunity to other castes. Better targeting of Government welfare schemes- The government welfare schemes can be better targeted towards the most marginalised sections of the community with the help of data gathered from the socio economic caste census. For example- Under the National Food Security Act, 83.92% of the population of Bihar is entitled to subsidized food grain. The Bihar survey reported that the population of the state has increased from 103.8 million in 2011 to 130.7 million in 2023. Thus by current population estimates,109.7 million persons are eligible for the subsidy. However the current beneficiary count is just 87.1 million. That is, in Bihar alone, 22.6 million persons have been excluded from this benefit at a time when food inflation is high. Caste has an Important Position in Indian Society-  While census data has been captured for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, religions and linguistic profiles, there has been no profiling of all castes in India since 1931. Caste has an important position in the Indian society and the data on caste can be helpful in ascertaining the socio-economic positions of different castes in India. Addressing the prevalent Inequalities-   Unequal distribution of wealth, resources and education has meant an acute shortage of purchasing power among the majority of Indians. The census will help to address these issues in a democratic, scientific and objective manner. This will lead to social justice in the country. Fulfilment of Constitutional Mandate-  Our Constitution favours conducting a caste census.  Article 340  mandates the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by governments. Helpful in fulfilling the objectives of various commissions- Sachar committee which was formed to examine the socio-economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India, mentioned that the availability of data on religion was useful in highlighting the relative deprivation of minorities. So, similar data on caste is also desirable to identify vulnerable sections within castes. This data will be useful for Justice Rohini Commission which has been formed for the sub-categorisation of OBCs. Addressing Intersectionality- Caste intersects with other factors such as gender, religion, and region, leading to compounded disadvantages. The census can reveal these intersections which will lead to more nuanced policy approaches that target multiple dimensions of marginalisation. Break the myths associated with castes- The caste census will reveal the actual data on castes and remove ambiguities associated with the caste. For instance, In Karnataka, there were claims that among the castes, the Lingayats are the most numerous. So the census can reveal the true information on that. What are the disadvantages of Caste Census? Caste based political mobilisation- The data can be used by the political parties for their narrow political gains. This will encourage caste based mobilisations in the country. As India seek to eliminate and weaken the notion of caste, a caste census would only strengthen it. There will be from every caste group for share in the power at the cost of administrative efficiency. Hardening of caste identities may hamper growth of national integration- There have been concerns that counting caste may help solidify or harden identities. Due to these repercussions, nearly a decade after the SECC, a sizable amount of its data remains unreleased or released only in parts. Strengthen demands for further reservations- Caste census may increase demand for larger or separate quotas. For instance, Patels, Gujjars, Jats and other castes are demanding reservations . The caste census might induce more such demands in future. The census would put pressure on the SC to lift the 50% ceiling. Collection of caste data is not an easy task- Enumerating the caste numbers in India is a complex task as the same caste is spelt in different ways in different states. Also one caste maybe extremely backward in one state and can be backward in the other state. Potential Stigmatization- Disclosure of caste identities could lead to individuals being stigmatized or discriminated against based on preconceived notions associated with certain castes. This can deter honest responses and undermine the survey’s accuracy. What should be the way forward ? Need for sub categorisation of Backward classes- Instead of going behind the caste based census, the government can subclassify the Backward Classes like in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal etc. This will provide the benefit to intended beneficiaries.Since the government has already appointed Justice G Rohini Panel on Sub-categorisation of OBCs. The Panel has to fast pace the sub-classification process. Use technologies to assess the caste date on SECC- The government can use technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to assess the SECC data and condense them into meaningful categories. A Preliminary Census- Independent of census, a preliminary socio-anthropological study can be done at the State and district levels to establish all sects and sub-castes present in the population. A caste census may not sit well with the goal of a casteless society, but it may serve as a means of addressing inequities in society. However the census must aim at gradual elimination of castes by uplifiting the socio-economically marginalised sections of the society. Read More- The Indian Express Type your email… Search Articles Prelims 2024 current affairs. Art and Culture Indian Economy Science and Technology Environment  & Ecology International Relations Polity &  Nation Important Bills and Acts International Organizations Index, Reports and Summits Government Schemes and Programs Miscellaneous Species in news All India Open Test(Simulator X) Latest Education and Career News Essay on Caste-Based Reservation In India for Students and Children in English Reported by Anshika Saxena Published on 6 September 2024 Essay on Caste-Based Reservation In India : Caste-Based Reservation exists prominently in India. Students and Children are often asked to write an essay on the topic. This kind of topic is highly informative and opens up a lot of opportunities to be very liberal with the writing. It is up to the student if they wish to write the composition in a descriptive format or an argumentative one. Additionally, in case they choose to stand for or against the topic, we suggest they write with a very positive approach and not add anything that might be extremely offensive to any section of society. Thus, the descriptive format of such essays is highly safer since it mainly focuses on describing the theme followed by fact-based general information deliverance on the same. Here we have provided samples for English essays on the topic, “Caste-Based Reservation In India” which are neutral in approach and highly informative. Read the following essays in order to derive ideas and inspiration. Essay on Caste-Based Reservation In India Subsequently, we have mentioned two essays that shall help in the formation and construction of your Essay on Caste-Based Reservation In India. The students can refer to them since they focus on providing information while keeping a balance between the positive and negative reception of the System of Reservation of Caste in India. Check the following essays, one for a word limit of 300 – 400 words, and the other for a limit of 600 – 700 words: Short Essay Sample (300 – 400 Words) In India, the constitution allows reservation to different categories on the basis of Caste, Gender, Economic Status or Creed. This is primarily due to the history of social classes and gender in the country. The present-day reservation system was formed in order to provide equity to the suppressed section of society. In order to make it easier for such people to eradicate backwardness from their lives, the Indian Constitution has a module to provide them with reservations during recruitment, schemes, and so on. Reservation began in the pre-independence era when India happened to be under the colonial rule of the Britishers. Certain Quotas were introduced that evidently favoured certain castes or communities. British Raj introduced reservation in an elementary format in the Government of India Act of 1909. This ensured that the distinctive categories have a certain social standing and the discrimination is lowered to an extent in a male Hindu Bhramin-dominated society. Further, in 1932, various communities comprising religious and social minorities were provided with a separate electorate system. This was supported by Backward Classes leaders such as Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. However, Mahatma Gandhi opposed it. Sooner, the two sections reached common grounds where the reservation was provided within the system and not separately. Post Independence, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were able to gain reservations followed by the addition of the Other Backwards Classes in 1980. Finally, in 2019, Economically Weaker Sections were also added to reservation criteria to ensure that they also have equal chances and rights in the nation. Reservations help the categories to get help with recruitment, education, welfare schemes, and other social initiatives of the Government. The categories also form society and their standing is recognised by providing relaxation while considering the problems and discrimination they face due to their Caste, Gender, Economic Status or Creed in daily life. This has positively resulted in the betterment of the backward and discriminated people and given them a holding in society that differs from them on the basis of factors such as Caste, Gender, Economics or Creed. In a negative scenario, the unreserved classes might end up feeling neglected and there could be considerate suffering for their hard work or opportunities that they lose to reserved categories with lower qualifications. The authorities are constantly questioned on a daily basis regarding the reservation system and this often created a negative impact. However, a balanced reservation scheme along with a non-discriminative and considerate society can only solve the issues together. Long Essay On Caste-Based Reservation Discrimination and unfair treatment of socially weaker sections are very common phenomena across the globe. Be it Caste, Creed, Gender, Colour, Religion, or Sexuality, humans distinguish each other. This leads to the suffering of the ones who are discriminated against. Further, the consequences have been observed as the collective backwardness of the people as a community. This disturbs the social balance further resulting in grave oppression of human rights by the classes that tend to oppress. To avoid all this, Reservation is a measure. The system of reservation of seats in educational institutions, job vacancies, providing waivers in monetary charges, prioritisation in welfare initiatives, and much more are prevalent in many sections of the world. Even in India, Caste-Based discrimination has an extensive history along with the consequential reservation of certain groups. The distinction of humans on the basis of castes holds a very dominant page in the history of the Indian subcontinent. There were mainly 4 Varnas or Categories that were considered in order to categorise the Indians. These were namely, Bhramin (Highest), Kshatriya (Higher), Vaishya (Lower), and Shudra (Lowest). Those who were considered to be extremely lowest and unworthy of categorisation formed the Dalit Community in all religions. This was the basic Indian Structure of Caste-Based Discrimination. This carried on for millennials and finally, the suppression eventually degraded to extremely devious situations. With awakening and independence movements, the lower castes developed a righteous ambition to end the oppression against them as a community. The Britishers did provide reservation benefits to certain communities in the colonies. However, the system was enough concrete and considerate. Independent leaders of provinces did try on their parts for the upliftment of the backwards but they were beneficial only to a limited extent. It was finally observed post-independence in 1947 that the Constitution provided tactile reservation benefits to Scheduled Castes SCs and Scheduled Tribes STs. Even the Parliaments hold a proper representation of people on the basis of the communities they belong to. Further, in 1980, Other Backward Classes were allowed reservations, helping them with their social composition and balance in society with equal rights. It was eventually in 2019, that the Economically Weaker section was acknowledged for the Reservation System and started being provided with relaxations in various social initiatives and events. Reservation enables a reduced cut-off for admissions to educational institutions. Additionally, fee waivers, discounts, and easy procedures are ensured for the reserved categories. In State and Central Government jobs and recruitments, the categories have certain seats reserved for them. This assuredly creates a balance in professional workspaces. The educational requirement is relaxed and the recruitment process is made easier. Further, in welfare initiatives, minorities are preferred and prioritised. This enables them to get an opportunity in being treated with equity in society and an equal chance in the future. Nevertheless, the system of reservations does have certain loopholes and practically non-beneficial consequences. The reservation system is actively opposed by the unreserved categories who lose out on golden opportunities by a minor difference due to the prioritisation of the lesser qualified and deserving candidates of reserved categories. Additionally, the Economically Weaker Sections do not get much higher relaxations as compared to the reserved castes. This creates an economically imbalanced society and the EWS is unable to monetarily uplift itself. Every concept, aspect, idea, or system has positives and negatives attached to it. At the end of the day, what matters the most is that the number of beneficiaries is higher than the ones who are facing unsolicited negative consequences and are not harmed in the process. Thus, the system can be implied with a more balanced perspective without considering political benefits and society also becomes more accepting and socially comfortable for the depressed castes and classes. Put down more thoughts on “Essay on Caste-Based Reservation In India” in the comment section below by sharing ideas and point ts to make this space better! Anshika Saxena Leave a Comment Cancel reply Most recent. TS Sand Booking SSMMS Link: Registration Online, Track Order AP Sand Online Sand Booking Registration SSMMS Status Check How to apply for a fancy/VIP number online for car & Bike? 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Dehradun, Uttarakhand Call Us: +91 9997526894 [email protected] NVSHQ.ORG is part of the  Applaud Web Media  publishing family. 297 IMAGES History of the Indian Castes Caste System in India (A Historical Perspective) Essay on Casteism in India The Caste System of India Essay Example Caste System on India The Caste System of India Reading Comprehension by Beckleys Teach VIDEO 10 lines essay on Seasons in India in English l Essay on Seasons in India 🇮🇳 l Short essay on season Casteism in India Navigating Complexity: Understanding Caste and Class in Hinduism “Caste system in India” explained by Prof V.K.Tripathi 5 Lines On Our India Essay On Drought With Easy Language In English COMMENTS Essay on Caste System in India: 7 Selected Essays Essay on Caste System in India - Short Essay on the Caste System in India (Essay 2 - 300 Words) Caste System in India came into existence in the period of ancient times and it still holds a sturdy base in the Indian society. On the other hand, the Caste system in India might not be incorrect to tell that the mentality of people is also ... Essay on Caste System for Students and Children 500+ Words Essay on Caste System. Today the caste system is one of the major issues that people are facing. It is basically a system that separate peoples on the basis of their caste. However, it is a very common issue in India. It is present for a very long time in our country. Many people believe in it and many people don't. Caste System India Essay Long and Short Essays on Caste System in India for Students and Kids in English. Given below is a long essay composed of about 500 words and a short composition comprising 100-150 words on the caste system in English. Long Essay on Caste System India 500 Words in English. Caste System India Essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. Jati: The Caste System in India Jati: The Caste System in India Caste System in India An essay on the caste system in India, outlining its history, practices, legal provisions and acts, and its impact on society. Caste System in India. Kumar Mane. on May 9, 2018 at 1:05 pm. Social Issues. The Indian society is socio-politically stratified. Caste system has prevailed for ages and arranges the people into social strata or classes. Caste System in India Caste System in India - Origin, Features, and Problems Essay on Casteism in India for Students and Children Casteism refers to discrimination based on the caste of a person. It is a great social evil that needs to be done away with. It is responsible for stopping the country from developing. Furthermore, it also causes oppression which is very bad for society. Impact on Life. Basically, the religious and social circles dictate Casteism in India. Caste Discrimination Essay 500 Words Essay On Caste Discrimination. Indian society has a caste system that has existed for thousands of years. Ancient scriptures also make a categorical mention of castes. Eventually, this sort of segregation gave way to greed, which led to the higher castes oppressing the lower caste. Over time, the caste system changed and produced ... Long and Short Essay on Casteism in India in English for Children and Short Essay on Casteism - Essay 1 (200 words) Casteism is a system that finds its roots in the ancient times. It is being followed blindly since years and furthering the interests of the people belonging to the upper castes. The lower caste people are being exploited and there is no one to listen to their concerns. Caste system in India Caste system in India Essay on Caste System for Children and Students Caste System in India Essay 3 (200 words) The origin of caste system in India dates back to the ancient times. There are two different perspectives for its origin in the country. These are either based on socio-economic factors or ideological factors. The first school of thought is based on the ideological factors and as per this, caste system ... Essay on Casteism in India Long and Short Essays on Casteism in India for Students and Kids in English. A long essay of 450-500 words has been provided it is useful for higher class students. For the reference of students a short essay of 100-150 words has been provided. ... In the native language of India, Hindi, caste is called Jaati. There is another jaati that was ... Essay on Caste Discrimination in India 250 Words Essay on Caste Discrimination in India Introduction. Caste discrimination in India is a deeply entrenched social issue, a relic of the country's ancient caste system. This system, originally intended to divide labor, has morphed into a rigid social hierarchy that promotes inequality and prejudice. Manifestations of Caste Discrimination Essay On Caste Based Reservation In India The first essay is a long essay on the Caste Based Reservation In India of 400-500 words. This long essay about Caste Based Reservation In India is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Caste Based Reservation In India of 150-200 words. Essay on Caste System for Children and Students Caste System in India Essay 1 (100 words) Caste system in India has been prevalent since the ancient times. However, the concept has been moulded and evolved over the centuries by those in power. It underwent a major change particularly during the Mughal Rule and the British Raj. Nevertheless, people were and are still treated differently based ... Caste in Modern India Caste in Modern India. M. N. SRINIVAS. IT IS my aim in this essay' to marshal evidence to show that during the last century or more, the institution of caste has found new fields of activity. The manner in which the British transferred political power to the Indians enabled caste to assume political functions. Sanjay Srivastava writes: Why we must talk about caste There is no such thing as a "caste-free" context in India and caste identity is fundamentally related to one's life chances. Informal discrimination (everyday attitudes, say) lead to low self-worth and formal ones (lack of material resources, for example) define the kinds of activities one is able to pursue and career choices that become ... "The Shroud" and Other Short Stories The caste system in India Describe the poverty of Ghisu and Madhav. "The Shroud" depicts a poor family of a low caste in India in the 1930s. On the one hand, the author depicts the protagonists, Ghisu and Madhav, as awful, lazy, and to blame for their predicament. There is no shortage of work in the village, yet... Asked by Kishan P #1313989. Essay on Casteism in India in English for Children and Students Short Essay on Casteism - Essay 1 (200 words) Casteism is a system that finds its roots in the ancient times. It is being followed blindly since years and furthering the interests of the people belonging to the upper castes. The lower caste people are being exploited and there is no one to listen to their concerns. Caste in modern India, and other essays : Srinivas, Mysore Caste in modern India, and other essays Bookreader Item Preview ... Caste Publisher Bombay, New York, Asia Pub. House Collection internetarchivebooks; americana; inlibrary; printdisabled Contributor Internet Archive Language English Item Size 254.2M . 171 p. 22 cm Caste in modern India, and other essays : Srinivas, Mysore Caste in modern India, and other essays by Srinivas, Mysore Narasimhachar. Publication date 1962 Topics Caste -- India, Caste, Social conditions, India -- Social conditions, India, Caste India, India Social conditions Publisher Bombay, New York, Asia Pub. House Collection Caste Census in India Explore the intricate aspects of the caste census in India. Understand its historical context, the need for it, its advantages and disadvantages, sociological analysis, and the challenges it faces. ... Essay, and Personality Test. The choice of the optional subject should be based on objective criteria, such as the nature, scope, and size of ... Caste Census Significance and Challenges- Explained Pointwise Caste Census Significance and Challenges Essay on Caste-Based Reservation In India in English for Students The system of reservation of seats in educational institutions, job vacancies, providing waivers in monetary charges, prioritisation in welfare initiatives, and much more are prevalent in many sections of the world. Even in India, Caste-Based discrimination has an extensive history along with the consequential reservation of certain groups. Hindu Nationalism and the Converging, Diverging and Intersecting Hindu nationalism, whose genealogy could be traced back to the late 19th century, is a multi-faceted and evolving socio-political phenomenon. Broadly speaking, it is 'an ideology that seeks to imagine or construct a community (i.e. a nation) on the basis of a common culture-a culture configured by a particular notion of Hinduism' (Zavos, 2000: 5). assignment essay homework paper report resume review speech thesis