Social Inequality in India; Caste Term Paper

The lowest-ranking had to jingle a little bell in warning of their polluting approach. In much of India, Dalits were prohibited from entering temple" (India Caste system, ancient India Caste System)

There have been indications since 1450 of changes and a questioning of the caste system. For example, in 1469, the guru Nanak, 1st guru of Sikhs, "...refused to accept the caste system and the supremacy of the Brahmanical priests and forbade magic, idolatry and pilgrimages." (The Fifteenth Century 1450-1475)

It was however in the colonial period of the British rule of India that the caste system was extensively critiqued and efforts made to create a more equal society. This was largely due to the influence of the new norms and values brought by the colonizers.

During this period there was also the beginning of various reform movements. These criticized and questioned "...the rigidities of the caste system, the degraded status of women, child marriage, and female infanticide." (Civil Society And Governance. An Overview Of Issues And Trends In India)

During this period there were many modifications and changes made to the caste system in the light of the more contemporary ideas about human equality. "Alongside the reforms, there was also an effort to introduce modern western education in India to make people aware of the progressive ideas. All the reformers of this period presented a synthesis of religion, society and education to reconstruct the social space. "(Civil Society And Governance. An Overview Of Issues And Trends In India) For example, the Brahmo Samaj "... criticized the practice of sati (burning of widows on the funeral pyre of their husbands), polygamy, child marriage, and the lower status accorded to women." In 1950 India's new constitution outlawed discrimination based on caste. (India Caste System Discriminates)

During the 1970's there was an increased move towards the greater implementation of civil rights and liberties towards a more egalitarian society. "Civil liberty, ecology, women, and dalit movements captured the civil society space to make demands on the state in an unprecedented way. "(Civil Society And Governance.An Overview Of Issues And Trends In India) Another factor that was instrumental in reducing the influence of the caste system was urbanization." Urbanization helped the lower castes to escape the traditionally polluting caste occupations and the atrocities the system perpetrated." (Civil Society And An Overview Of Issues And Trends In India) Another important factor in this regard was that with the greater degree of social mobility that urbanization brought allowed people to see and compare their lives with others, thereby heightening consciousness of social inequalities.

In conclusion, the caste system has been the cause of entrenched and inequalities in Indian society.

Those in the higher and more respected castes often receive more social status and recognition; while those in the lowest castes are subject to a life of poverty and social denial from which they cannot escape. The history of the caste system since 1450 has been one which has shown a gradually growing criticism of the inequalities of the caste system.

However, it is also well recognized that despite the fact that discrimination based on caste was outlawed since India's constitution was adopted in 1950,"... The practice pervades society." (India Caste System Discriminates) This would suggest that there are still areas in the country where the caste system is implemented and inequalities are practiced. As suggested in this paper, the problem that underlies the inequalities perpetuated by the cast system are closely linked to religious views, which makes them difficult in many cases to eradicate.

Works Cited

Civil Society And An Overview Of Issues And Trends In India.

February 18, 2007. http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:pBULlPS5oUMJ:nt1.ids.ac.uk/ids/civsoc/docs/India2.doc+INdia+Caste+System+1450&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=26&gl=za

India Caste system, ancient India Caste System. February 18, 2007. http://www.indianchild.com/caste_system_india.htm

India Caste System Discriminates. February 18, 2007. http://aad.english.ucsb.edu/docs/georgesept62001.html

The Caste System and the Stages of Life in Hinduism. February 18, 2007. http://www.friesian.com/caste.htm

The Fifteenth Century 1450-1475. February 18, 2007. http://timelines.ws/1450_1475.HTML.....