In the 75th year of independene, a review of caste system of India
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74 years of independence and Casteism in India: a review
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- The story: The Indian society has been divided along caste-lines, since times immemorial. Even after India attained independence, the grade hierarchy system did not extinguish itself, but continued in many forms. Today, an overview of casteism after independence is necessary in the 75th year of independence.
- Pre-independence India: Caste was seen as a ‘social’ question. It was a subject of social reform which necessitated the creation of more universal opportunities in sectors such as education and jobs (by the government), deliberate efforts for inclusion through actions of voluntary organisations, by several social reformers, and efforts by activists and advocates to open previously denied spaces such as drinking water commons and access of temples to castes which were denied the same. It was a period when society at last showed some cognition of issues linked to discrimination and exploitation on the basis of caste, but continued to be organised on that very basis all along.
- During the time of the Constituent Assembly: Caste discrimination was a subject of considerable debate in the Constituent Assembly and the adoption of specific provisions for prevention of discrimination as well as the adoption of principles of affirmative action, especially for the Scheduled Castes, was a significant and foundational reform. With these moves, the post-independence state took on the mantle of transformative action, heralding a shift of domain of caste reform to the political and economic sphere and not just restricted to the ‘social’ sphere as in the pre-independence era. The other significant shift is seen in terms of the transformation in the ‘agency’ of the castes who were previously labelled only as victims, depressed, and lacking a voice. Dr Ambedkar had, in his last speech given to the Assembly, warned that political liberty in the absence of social liberty (read caste annihilation) would amount to little, eventually.
- Post-independence India: The shift to the state as an institution that has the onus of transformative action in relation to caste has not been easy. Institutionalisation of practices such as reservations in education, jobs, and election of people’s representatives has been much easier than the transformations in the structure of these institutions and actual governance. The adequacy of transformations initiated by reservation, and their outcomes are a subject of more substantive debate. However, it is undeniable that they have enabled the organisation of the Dalit castes, given an impetus to mobilisation and organisation of other castes in subsequent years, and more importantly, created a critical space and voice within State organisations that can speak for the excluded. While stories of extreme oppression, crime, and denial of opportunity to those who are highly vulnerable abound even now, the fact that State agencies including police are constitutionally bound to investigate and deliver justice is not a small matter.
- The second shift: Slowly, more openings came up, which expanded the initial ones given by the constitutional commitment. Several examples can be given — the articulation of action against atrocities as a crime, demands for effective budgetary allocation for the Dalits, the exposition of how practices of exclusion and discrimination are embedded in systems and institutions, the evolution of an entire discipline of Dalit Studies that takes inspiration from racial studies the rising associationism among Dalit businesses, the increase in several Dalit castes articulating and visualising themselves in a disaggregated way, the emerging genre of films and other cultural forms that give an expression to the hitherto faceless and amorphous Dalits, all illustrate the emerging power of the Dalit voice, and perhaps point the attention of society to more critical voices and concerns that have been invisibilised. Moreover, this is seen as a matter of right and not as a favour to be granted by the authorities.
- Existing challenges: Even in the 2020s, India is far from being an equal society. Lower castes and several sections of Dalits bear the unfair burden of these inequalities. Dalit women bear these burdens even more, being the most vulnerable of the vulnerable lot. Dr Ambedkar viewed cities and urbanisation as possible sites of liberation for Dalits from tradition and suffering-bound villages and rural societies. As urbanisation becomes a significant phenomenon, it is seen that cities only shift the domains of caste expression. Thus, certain ‘unclean, insanitary’ occupations are considered to be exclusively practiced by Dalits, thereby perpetuating the tradition. Similarly, the predominance of Dalits in slums in the cities can be seen as an expression of their legacy of spatial exclusion from the villages. While some of the meanings of what caste means in social discourse have blurred and transformed, there are ways in which the imagination of caste has become even more entrenched. Some studies show that the digital space is highly casteist. Elections at all levels of the government accept and build on caste equations and mobilisations. Caste is ever-present and visibilised in even more domains of our everyday life but what needs to be noted is that visibilisation is a progression over invisibility, perpetuated neglect, and systematised exclusion.
- Summary: The question of caste is an extremely complex one. A review of our efforts in the last seventy-five years indicates that India has been successful in changing the contours of the caste question. But it has not been as successful in creating effective alternate principles for inclusion and in the distribution of opportunities but the track for a positive change has certainly been set in motion.
- EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) “The caste system is a plague for the Indian society.” In light of this, examine the vices of the system. (2) “Caste system is taking new identities and forms with every passing decade.” Do you agree? Comment and present your viewpoints with suitable arguments.
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