Caste System

“In that Country the law of religion,

the laws of the land, and the law of
honour, are all united and
consolidated in one, and bind a man
eternally to the rule of what is called
his caste”. Edmund Burke
The system continues to determine political,
social and economic life of a billion people
in South Asia. The caste system, straddling
across the scrawny shoulders of the
untouchables, is like that old man in
Tolstoy’s story, who has all the sympathy
for the poor bearer and would like to do
anything but to get off his shoulder. The
most significant aspects of caste are its
ability to resurface without a trace of
remorse on the part of the perpetrator. It is
like that chemical addition which once had
makes you vulnerable to its guiles forever.
Brief information about caste
system in India
Indian society still remains in a semi feudal
and semi capitalists mode of production
relation. Caste system serves this mode
perfectly. The pyramid of Indian society
remains aloft on the shoulders of these
millions of dalits who forgo their human
rights so that people can say India is
shining.
However two thousand and eight hundred
years ago, lord Budha took up the
challenges to end the caste system. In the
modern times, Bhakti movement, gave
birth to Kabir, Raidas, Late Periyar, Savitri
The danger faced by the caste dictatorship
created a new link in communal fascism
and imperialism . Till all progressive powers
joined hand to crush Brahminism from its
roots, till then Manu patriachal dictatorship
would persist and flourish. Although very
little can be attained so quickly such time
communal fascism not get crushed.
The typical danger is from Indian Hindu
communal fascism to the entire globe is
that every fifth person in the globe is
Indian.
The caste system, straddling across the
scrawny shoulders of the untouchables is
like that old man in Tolstoy’s story, who has
all the sympathy for the poor bearer and
would like to do anything but to get off his
shoulder.
The present population is 14% of the total
population of India i.e. around 70 million.
Dalits has an appalling rate of literacy it is
mere 32% and the total national literacy
rate is 63%. The women literacy rate is
23% and only 6% dalits own land. Most of
them labour in someone else field or
Atrocities done with the
dalits
While breaching the unwritten law of the
caste hierarchy now-
 the person shoot,
 village burnt and
 the women raped
 Beating the residents

The lower caste the entire community is

punished when a person from the upper
caste commits a crime. The judgment is not
given by the court but from the member
form the upper caste.
Example
1. One such incident which happened in
Narkati village of Kaimur range of Uttar
Pradesh. When a similar upper caste
police raided the village a five year old
girl cried out loud since she was afraid of
strangers. This small girl Anjali was
beaten by the policemen. A complaint
was lodged with NHRC. Indian Peoples’
Tribunal headed by the Justice Sukumaran
was appointed but no action taken yet.
2. A district Judge before occupying the chair
used by his predecessor, who happened
to be from a lower caste, conducted some
 Achievement
• The main thrust of the political intervention
has been in the shapes of reservations in
the Government posts without adequately
making them empowered to get a rightful
and dignified place in society.
• The mainstream politics in India has only
recently and reluctantly acknowledge the
space of Dalits.
Lets join hands together and make
a better world for future generation