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UPSC MAINS SOCIOLOGY SYLLABUS
Paper 2
Section B – (ii) Caste System:
(a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
(b) Features of caste system.
(c) Untouchability – forms and perspectives
Section C – (iv) Politics and Society:
(a) Nation, democracy and citizenship.
(b) Political parties, pressure groups , social and political elite.
(c) Regionalism and decentralization of power.
(d) Secularization
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INTRODUCTION
Caste acts both as a divisive and cohesive force in Indian politics. It provides a basis for the emergence of several interest groups in the Indian system, each of which competes with every other group in the struggle for power. At times it leads to an unhealthy struggle for power and acts as a divisive force.
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CASTE AND DEMOCRACY
Theoretically speaking caste and democratic political system stand for opposite value systems. Caste is hierarchical. Status of an individual in caste-oriented social system is determined by birth. It has religious sanction by various holy texts, reinforced by priests and rituals. On the other hand, democratic political system advocates freedom to an individual and equality of status. It stands for rule
of Law. No one irrespective of status is above law. Indian democratic system and the Constitution stands for liberty, equality and fraternity among all citizens.
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CASTE ELEMENT IN POLITICS
- Different caste groups their loyalties behind political parties and their ideologies. Their socialization and consequently their political thinking, conscience, and participation. In Andhra Pradesh Reddys, Karmas and Valamas, provide state leaders.
- In India, there are so many caste-based political parties which try to promote and protect the interest of a particular caste. The regional political parties, in particular, stand predominantly influenced by the caste factor. DMK and AIADMK are non-Brahmin and non- Brahmin political parties from Tamil Nadu. In Punjab, Akali Dal has a community identity.
- There are so many caste based pressure groups in India which try to promote and protect the interest of particular caste and for this purpose they keep putting pressure on governments the pressure groups like scheduled caste federation, Arya Samaj Sabha, Sanatan Dharam Sabha etc.
- In nominating their candidates from different constituencies the political parties keep in mind the cast of candidate and cast of the voters in that particular constituency. In electoral constituencies dominated by Muslims, Muslim candidates are deployed and in areas dominated by Jats, Jat candidates are deployed. Even secularist parties like Congress, Janata Dal, CPI, and CPM take into consideration caste fact in selecting their candidates.
- N.D. Palmer has rightly observed that Caste considerations are given great weight in the selection of candidates and in the appeals to voters during election campaigns.
- The role of caste in the working of Panchayati Raj and other institutions of local self- government has been recognized reality.In the rural Indian context, the caste was a mobilization of the communication
channel, representation, and leadership and a link between the electoral process and the political process.
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POLITICS AND VIOLENCE
The traditional differences between higher and lower castes become vigorous and have turned into a violent and fierce struggle for power in society. The growing terrorization of the lower castes by the higher or even intermediary castes has been becoming a part of rural India’s political reality. In states like Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and U.P caste violence has raised its head even in some urban areas. However, until today most of the caste- based violence continues to characterize rural politics.
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NEUTRALISING CASTE-BASED POLITICS
- The basis of the reservation should be economic not caste so that all the poor section of society are benefitted to it.
- Media should play a neutral role.
- By promoting Inter-caste Marriage and by providing special offers for people whom do inter-caste marriage can bring changes in the next generation people.
- The education system should be remodeled on secular lines.
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POLITICISATION OF CASTE
According to Rajni Kothari, politicisation of caste in India played a very important role in developing party politics. He proved how politicisation of caste is a double process. Caste needs politics as much as politics need caste. When caste groupings makes politics their sphere of activities. Caste groups then also gets a chance to assert their identity and to strive for position. MN Srinivas also used the concept of dominant caste. A dominant caste is a caste which dominates numerically , due to its numeric preponderance it enjoys political power. Politicians find caste a handy and convenient instrument for use during elections. Politics in Indian states had also been viewed in terms of competition among major caste groups for political power. Caste is also said to fractionalize national politics.
SUMMARY
People born in particular race have their separate caste. It defines all social, economic and political relationships for the individual. Caste is a notable foundation of social stratification in India. Indian politics is
caste-ridden politics. Caste determines the nature, organization, and working of political parties, interest groups, and all political structures and their functions. Indian society has been highly segmented
along the lines of castes, religion, class, etc, it eventually prevents the true working of Parliamentary democracy.