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11-05-2008
Glory
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: Oct 2008
: India
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Arrow Casteless , caste-ridden and caste-system based society

Some people hold ‘caste-ridden Indian society’ responsible for miseries and exploitation of millions of downtroddens. Therefore wish to change it into casteless society. For creating a casteless society, new forms of cooperation and support-systems have to be cultivated. However, so far they have not suggested any alternative scheme to substitute it. Also Indians are not sure of new systems and are reluctant to abandon this institutions of proven value. Total elimination of caste seems to be a distant dream.


Creation of a classless society is not the solution for deprivation on downtrodden. Solution lies in solving its root causes - issues like poverty, illiteracy, population-explosion, mass-scale unemployment. Usually Power rests with those having either physical strength or wealth or knowledge. Knowledge brings in both force and wealth. Therefore education for all is a must.


There is difference between ‘caste-system’ and ‘casteism’. Unchecked growth of casteism due to ‘politicisation of caste’ has to be arrested at its earliest. Different groups emerge naturally in every society out of functional necessity. Every society, anywhere in the world, has always been and is still classified. Basis of stratification may be class, caste, religion, region, language or occupation. Each society devises its own principles for statification for its sustainable development as well as for taking care of the interests of its people.


Western societies are stratified on basis of class. Its focus is on individual. Individuals of same economic and cultural level form one social group/class. Social status of a person depends on material success and control over power/authority. Wealthy class usually rules over poor classes in societies formed on class basis. In India stratification begins with a social group, called caste. It consists of individuals having similar thinking, customs, language, style of living, or occupation. Rules of endogamy, ritual purity, interdependence, specialisation and hierarchical order of social units were its important traits. It separates wealth from status, power from authority and knowledge from temptations of worldly comforts. All individuals within a caste group – irrespective of ones financial position – are equal having similar rank, rights and duties.