Caste conflicts ( Sociology Optional)

Caste Conflict

  • Write short note: Class-conflict in the agrarian society. (86/20)
  • संक्षिप्त टिप्पणी लिखें: कृषि समाज में वर्ग-द्वंद्व । (86/20)
  • Highlight the important dimension of caste conflict in India. (10/30)
  • भारत में जाति संघर्ष के महत्वपूर्ण आयामों को उजागर करें। (10/30)
  • Highlight the important dimensions of inter-caste conflict in India. (10/30)
  • भारत में अंतर-जातीय संघर्ष के महत्वपूर्ण आयामों को उजागर करें। (10/30)
  • 'Many caste conflicts are between castes which are close to each other on the hierarchical scale.' Give a sociological explanation for this phenomenon. (14/20)
  • "कई जातिगत संघर्ष उन जातियों के बीच हैं जो पदानुक्रमित पैमाने पर एक-दूसरे के करीब हैं। इस घटना के लिए एक समाजशास्त्रीय स्पष्टीकरण दें। (14/20)

Caste system

  • Gait says that caste is an endogamous group or a collection of such groups bearing a common name who by reason of traditional occupation and reputed origin, are generally regarded, by those of their countrymen who are competent to given an opinion, as forming a single homogenous community, the constituent parts of which are nearly related to each other than they are to any other section of society.
  • The caste system in India is a system of social stratification.
  • The roots of the caste system are traced back to the ancient ages. While one view discriminates between the castes as upper and lower castes on the basis of their origin, another view traces the origin of the castes to varnas which classifies the caste system on the basis of their functions. Since then, it was found that undue advantage was taken by the section of people having an upper hand and a say in the community, leading to discrimination and exploitation of the weaker sections of community.

Consequences of caste system

  • Untouchability: Many villages are separated by caste and they may not cross the line dividing them from the higher castes. They also may not use the same wells or drink in the same tea stalls as higher castes.
  • Discrimination: They often do not have the facility to electricity, sanitation facilities or water pumps in lower caste neighbourhoods. Access to better education, housing and medical facilities than that of the higher castes is denied.
  • Division of labour: They are restricted to certain occupations like sanitation work, plantation work, leather works, cleaning streets, etc.
  • Slavery: They are subjected to exploitation in the name of debt, tradition, etc., to work as labourers or perform menial tasks for generations together.

Cast based Violence

  • Conflict is one of the fundamental social processes of human society. Whenever two or more groups struggle for like things, competition occurs and if the scarcity of resources is of higher degree, it leads to conflict. According to Max Weber, competition is peaceful conflict.
  • Conflict is being there from the time of Vedic period. Initially it was in the form of racial conflict between Aryans and Dasas. But, this cooperation did not lasted for ever and conflict started to appear between, different castes for upper status in the society.
  • Lower caste wants a pro-active approach from government to bring them at par with the other castes. Due to such demands from lower castes particularly Dalits, upper/dominant caste people are all out to repress them. And hence, rise in violent caste conflicts.

Dimensions of caste conflict in India

There are various dimensions of caste conflict in India. They can be put into four categories:

  1. Upper Caste Vs middle caste (ascending caste):
  • Mandal commission report generated animosities between upper and middle castes.
  • When Mandal comission recommendation was implemented by Mr.V.P.Singh, Upper caste people agitated agairist it leading to violent conflict between administration and upper caste students and upper castes and lower castes people.
  1. Middle caste Vs middle caste:
  • It is largely constitutional and electoral.
  • The conflict between different ascending caste is to assert there superiority in the government jobs and parliamentary representation.
  1. Upper and middle caste Vs untouchable caste:
  • Dalits are an exploited mass since the beginning of their history. Even after constitutional provision of abolition of untouchability and protection from constitutional authorities, they have been facing the atrocities even today.
  • Various forms of atrocities take place viz. raping, parading Dalit women naked, burning Dalits alive, beating them etc. In the changed political environment Dalits react to such atrocities and thereby results "Caste Conflict".
  • This conflict is gradually being institutionalized on class pattern in the form of Naxalite movement.
  • The landowning Castes of Bihar have organized themselves into various senas like Ranvir sena.
  1. Upper caste VS Upper caste:
  • It is mainly political rivalry.
  • The conflict was more vociferous in the initial years of independence when peasant castes and lower castes were not in the mainstream of the politics and were in the process of co-optation.
  • Reservation of seats through different categories has also become the source of caste conflict: Meena Vs Gujjar in Rajasthan over the struggle of Meena to get scheduled tribe status.
  • In 2008 Gujjar’s agitation for ST status became violent. At least 26 people were killed in that violence. The agitation finally ended after Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje agreed on a 5% reservation under a new special category.

Causes of cast conflict

  1. Sense of Superiority:
  • Caste system divides the entire society hierarchically. The higher and lower divisions of caste groups are reflected in their status and role. So, some groups feel superior than the other groups. That creates conflict between higher castes and lower castes.
  1. Caste and Politics:
  • Caste plays an important role in politics. When candidates are selected for the election, the higher authorities use caste as the basis of selection. Political parties are also formed on the basis of caste like DMK, AIDMK, Akali Dal etc.
  1. Endogamy:
  • Marriage restriction is the main reason for casteism. It is a restriction which compels each caste group to have feeling of separatism.
  1. Means of Communication and Transportation:
  • Development in the means of communication provides facility for easy communication. So, the members of a caste group can easily communicate with each other and they can also assemble together in one place to discuss matters related to their caste.

Consequences of caste conflicts

  • It hampers unity and integrity.
  • It is anti-democratic.
  • It promotes inequality.
  • It hinders economic progress.
  • It is an obstacle to social progress.

Solution to Caste conflict and Casteism

  • Providing value-based education to children.
  • Responsible reporting by mass media.
  • Encourage inter-caste marriage.
  • Provision of cultural and economic equality among different sections of the society.
  • Ensuring that reservation benefits the most poor and downtrodden.
  • Banning caste and khap panchayats.
  • Fast trials and strict penalties for crimes against Dalits.

Laws and Policies

  • Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights: Articles 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Constitution of India highlight the Right to Equality in details.
  • Abolition of ‘untouchability’ in 1950
  • Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
  • Provision of reservation in places like educational institutions, for employment opportunities etc.
  • Establishing social welfare departments and national commissions for the welfare of scheduled castes and tribes.