Essay on certain changes found in our Caste System

Caste System and its existence: the caste system although it beginning in very early years of the Indian history, it has continued through all these ages. Certain things have brought about certain changes in the Caste System. As a result of this, the institution has become weak and many of its things have also been broken but the fact is that it exists even today. These conditions and the factors that are responsible for the continuance of the Caste System are:-

1) Geographical isolation 2) Static society 3) Foreign aggression 4) Structure of the Rural Society 5) Influence of religion 6)Difference of race 7) Lack of education.

Let us take them up one by one and discuss them in detail.

1) Geographical isolation:

Geographical isolation plays a vital role in the continuance of the Caste System. If a particular area is cut off from other parts, people living in it become isolated from others. They develop their own customs, traditions values, superstitions etc, they are not prepared to accept within the superiority of others. These factors are responsible for creation and continuance of the Caste System.

2) Static Society:

When the society becomes static it looses its progressive character and does not bring about Indian society particularly the Hindu society, the Caste system has grown and become powerful. The customs traditions, values etc, of the Hindu society have not changed since ages. Whatever changes have taken place is at a very show pace. Because of this show pace, the Caste System had persisted in the early ages, when the society was changing at a factor has pace, the caste system was where only in name.

Since its changing character has become more or less motionless, the Caste System has become quite powerful. If influences various aspects of the Hindu social life.

3) Foreign aggression:

Foreign aggression has attributed to the strength and continuation of the caste system. It is said that as soon as the Aryans who were fair complexioned came to this country, the natives who were dark complexioned came to this country, the natives who were dark complexioned tried to keep themselves away from them. On the other hand, the Aryans, in order to maintain their purity, also kept themselves away from him natives.

This resulted in formation of two classes of castes. Many of the scholars are of the view that caste system in this country is the result of the Aryans aggression with the passage of time several other aggressions took place in this country and these aggressions are responsible for the strengthening of the caste system. The two caste i.e. Aryans and the natives after sometime started interesting ling and this inters middling gave birth too many new castes.

4) Structure of the Rural Society:

The structure of the Rural Society is such that it encourages the caste system. In fact the Rural Society is static in nature. Because of its static nature, it does not change. The non changeability is responsible for the creation of caste and strengthening of the caste system. What is true of the Indian society at a larger scale is also true of the Rural Society at a smaller scale.

This is a condition which is quite favorable for the caste system. In fact caste systemic is a part of the rural structure in India. Since the organisation takes place, the Caste System becomes weak Caste System is, therefore, a part of the Indian Rural society which has a structure quite favorable for its existence and development

5) Influence of religion:

Religion is the most important factors which have contributed in the existence and development of the caste system particularly in the Hindu society. The Hindu society, the caste system is regarded as a thing of divine origin and those who flouted are considered to be sincere. Because of this religious sanction, the institution of caste system has not only existed but also gained strength during all these years.

6) Difference of race:

We have difference in the races discrimination is practiced even in the modern society of America there is discrimination between blacks and whites. This type of distinction was present in ancient India as well as in the medieval India. In India, Aryans and Dravidians belong to two races and during trail period it was Hindus and Muslims as regarded members of two deferent races. This discrimination gave strength to Caste System of the Hindu society.

7) Lack of education:

Lack of education or illiteracy leads to belief in tradition, custom, superstitions etc, all these factors are responsible for caste system and different other types of discrimination and distinctions. In Indian society particularly the Rural Society there has been lack of education. Because of this weakness people were guided by the superstitions, custom, traditions etc, these things contributed a lot to the existence and strengthening of Caste System.

If Caste System exists in this country, even today it is only on account of low percentage of education. Due to lack of education and literacy people are not able to acquire scientific outlook and lack of scientific outlook lends to belief in Caste System.

Condition that does not favor the caste system or modern trend of the caste system: in India caste system is to be found even today. In spite of certain factors that are un favorable to the institution of the caste system also exists in this country. Because of these factors, various changes have taken place in the caste system. This caste system has in certain respects become more powerful in free India the factors that are un favorable to the caste system and have also brought about certain changes on the structure of caste system are being enumerated below:

1) Education

2) Freedom, struggle, political consciousness and electron.

3) Industrialisation.

4) Change in the economic structure of the society, importance of wealth, class consciousness.

5) Movement of social emancipation and the protection granted to Scheduled Castes and backward classes.

6) Increase in means of communication.

7) New laws against practicing untouchability and modern legal structure.

8) Emergence of new social and economic classes.

Caste system in Indian villages: the Caste System is more to be found in the Indian villages than in the Indian towns. It does not wield the influence it once wielded. But it is still an important factor in the rural social order. It also influences the Indian rural life. Its influence in the Indian rural life may be seen in the following ways:

1) Caste system and the economic life. 2) Caste system and the joint family structure 3) Caste system and the education 4) Caste system and political life. 5) Caste system and value pattern 6) the problem of casteism.

The caste system has changed is pattern restrictions that went with the caste sometime ago, are getting relaxed. In spite of it, it cannot be said that the Caste System has come to an end. It will undergo further change in future. It will completely vanish only when the democratic values get deep rooted and the country makes good deal of economic progress and industrial advancement then new political and economic structure will emerge and it will change the pattern of the Caste System.