Social Institutions Continuity and Change | Class 12 Sociology Notes

CASTE IN THE PRESENT

Post-Independence India inherited the colonial caste structure but sought to abolish caste discrimination constitutionally. The nationalist movement included efforts to uplift 'depressed classes' and abolish untouchability, with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar playing key roles. The Constitution explicitly prohibits caste discrimination and provides for affirmative action (reservations) for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. However, caste remains a significant social and political force. Economic development, urbanization, and education have challenged caste rigidity, especially in urban middle and upper classes, where caste is often 'invisible' in public life but persists in marriage and cultural practices. In rural areas and among lower castes, caste identity remains highly visible and politically mobilized. Concepts like 'sanskritisation' describe how lower castes adopt upper caste practices to improve status, while 'dominant caste' refers to numerically large, land-owning castes that wield economic and political power. Caste-based political parties have emerged since the 1980s, making caste central to electoral politics. The persistence and transformation of caste illustrate its complex role in contemporary India.

📊 Diagram: Figure 3.4 Savitri Bai Phule (1831-1897)

🧪 Activity: Discuss the role of caste in contemporary politics and society.

🔗 Connection: Transitions to the study of tribal communities in section 3.2.