Among the major divisive forces affecting the polity, caste remains the formidable one. It refers to an inscriptive system of status and hierarchy. Its chief characteristics are hierarchy, commensality, restrictions on marriage and hereditary occupation.
Its dominance is observed by M.N. Srinivas “Caste is so tacitly and so completely accepted by all, including those most vocal in condemning it, that it is everywhere the unit of social action.”
Although British gained control over India by playing one caste or community against the other, their system of education and administration helped in individualizing the Indian society.
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But, while structural and functional aspects underwent transformation, political dimension strike its root. After the Independence, caste began to acquire new turn in Indian politics. Speaking about the interaction between caste and politics, Rajni Kothari points out three dimensions.
Firstly, In spite of being a stratification system, caste has strived for social mobility.
Secondly, Caste system is not only based on birth but also controls and determines occupational and economic roles.
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Thirdly, it is not politics that gets caste-ridden, it is caste that gets politicized.
Critical Evaluation:
Though there remains scepticism in many quarters regarding the role of caste in politics, but there is unanimity in saying that caste has provided matter to politics.
In the words of Lloyad I and Susanne H. Rudolphs, “the caste association provides the channel of communication and bases of leadership and organization which enables those still submerged in the traditional society and culture to transcend the technical political literacy which would otherwise handicap their ability to participate in democratic politics.”
The lower castes have become a major instrument of fortune maker or fortune breaker of many political parties. The rise of OBC’s has heralded an era of political alignments and coalition government.
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The caste remains a central element of Indian society and has vibrant influence on democratic politics.
In almost all aspects of life, caste considerations continue to have decisive role.