Whether the caste system will end in India?

Introduction 

1. The caste system leads to social stratification in India

2. Fixed status 

3. Status and position is determined by the birth

4. The choice in marriage, selection of friends, food habits, family customs are often dictated by the caste

5. Caste provide for occupational choices of the individuals 

6. Caste also guarantee social security to the individual in times of crises

7. Caste system enables members to maintain unity 

8. Caste safeguard and transmits culture 

9. Each caste has it own norms, values, customs and customs which it wants to preserve and transmit to next generation

10. Caste also plays its role in transmitting the specialised skills, knowledge and behaviour patterns that are very closely associated with the hereditary occupations of the caste

11. It has also provided opportunities for solidarity and mutual support

12. It also contributes to the dynamics of division of labour 

13. Caste also contributed to political stability. It was responsible for the preservation of India to complete barbarism. It provided a defence against despotism and served as the means of preserving the Hindu culture under the foreign rule

14. Indian society survived a vast number of invasions, conquest by invaders, famines, revolutions, social upheavals due to caste system

15. Caste also integrates various groups, institutions and subsystems into a whole 

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Changes in the traditional features of caste system

1. On account of uniform legal system, impact of modern education, industrialization, urbanisation and westernisation , freedom struggle, establishment of democracy, rise of non brahmin movement, social reforms, improvement in the status of women, evolution of new social classes and a threat to conversion into other religion led to changes in the traditional function of caste 

2. The religious features of the caste have been attacked, caste is no more believed to be divinely ordained.

3. Restrictions on the food habits have been relaxed 

4. Caste is not very much associated with hereditary occupations. Occupations are becoming more and more caste free

5. Endogamy still prevails. Inter caste marriages are being consummated but it has not become the order of the day

6. There is an indifference to inter-caste marriages . people seldom accept inter caste marriages 

7. Special religious and civil privileges enjoyed by brahmins have been removed by the constitution of India

8. Untouchability has been made criminal offence, adult franchise and reservation have given lower caste strong weapons to protect their interest 

9. Caste panchayats have become very weak or disappeared. 

10. Restrictions imposed upon lower caste have been relaxed 

11. The dominance of caste is now based upon its ritual status 

12. Casteism has become still stronger 

13. The Jajmani system which used to govern inter caste relations in the villages has become weak. In place of inter caste dependence, inter caste strifes occur 

14. Caste does not dictate the individual life today nor it restrict individual freedom

15. It no longer acts as a barrier to the progress of an individual. However caste continues to ascribe the status of an individual it continues to make society hierarchical .  Although the twin processes of sanskritization and westernisation have made possible mobility both within and outside frame work of caste 

Relevance of caste in the present day 

1. Growth of classes within caste - because of the new economic and educational opportunities many individuals belonging to lower caste have become wealthy and influential 

2. Increase in the organisational power of caste - Because of the education and awareness among people of different castes, caste consciousness of the members are increasing, every caste wants to safeguard its interest and so they are organising themselves on the pattern of labour unions. These caste based organisations are trying to project the leadership of their members to serve as their spokesperson 

3. Political role of caste - because of the electoral politics castes have been politicised. Selection of candidates, voting patterns, distributions of ministerial portfolios are done taking into account the caste considerations. Politics of each states is virtually the politics of confrontations between the dominant castes  

4. Competitive role of caste - Jajmani system vanished away. Instead of vertical solidarity of caste, horizontal solidarity has taken place 

5. Caste loyalty, caste identity, caste patriotism and solidarity are increasing. While caste panchayats are declining, caste organisations are increasing. Caste organisations are running newspapers to inform their members, establishing caste based trust, cooperative credit and industrial societies, collect regular subscriptions from the members, arrange annual conferences, discuss matters and issues affecting caste interest, organising agitations against government policies. In state like Bihar some upper caste and lower caste has formed their own militia (Senas) to protect their interest 

Conclusion 

1. Thus, we see that although the traditional function and importance of caste have declined, it is still relevant. 

2. Although vertical solidarity of caste has been destroyed, the horizontal solidarity of the caste is on the rise.

3. Because of the politicisation of the caste, people vote their caste brethren in normal situation

4. Election has become a fight among dominial castes of a state to get power 

5. So the caste system would not end but it would flourish in its new incarnation