Sociology

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DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA


NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY,
LUCKNOW
2016-2017

SOCIOLOGY
PROJECT: “Role of Caste in Indian Politics”

Submitted by: Under the guidance of:

HIMANSHU MALIK DR. SANJAY SINGH

Semester – 2nd ( Prof. Sociology )

Section-A Dr.Ram Manohar Lohiya

Roll no. 79 National Law University,Lucknow

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

On the completion of this project, i would like to place on record my sincere gratitude
towards all those people who have been important in its making. Firstly i would like to thank,
Prof. Sanjay Singh for giving me such an interesting topic to research and for helping me
with the research process and for always attending all my queries and doubts on the same.I
thank her for all the support and encouragement without which the completion of this project
would not have been possible.

And last but not the least; I thank my family and friends for supporting me throughout in all
my endeavours.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) INTRODUCTION

2) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CASTE & POLITICS

3) IMPACT ON EACH OTHER & CONSEQUENCES OF THIS SYSTEM

4) CONCLUSION

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INTRODUTION

Ideologically, caste and democracy differ from each other and cannot co-exist because caste
advocates fragmentation of society whereas democracy stands for the unification of society.

Caste is leased on inequality by birth. Democracy is based on principles of equality.

Caste advocates social exclusion and democracy advocates social inclusion. Caste provides
wealth, power and status to specific groups but democracy provides equal chance to all
categories irrespective of bias. However, the peculiarity is that both caste system and
democracy co-exist in Indian society. India is attempting a reconciliation between a modern
democratic political systems with a social system which has its firm foundations in ancient
culture. Many ancient social structures are persisting. In one sense, the modern democratic
political system has been superimposed on people who are greatly attached to their past and
the dynamics of contemporary Indian society derives from a struggle or conflict between an
emerging democratic politics on the one hand and the loyalties of people rooted in the Indian
past on the other. Another important dimension of contemporary Indian society is that its
material foundations are changing: India is building a capitalist society.

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CASTE & POLITICS

Caste influences politics and political system influences caste. It is because both are
interrelated :-

Political System Influences Caste:


1. All political parties calculate caste support at the time of distribution of tickets.

2. Political behaviour also influences the caste people.

Caste Influences Political System:


1. Caste reserves its votes for its own members.

2. People prefer to vote for a candidate of their own caste irrespective of the merits/demerits
of the candidate.

3. Leader of a particular caste prefers to select his own caste people in different posts.

Politics provides mainly three things to caste people:


1. Prestige and power.

2. Economic benefits.

3. Administrative patronage.

Caste provides, on the other hand, leadership to the political structure

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CONSEQUENCES

(a) Caste is no more regarded as the only base of politics.

(b) Caste is used as a tool of political mobilization or articulation.

(c) Caste has decisive influence on political system.

(d) Simultaneously caste also has a new strength to form n new integration.

(e) Caste has the power to accommodate many groups and it acts as a cohesive element which
absorbs tension and frustration.

(f) Emergence of a new elite structure in which the leaders are drawn from varied caste
groups.

(g) Sharing of common secular outlook.

(h) Emergence of caste associations and institutions like caste club, caste conference etc.

(i) Emergence of caste federation composed of many castes having specific interests such as
fighting to get reservation facility.

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CONCLUSION

Though the spirit of secularism stands clearly affirmed in the Constitution, yet in a limited
and indirect way, it recognises the caste system in the form of providing for caste based
reservations. Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the
Union Parliament and the state legislative assemblies The role of caste in the working of the
Panchayati Raj and other institutions of local self-government has been a recognised reality

Since caste is a major feature of the Indian society and acts as an important factor in various
processes of politics, it also plays a big role in the decision-making process. Even the issue of
re-organisation of states is handled with an eye upon the prevention of undue predominance
of a caste group in a particular territory. Caste based violence very often finds its way into
politics Caste has been emerging as a factor in the process of leadership recruitment.

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