Caste & politics in india

A brief introduction about caste & politics in India

1. Caste & Politics in India Ms. Bushra Fatima ( Dept. of Sociology ) Shia P.G. College, Lucknow Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

2. Caste The term caste has been derived from the Portuguese term “ casta ” meaning race, breed, family or lineage. A caste system emerge when a society is composed of birth-ascribed, hierarchically ordered and culturally distinct groups. It has been observed that caste is a system of stratification of the society by birth in which mobility of the movement up and down the status ladder is normally not permitted. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

3. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

4. Politics The word Politics is derived from Greek word “ politika ” meaning affairs of the cities. It is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions that apply to groups of members and achieving and exercising positions of governance – organized control over a human community. A political system is a framework which defines acceptable political methods within a society. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

5. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

6. Politics in India Politics in India takes place within the framework of a “Constitution”. India is a Federal Parliamentary “Democratic Republic” in which the President of India is the Head of State & the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. Legislative power is vested in both the governments and the two chambers of the Parliament of India are the “ Lok Sabha ” & the “ Rajya Sabha ”. India as a nation has been labelled as a “Sovereign-Socialist-Secular Democratic Republic” which is “Egalitarian Secular”. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

7. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

8. Caste & Politics in India It is quite ironical that various political parties do not support the caste system yet they give top priority to the people in allocating the party tickets. Caste plays a very important role in Indian Politics. Caste & Politics have become inseparable components of Indian Political Process. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

9. Continuum Caste in Politics in India provides one of the most important organizational clusters in which the population is found to live, politics must strive to organize through such a structure. Caste prominence has been enhanced in the Indian Politics due to introduction of “Universal Adult Franchise”. Due to this numerically caste groups suddenly become conscious about their bargaining strength and ahs provided a new dimension to Indian Politics. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

10. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

11. Consequences of Caste on Politics in India Caste in no more regarded as the only base of politics. Politician use caste as a tool of political mobilization or articulation. Caste has decisive influence on political system. Caste has the power to accommodate many groups and it acts as a cohesive element that absorbs tension and frustration. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

12. Continuum Emergence of a new elite structure in which the leaders are drawn from varied caste groups. Emergence of caste associations and institutions like caste conference, caste club, e tc. Emergence of caste federation composed of many castes having specific interests such as fighting to get reservation facility. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

13. Example of Major Caste in India In Bihar Yadavs, Muslims, Rajput are the major castes. In Uttar Pradesh Yadavs, Jats, and Thakur in central U.P. Yadavs, Rajput Jats and Thakur in east U.P. Muslims, Brahmins, and Kayastha are the major castes in the state of West Bengal. Banjara, Maratha, and Malis in the state of Maharashtra. Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College

14. Thank You Ms. Bushra Fatima (Dept. of Sociology) Shia P.G. College