Caste System in India: An Analysis

The Indian caste system is a system of social divisions and compulsions in India in which communities are distinguished by thousands of endogamous heritable groups known as Jatis. On the other hand, democracy means that every citizen of India must enjoy the democratic values like equality, fraternity, liberty, secularism and justice. But the striking prospect regarding social, economic and political relations circumambulate around the issues of discrimination, untouchability and inequality which wholly and solely rely on caste, class, gender and race. The controversies and strife of Indian socio- economic order remained almost constant even after 71 years of Independence. This much time is more than enough for the society to realize their flaws and mistakes that are predominant in the society that has completely shattered the social order. But even at the onset of modern age or 21st century, Indian society has not succeeded yet to resolve its contradictions and errors. Despite the endeavors taken by the Post- Independent Indian state towards the goal of equality, liberty, harmony and justice, the concept of discrimination and disharmony and inequality has not been diminished yet. The present paper unveils the issues of suppression, oppression, discrimination, exploitation over a targeted group of people namely Dalits (lower castes) who are still the backward classes of Indian society and with which Indian democracy is at stake. Thus the country of India would lose the title of being a democratic country, if the discrimination, dehumanization remain continuous.