Casteism- Meaning, Definition, Characteristics, Factors, Impacts and Remedial Measures

# Meaning of Casteism

Casteism is a blind group loyalty towards one’s own caste or sub caste which does not care for the interests of the other castes and their members. Casteism is partial or one-sided loyalty in favor of particular caste.

The sense of caste is converted to casteism only when consideration of superiority between castes and the tendency to consider the interest of one’s own caste as opposed to the other castes are attached to it.

# Definition of Casteism

1. According to D.N. Prasad:- “Casteism is loyalty to the caste translated into politics.”

2. According to Kaka Kelkar:- “Casteism is an overriding blind and supreme group loyalty that ignores the healthy social standards of justice, fair play, equality and universal brotherhood.”

# Characteristics of Casteism

1. Casteism is a harmful phenomenon that prioritizes the interests of one's own caste or sub-caste above all else, disregarding the well-being and concerns of others. 

2. It hinders the spirit of democracy. It is an anti-democratic.

3. Casteism ignores human values and social welfare.

4. Casteism can lead to political domination, where individuals from dominant castes hold power and influence, perpetuating their own interests.

5. Casteism leads to economic exploitation, where individuals from lower castes are denied equal access to resources, leading to economic disparities.

6. It hinders the process of national integration and against the ideal of Indian Constitution of India.

# Factors OR Causes of Casteism

1. Sense of Caste prestige:- The most important causes of casteism is the desire of people belonging to a particular caste to enhance the prestige of their caste and in so doing see no wrong in adopting even the most downgraded and deleterious methods. But the prestige of the caste can be maintained only on the ground that every opportunity be availed of and utilized in order to improve the social status of members. In order to achieve this objective every caste provides its members with all possible privileges in order to raise their social status. This tends to increase casteism.

2. Caste endogamy:- Caste endogamy, or the practice of marrying within one's own caste, plays a significant role in perpetuating casteism. By limiting marriage options to within one's own social group, individuals are more likely to develop strong loyalties and identities tied to their specific caste and sub-caste. This can lead to a narrow-minded focus on one's own community, fostering a sense of exclusivity and superiority over others.

3. Impact of urbanization:- Urbanization has an indirect impact on perpetuating casteism, as people migrating from rural areas to cities often seek comfort and security in familiar social networks. When individuals move to a new urban environment, they tend to gravitate towards people from their own caste, as they share a common identity, culture, and language. This leads to the formation of caste-based communities in urban areas, reinforcing social bonds and a sense of belonging within one's own caste.

4. Increase in the means of transport and communication:- Advancement and improvement in the means of transport and communication leads to a better organization of caste. The feeling of casteism is also rapidly propagated through the medium of newspaper.

5. Illiteracy:- Lack of illiteracy leads to narrow mindedness.  Illiteracy can lead to the perpetuation of traditional beliefs and customs, including those that reinforce caste-based divisions. Hence it leads to casteism.

6. Belief in religious dogmas:- The belief in religious dogmas, blind beliefs, and superstitions can indeed contribute to the perpetuation of casteism, especially among illiterate individuals.

7. Social distance:- Especially in rural areas, people belong to the higher caste maintain social distance from the lower castes. They maintain it through different restrictions like inter-caste marriages, inter-dinner etc. The conditioning of an individual's ideologies exclusively by their caste norms and values leads to a narrow and biased worldview, further perpetuating casteism..

# Impacts OR Consequences of Casteism

1. Hindrance to the development of National feeling:- Casteism divides people in the name of caste and encourages intolerance, jealousy, rivalry and conflicts among members of the caste. Caste clashes and tensions that arise in society for one reason or other wreck the unity of society and damages social harmony.

2. Dangerous to democracy:- Caste and democracy cannot go together.  Caste is based on inequality, hierarchy, and discrimination, whereas democracy is founded on equality, justice, and equal opportunities for all. The coexistence of these two systems in India leads to inevitable clashes and contradictions. Since democracy and caste system are coexisting in India clashes between them are inevitable.

3. Encourages moral development:- Casteism contributes to the moral fall. It encourages nepotism. It makes one go out of the way to help and favor people of one’s own caste.

4. Casteism leads to the negligence of talents and efficiency:- If candidates are selected and appointments are made on the basis of caste, it definitely damages talents, abilities and efficiencies of the people.

5. Casteism may even lead to Brain-Drain:- Casteism which comes in the way of the recognition of merit and efficiency indirectly promotes brain-drain.

6. Corruption:- People inspired by the sense of casteism try to provide all kinds of facilities to people who belong to their own caste and in doing so they resort to all kinds of immoral and improper activities. In this way, extreme corruption in the society is increasing.

7. Hindrance in technological efficiency:- Because the appointment of government and private services is done on the basis of caste, there seems to be continuing increase in the number of inefficient and worthless people. On the other hand, the efficient and able individuals do not get the opportunity to find employment. Thus a great obstacle is placed in the path of nation’s industrial and technological advance.

# Remedial measures of Casteism

1. Proper education:- Proper education is indeed a crucial solution to address the problem of casteism. Educational institutions play a vital role in shaping young minds and promoting inclusive values.

2. Inter-caste marriage:- Inter-caste marriage is a powerful way to combat casteism. Inter-caste marriage provides an opportunity for two families belonging to different caste to come together, not just two individuals, and understand each other.

3. Lesser use of the word ‘caste’:- Reducing the usage of the word "caste" could indeed help mitigate the perpetuation of casteism, especially among children.

4. Elections:- During elections an appeal to caste feelings should be prohibited and made punishable.

5. Cultural and economic equality:- Another way of facing the problem of casteism is to introduce cultural and economic equality in the minds and the lives of the various castes. Inequality in the sphere of cultural and economic welfare between the races promotes jealousy and competition among them which later assumed the form of casteism.

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