A Question of Caste in a Globalizing India
For educators
Launched September 12, 2011
India, seen as a rising economic giant, is a place of increasing
opportunity. In this "new" India, as the Indian media call it, caste
is presumed to have been left behind. However, caste persists, and not
just as discrimination against the "former untouchables." This project
addresses caste as it exists in various forms -- and across religions
-- and how it affects life and opportunities in the new India.
There are broadly three caste groups – the upper castes, the middle
castes, and the lowest, the former untouchables. The sub-castes are
into the thousands. Globalization and multi-party politics in the '90s
have been producing new challenges for what is called "caste society."
This has led to greater violence between groups and individuals, and
between caste groups and the state.
The only time caste really comes into mainstream discourse in India is
with the issue of affirmative action, vehemently opposed by upper
caste elites as compromising "merit." But affirmative action in India
has had some success, largely undocumented.
Urban, middle-class Indians who benefit from the new economy insist
caste is going away – so why then are crimes against the former
untouchables increasing? We're told education and modernity are
answers to caste – so why then are caste associations led by their
educated elites? Journalist Shivam Vij sheds light on these questions,
showing that caste is not only alive but thriving in the new India.
Shivam Vij
Grantee
Shivam Vij is an independent journalist based in New Delhi. He has
reported and written extensively on caste-based violence, affirmative
action and politics. He has also reported on the Kashmir conflict and
the India's Maoist uprising. His work has appeared in Tehelka, Open
and Caravan and Himal South Asian, amongst other publications. He is a
member of the South Asian team blog, Kafila.
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