Why caste persists in politics

"An internal code, culture and values make a caste special to its members."

The reason for the persistence of caste in politics has to do with the internal code of the caste, its positive aspects, its culture. This aspect erodes more slowly, if it erodes at all, because it is felt. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Why caste persists in politics:

The fact is that the Indian votes confessionally. For him or her, merit comes from caste values. This condition may not be forever unalterable. But it is evident that modernity by itself has thus far not dented it as it has the prescriptive aspect of caste.

Home, work and worship are precisely where caste is embedded most powerfully, and the reason why caste consciousness persists in 2012. Voting is only an extension of this consciousness that has, in fact, not changed that much.

India's destiny not caste in stone

"Outside politics, there are other areas of life in which caste consciousness has been dying down."

Democracy was expected to efface the distinctions of caste, but its consequences have been very different from what was expected. There are areas of life, other than politics, in which the consciousness of caste has been dying down, though not very rapidly or dramatically. The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : India's destiny not caste in stone

There has been a steady erosion of the rules relating to commensality or inter-dining. Also, caste consciousness in matrimonial matters has been on the decline in recent decades. Rapid economic growth and the expansion of the middle class are accompanied by new opportunities for individual mobility which further loosens the association between caste and occupation.

If, in spite of all this, caste is maintaining or even strengthening its hold over the public consciousness, it is due to the adoption of universal adult franchise after independence, which altered the character and scope of the involvement of caste in the political process. The consciousness of caste is brought to the fore at the time of elections.

Unfortunately, the discussions on television create the illusion that caste is an unalterable feature of Indian society. It will be a pity if we allow what goes on in the media to reinforce the consciousness of caste and to persuade us that caste is India's destiny.

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