Impact of the Caste System in Modern India?

Question

How prevalent is the caste system in modern India? Is it on the same level of racial sterotyping and bigotry in the United States from say, the 1950's or 60's?

As we become more of a global economy and many jobs are outsourced to India I've wondered what impact (if any) the caste system has on doing work with Indian firms. Are there examples of US companies that have refused to do work with an Indian company that honors the caste system or is the problem just not that prevalent?

I recall the outrage in the 1980's about apartheid in South Africa. There was even a song, "Sun City," about musical artists that refused to perform there while apartheid existed.

I've heard nothing about any similar outrage about the caste system in India and so thought that perhaps it is only a dark part of India's past. Personal knowledge or anecdotes are preferred over information I could find on my own :-)

Answer 1

The information I have refers mostly to the inequality and stratification within the caste system of India.

Even today, there are still many individuals that are referred to as the "dalit" (or untouchables), which is the fifth caste of India (following the main four, which are called "varnas"). In fact, these untouchables (named so because they are seen as so lowly and unclean as to have no place within society), make up a large part of the population of India (160 million people).

Here are several examples of the inequality that comes about because of the caste system in India:

In, 2001, a man who belonged to the "dalit" caste was dragged into a field, tortured and killed by upper-caste villagers. His crime as that he dared to speak his mind in a village where untouchables were not supposed to have opinions.

In 2004, in the wake of the tsunami, fisherman from highest castes blocked the delivery of supplies to victims who were "untouchables" because they felt that the untouchables should only receive what the higher castes did not need (basically, the higher caste individuals should get first bidding to the free supplies).

Thankfully though, urbanization and industrialization are beginning to weaken the hold of the caste system on individuals. In 1997, the symbolic but high-status position of President of India went to an untouchable (for the first time in history).

Answer 2

Well its a spiral - the government has reerved seats for the so called backward castes who have economically progressed a lot. Yet, they're given privilages that other castes aren't given - when it comes to educational and job opportunities. So one sees that the tables have turned and the scheduled and once downtrodden castes have become more prosperous and have better benifits.

In addition, due to the increase in literacy and levels in education, many people have become tollerant to these castes.

Yet, the discrimination exists at an institutional level where reservations have resulted in bias towards and against certain castes, and at an individual level as the caste system gives benifit to a caste at the cost of denying another deserving person of an opportunity solely based on his caste.

The caste system has not yet been abolished by law though discriminatin is discouraged. But, as long as this system continues, there will be disparities between castes.

Answer 3

Hinduism is the only religion that has stood the test of time regarding its preachings. It has been able to accomodate any new scientific invention or discovery. All other religions are closed and are unable to accomodate anything new. Unfortunately people who have neither understood the religion properly nor practised it have a lot of love and personal kick in critisizing it.