How can India "cast off" the caste system?

Question

If you're in a hurry for 2 points scroll down and read the questions in all caps.
India, whose main religion is Hinduism (by 80%) has long been entrenched in the caste system. Wikipedia link for history lesson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system#Castes_in_India

People in the lower castes are barely even considered human beings. The Ganges river, which is held sacred by Hindus and is worshiped in its personified form as the goddess Ganga, is one of the most polluted waterways in the world. Bodies are put in the river for burial, as well as garbage and human waste. It is also where many Indians get their only source of drinking water.
HOW CAN INDIA CAST OFF THE CASTE SYSTEM, ONCE AND FOR ALL?
WHAT CAN AMERICANS DO TO HELP?
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY?

Answer 1

They have caste it off in the more developed areas. They're doing exactly what they should be doing. India is a very promising democracy. The US can keep doing what it's doing. Everything is going just fine.

It's in R&S probably because you think India needs to be more Christian.

Answer 2

You have asked three question at a time ! (1)India can cast off the cast system if the political people at top want it to do so !see will will find a way 1Though it is very difficult but not impossible !Slowly gradually there is some change is noticed and the lower cast when start objecting their valuation as lower cast than this will speed up !Education is first thing where some sence of this comes!(2)Actually speaking nothing !American can not do much if INDIAN people do not want it !See a time will come where no one will be able to force any one !On our planate there will be only two crime left ! (A)Forcefull act(2)Theft otherwise all things will be taken as granted as long it is for and on personal ground !So how any nation can help all the way when you your self do not any improvement !(3)It is of course very much related to this issue Religeon and spirituality hopefully will take us for eradication of this cast base ! When every one is practicing non violence and universal forgiveness than automatically there will be unanimous cast less environment !God bless there \always YouRsmE

Answer 3

When you think of it, this goes on everywhere in the world. In India, it is in the form of a recognized religion; elsewhere, it may be one form of apartheid or discrimination by any name.

There is nothing unusual about it as it simply reflects the basic nature of man and the lower world we are living in: if all men alive today have the same parents, those men that are five foot six would gang up against all others. Such things make the earth an excellent spiritual school that it is.

Answer 4

Education can help a lot...various awareness programmes etc. could be held..it takes time alright, but it isn't impossible.like the sati system that prevailed in india during early 20th century but has now been abolished(although, i've heard that its still being practised in some remote areas), this too can be accomplished...More than how americans can help, i think it is the response from the indians that plays a bigger role...if the government had also enforced the laws, a lot of these problems should have been extinct(eg. dowry system)

Answer 5

Because the caste system was similar to the Karma levels, but it was not truly a Hindu concept from the beginning. It is like the quote "hate the sin love the sinner", which is not directly from the Bible but the Christians have tried to assume it because it generally fits in with the Christian doctrine.

Answer 6

Since the caste system is tied up in the religion, thats a tough one. Most likely it will have to happen gradually as their prosperity grows.

Its not up to Americans to do anything. India is a soverign nation and should solve its own problems. I'm sick of us being the world's cop.

See first line above.

Answer 7

Casteism is nothing but a covert mask of Racism.
In Hinduism, parents covertly teach their children to coerce other children as per the caste hierarchies.

Answer 8

The caste system is a way of life for them.

It is hard to change what is normal for them.

However, it can be done by explaining to them that we are all human beings and that there is no need to do such horrible things to people who are low caste.
It won't change overnight, but with world condemnation of their actions toward the low caste will help them reconsider.


I read about one boy who had acid thrown into his face.
His crime? He was low caste.

Answer 9

on acting islamic teaching, india can cast off the caste system, as pakistan is an islamic country and as well as neighbour for centuaries, which can help inthis respect.

Answer 10

India cannot come out of this tradition.Good luck your India..It can change only if one has a good political leadership at the top else it is doomed.