{"id":4792,"date":"2012-09-21T13:33:53","date_gmt":"2012-09-21T17:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.cos.ucf.edu\/?p=4792"},"modified":"2012-09-21T13:33:53","modified_gmt":"2012-09-21T17:33:53","slug":"the-question-of-caste-in-modern-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/news\/the-question-of-caste-in-modern-india\/","title":{"rendered":"The question of caste in modern India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author and scholar Anupama Rao provided insights Thursday into the caste system\u2019s place in modern India to an audience of about 130. This event was organized by the UCF Global Perspectives Office as a part of the 2012-2013 theme, \u201cThe Changing Face of Freedom in Today\u2019s Turbulent Times,\u201d as well as the season\u2019s first public event of The India Center at UCF.<\/p>\n

With a background in anthropology and history, Rao looked at the caste system as one of the central influences on India\u2019s political culture.<\/p>\n

From the start of her speech, she emphasized, \u201cIn order to understand India\u2019s democracy, we have to understand caste.\u201d She acknowledged how society in India responds to the idea of equality differently from those of Europe and America, because caste becomes an important factor; it is rooted in the Hindu faith and thus the culture.\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The caste system and, more specifically, the practice of untouchability, has created division that continues to affect the democracy\u2019s development today. Rao explained that in politics, one can have \u201cone man, one vote,\u201d but in the social and economic realm, \u201cthe concept of one man, one vote is denied.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through her explanation, Rao shared the views the views of Mahatma Gandhi and B.R Ambedkar in relation to the affirmative action efforts that swept through India in the 1880s. Gandhi felt that caste was not a matter of being but of one\u2019s actions. He asserted that the ill-treatment of the Dalit, or untouchables, is a greater problem for the higher caste than it is for the untouchables themselves.<\/p>\n

Rao summarized Gandhi\u2019s solution for inequality in this way, that \u201cwhen those of the high caste do manual work, then there will be equality.\u201d She also included some thoughts from Ambedkar, saying, \u201cthe untouchables require political rights to undertake self-reform,\u201d which begged the question: If untouchability goes, will Hinduism as a religion also be abolished?<\/p>\n

Today, India is the largest democracy in the world with a thriving economy. Rao said all societies face \u201cthe question of how we can balance individual rights against groups or collective rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked, in terms of social and economic development, will India\u2019s culture ever be able to overcome the system, Rao said, \u201cThe caste has changed radically.\u201d She pointed out the importance of inequality in terms of a globalized India.<\/p>\n

Although violence and inequality are still present in certain settings, she noted, there is a blurring of caste identity in urbanized areas. Rao reflected on how much the Dalit are actually embracing globalization and how \u201ceconomic development is actually breaking down social and hierarchical barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office and The India Center, sponsors and partners included The India Group, Anil and Chitra Deshpande India Program Endowed Fund, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, UCF International Services Center, UCF Political Science Department, UCF Women\u2019s Studies Program, UCF LIFE, UCF Book Festival 2013 in association with the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Global Connections Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author and scholar Anupama Rao provided insights Thursday into the caste system\u2019s place in modern India to an audience of about 130. This event was organized by the UCF Global Perspectives Office as a part of the 2012-2013 theme, \u201cThe Changing Face of Freedom in Today\u2019s Turbulent Times,\u201d as well as the season\u2019s first public […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":4800,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8,13,16,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global-perspectives","category-news","category-political-science-departments","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\nThe question of caste in modern India - College of Sciences News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/news\/the-question-of-caste-in-modern-india\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The question of caste in modern India - College of Sciences News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Author and scholar Anupama Rao provided insights Thursday into the caste system\u2019s place in modern India to an audience of about 130. 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