Caste as a Political Force in India
In India, membership in a social group known as a caste is decided by birth. The social group's members frequently marry other members of the same social group, and they share comparable political preferences. (Cordaux 233). The social organization is concerned about some issues that affect both its members and the general public. These issues are political, and the following reasons are why Caste has evolved into a political force.
Recognition of Culture and Involvement in the Democratic Process
First, the societal group is undergoing modern changes and is pushing for the recognition of their culture. As a result, the members of the Caste community are being involved in the democratic process and this changes the nature of politics of the group which was previously hierarchy to Ibid (Dhareswar 225).
Reservation and Equal Representation
Secondly, the social group has introduced reservation in the Indian government and this has enabled the marginalized groups to have representation in the government. As a result, the members of the Caste community are engaged in an election, which is a democratic process whereby the members are being given equal representation in the absence of discrimination (Weiner 206).
Economic Empowerment and Self-Reliance
Additionally, the members of the Caste community have been subjected to poverty for long, but they have been given economic empowerment and this has enabled the community to be self-reliant.
The Empowerment of Caste as a Political Category
In conclusion, when a community becomes economically empowered, it acquires the strength to demand more from the national government. As a result, the empowerment of Caste has made it a political category. Also, the social group has been enabled to take part in the national government through the reservation and this makes the social group a political category.
Work Cited
Cordaux, Richard, et al. "Independent origins of Indian caste and tribal paternal
lineages." Current Biology 14.3 (2004): 231-235.
Dhareswar, Vivek. "Caste and the secular self." Occasional Paper 11 (2014): 219-234.
Weiner, Myron. "The struggle for equality: caste in Indian politics." The Success of
India’s Democracy (2001): 193-225.
