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Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (UPSC GS1 2020)

Famous sociologist David Mandelbaum has said that the key to understanding the Indian society lies in Indian Village, Joint Family and Caste system. This provesthe importance of caste system as one of the most important dimensions to know the multi-cultural Indian Society.
Compare with past: how the role of caste is evolving with time 

• With the breakdown of the closed village economy and the rise of democratic politics, the competitive element embedded in caste has come to the fore. This has eroded the role of caste as a system of economic interdependence and social coercion. 
• With the advent of Indian Constitution and the inception of democratic polity in India, two opposing socio-political phenomena occurred. First, the modern technological education and economic activities inculcated into the society which eroded the role of caste and second, it gave rise to the subaltern assertion. 

Caste relevance in the contemporary society with examples 

• Many scholars thought that the caste system will fade out in background. But on the contrary, it proves itself to be quite adaptive and responsive to changing socio political environment. 
• The democratization has resulted in caste politics which has further led to the politization of the caste consciousness. 
• Caste has emerged as a pressure group having roles in many contemporary agitations viz. Jat agitation, Patel agitation, etc. 
• It is now acting as a welfare unit providing free coaching, residential facility, scholarship, etc. 
• Nowadays, the caste identity has strengthened itself in contemporary times as seen in various Dalit literatures, Cinema such as Sairat, Media such as National Dastak. 
• Furthermore, the alternative Indian history, which was introduced by Jyoti Rao Phule, can be seen as gaining traction in the political sphere. 
• Also, the subaltern society has provided itself an economic platform viz. the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry which was founded in 2005 by Milind Kamble. 
• Further, many caste icons have come to the fore such as Savitri Phule, Shahuji Maharaj, and most importantly, Dr. Ambedkar. 
• Even among Muslims, a social reform dedicated to the emancipation of the Dalit Muslims, called Pasmanda movement, can be observed. 

Conclusion 
In the contemporary Indian society, a basic shift took place in caste; from ritual hierarchy to identity politics, from ascribed and designated status to negotiated positions of power, from ritual definitions of roles and positions to civic and political definitions of the same. The caste system eroded at the ritual level, but emerged at the political and economic levels. Therefore, the importance of the caste system in understanding the Indian society cannot be ruled out at present and in future.

Topics Covered - Caste system in Indian society