{"id":127719,"date":"2024-08-24T16:14:06","date_gmt":"2024-08-24T10:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=docs&#038;p=127719"},"modified":"2024-10-19T12:41:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-19T07:11:02","password":"","slug":"caste-system-reforms-and-movements-in-india","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs\/caste-system-reforms-and-movements-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Challenging the Caste System: Reforms and Movements in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/india-caste-system-struggles\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caste <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was another oppressive force, enforcing a system of segregation based on ritual status and hierarchical order. The concept of <\/span><b>Hindu chaturvarnashrama<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dictated that a person&#8217;s caste determined their<\/span><b> social status and relative purity <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">within society. This caste system determined various aspects of a person&#8217;s life, including access to education, ownership of land, choice of profession, marriage and dining partners, and more. Even before birth, a person&#8217;s social loyalties were determined by their caste. Additionally, caste influenced various everyday aspects such as dress, food, place of residence, access to water sources, and even entry into temples.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Caste Issues\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Social Mobility and Human Dignity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rules and regulations of caste hindered <\/span><b>social mobility, perpetuated social divisions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and stifled individual initiative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Above all, the practice of untouchability inflicted a severe blow to human dignity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Social Reform Organizations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 20th century, the social reform movement saw the emergence of numerous social organizations at both the all-India and provincial levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian<\/span><b> National Social Conference, established in 1887 by M.G. Ranade<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, had limited objectives and achieved modest success.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> Bombay Social Reform Association <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was founded in 1903, and in Madras, Mrs. Annie Besant established the Hindu Association.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> All-India Anti-Untouchability League<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was formed in September 1932, later renamed <\/span><b>Harijan Sevak Sangh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a politically-aware leader of the Depressed Classes, expressed dissatisfaction with these efforts, viewing the <\/span><b>Harijan Sevak Sangh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a Congress-affiliated organization aiming to ensure the Depressed Classes remained followers of the Hindus and the Congress.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1945, <\/span><b>Dr. Ambedkar criticized Mahatma Gandhi <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in his renowned book, <\/span><b>&#8220;What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables,&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and encouraged his fellow untouchables to convert to Buddhism.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #ff6600;\"><b>Contribution of Babasaheb Ambedkar<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Babasaheb Ambedkar, who had experienced the worst form of casteist discrimination during his childhood, fought against upper caste tyranny throughout his life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Formation of Key Organizations for Scheduled Castes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He organised the <\/span><b>All India Scheduled Castes Federation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while several other leaders of the depressed classes founded the <\/span><b>All India Depressed Classes Association.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Opposition to Caste and Legislative Reforms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambedkar condemned the <\/span><b>hierarchical and insular caste system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a whole, and advocated the <\/span><b>annihilation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the institution of caste for the <\/span><b>real progress of the nation.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The struggle of the depressed classes led to the provision of special representation for these classes in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/government-of-india-act-1935\/\"><b>Government of India Act, of 1935<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rise of Non-Brahmin and Intermediate Caste Movements: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Others in the 1900s, such as the <\/span><b>Maharaja of Kolhapur,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> encouraged the non-brahmin movement which spread to the southern states in the first decade of the twentieth century and was joined by the<\/span><b> Kammas, Reddis, Vellalas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the powerful intermediate castes) and the<\/span><b> Muslims.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mahad Satyagraha: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar led the <\/span><b>Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to challenge the regressive customs of the caste Hindus.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He stressed the necessity of removing ideas of <\/span><b>\u2018high\u2019 and \u2018low\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and inculcating <\/span><b>self-elevation through self-help,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> self-respect, and self-knowledge.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He led a procession of some <\/span><b>2,500 \u2018untouchables\u2019 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">through the <\/span><b>town of Mahad<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the <\/span><b>Chavdar tank<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a public source of water tank from which the untouchables were not allowed to draw water.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr Ambedkar took water from the<\/span><b> tank and drank it<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There were huge protests by caste Hindus.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Symbolic Protest: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later in <\/span><b>December 1927<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Ambedkar and his colleagues burnt the \u2018Manusmriti\u2019 at the same place as a gesture of getting rid of inequalities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Establishment of Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr Ambedkar established the <\/span><b>Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha in 1924<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to highlight the difficulties and grievances of the Dalits before the government. Its motto was:<\/span><b> \u2018Educate, Agitate and Organise\u2019.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Constitution of Free India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution of independent India took significant steps to address these issues. It <\/span><b>abolished untouchability, declared any endorsement of disabilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> arising from <\/span><b>untouchability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as <\/span><b>unlawful, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and prohibited restrictions on access to various public facilities. It also laid down <\/span><b>Directive Principles <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to promote a social order where <\/span><b>justice\u2014social, economic, and political\u2014<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">would guide all aspects of national life.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Caste Movements and Organisations<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8888%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; width: 44.7076%;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Movement\/ Organisation<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Year<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Place<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Founder<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Satya Shodhak Samaj<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1873<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maharashtra<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jyotiba Phule<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Aravippuram<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>\u00a0Movement<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1888<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aravippuram,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kerala<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shri Narayan Guru<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Shri Narayan Dharma Paripalana Yogam (S.N.D.P.) Movement<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1902-03<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kerala<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shri Narayan Guru, Dr. Palpu and Kumaran Asan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>The Depressed Class Mission Society<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1906<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bombay<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">V.R. Shinde<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Bahujan Samaj<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1910<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Satara, Maharashtra<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mukundrao Patil<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Justice (Party)Movement<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1915-16<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Madras, Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">C.N. Mudaliar, T.M. Nair and P. Tyagaraja Chetti<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Depressed Class Welfare Institute (Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha)<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1924<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bombay<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B.R. Ambedkar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Self-Respect Movement<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1925<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Madras, Tamil Nadu<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E.V. Ramaswami Naikar &#8216;Periyar&#8217;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 44.7076%;\"><b>Harijan Sevak Sangh<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 7.03183%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1932<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 14.6558%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pune<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8; width: 49.963%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mahatma Gandhi<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Factors in Alleviating Caste-based Discrimination<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">British rule in India played a crucial role in the reduction of caste-based discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Private Property and Land Ownership: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The introduction of private property rights and the ability to freely buy and sell land disrupted traditional caste dynamics.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This weakened the link between caste and occupation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic Diversification: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The emergence of modern commerce and industry created new economic opportunities, breaking the traditional ties between caste and vocation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Urbanization and Transportation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Growing urban centers and improved transportation systems allowed for<\/span><b> increased mobility of populations.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This meant people were exposed to a wider range of experiences and interactions, potentially leading to a <\/span><b>reduction in rigid caste distinctions.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Legal Reforms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The British administration introduced the concept of equality before the law, which struck a blow against social and legal inequalities.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, the authority of <\/span><b>caste-based panchayats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in judicial matters was diminished.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Access to Administrative Services:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The British made administrative services open to members of all castes, providing opportunities for individuals from lower castes to enter public service.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Secular Education System: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new education system introduced under British rule was designed to be <\/span><b>secular, providing education to people<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from different castes and communities on an equal footing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Role of Social Reform Movements in\u00a0 Combating Caste-based Discrimination\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Efforts to Eradicate Caste-Based Discrimination: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These reform movements played a crucial role in combat caste-based discrimination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizations like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/brahmo-samaj-hindu-reform-movements\/\"><b>Brahmo Samaj<\/b><\/a><b>, Prarthana Samaj, Arya Samaj,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and individuals worked to educate untouchables and remove restrictions on their access to religious sites.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Bottlenecks: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reformers challenged the hereditary nature of caste and the concept of karma as justifications for the <\/span><b>undemocratic caste system.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Social Reform and Inclusivity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They urged people to work for improvement in the present life, rather than focusing solely on salvation in the afterlife.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, <\/span><b>Arya Samaj <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">advocated for the <\/span><b>original four-fold division of society<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the right of even the lowest castes to study scriptures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>National movement\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Impact of Nationalist Ideas on Social Reforms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The national movement took inspiration from the principles of<\/span><b> liberty and equality <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and played a crucial role in reform movements.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>National leaders and organizations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> opposed caste privileges and advocated for equal civic rights and individual development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Mass participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in demonstrations, meetings, and satyagraha struggles contributed to the dilution of caste divisions, albeit to a limited extent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Provincial Initiatives and Royal Decrees: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congress governments in various provinces, <\/span><b>starting from 1937<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, took steps for the upliftment of the <\/span><b>depressed classes,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including the introduction of <\/span><b>free education for Harijans.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rulers of states like <\/span><b>Travancore, Indore, and Devas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> played a role in opening all state temples through proclamations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Non-Brahmin movements\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-brahmin movements gained momentum in South India, with leaders like<\/span><b> E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading the<\/span><b> Self-Respect Movement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Other movements demanded the lifting of temple entry bans for lower castes. Figures like <\/span><b>Sri Narayana Guru in Kerala<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in Maharashtra spearheaded significant protests and movements, advocating for self-help, self-respect, and self-knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><b>The Mandal Commission\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Establishment and Purpose of the OBC Commission: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was formed to address the concerns of socially and educationally backward classes, known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), in India.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was established as <\/span><b>per Article 340<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Indian Constitution, alongside provisions for<\/span><b> Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the Anglo-Indian community.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Kaka Kalelkar Commission: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1953, a Commission chaired by<\/span><b> Kaka Kalelkar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was appointed with the following objectives: (a) To define the criteria for classifying a particular group as &#8216;backward&#8217;. (b) To compile a list of such backward communities for the entire country. (c) To assess the challenges faced by backward classes and recommend measures for their improvement.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the commission&#8217;s report was<\/span><b> deemed vague and impractical,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading to no action.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Mandal Commission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, led by Mr. <\/span><b>B.P. Mandal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was established to specifically address the grievances of backward classes. In 1980, it presented a report advocating caste-based reservations.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It identified over <\/span><b>450 backward classes, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">comprising <\/span><b>52% of India&#8217;s population<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and recommended a <\/span><b>27% reservation for them<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in academic institutions and government jobs, in addition to the <\/span><b>existing 22.5% reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implementation of Mandal Commission Recommendations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite being unimplemented for a decade, in August 1990, Prime Minister V.P. Singh of the National Front Government announced the government&#8217;s acceptance of the Mandal Commission&#8217;s recommendations.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This decision resulted in <\/span><b>a 27% reservation of jobs in the Central Government and Public Sector for OBCs.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Narasimha Rao Government, in 1991, sought the Supreme Court&#8217;s opinion on the Mandal Commission Report.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court found no constitutional issues but advised excluding the <\/span><b>&#8220;creamy layer&#8221; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">among OBCs from the reserved quota.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implementation and Extension: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1993, the Narasimha Rao Government decided to implement reservations for OBCs, but with the exclusion of the socially advanced individuals or groups, known as the &#8220;<\/span><b>creamy layer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The criteria for determining the &#8220;creamy layer&#8221; were outlined, including factors like holding <\/span><b>constitutional positions, parents&#8217; occupational status, military rank, land ownership, and income level.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Extension: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially, the reservation benefits were extended to castes and communities listed in both the <\/span><b>Mandal Commission Report and State Government Lists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. OBC lists for 18 states and Union Territories were published in the Gazette of India.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process of identifying OBCs in other states and Union territories was undertaken for the implementation of reservations, occurring during 1994-95.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Different Approach to Caste System<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Gandhi Ji\u2019s Approach\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gandhi&#8217;s Campaign Against Untouchability: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gandhi was committed to <\/span><b>completely eradicating untouchability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His approach was rooted in humanism and reason, and he argued that even if the <\/span><b>Shastras (ancient texts)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> sanctioned untouchability, they should be disregarded, as truth cannot be confined to a book.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0In 1932, he founded the <\/span><b>All India Harijan Sangh.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Caste Reforms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Awakening and educational opportunities for \u2018lower castes\u2019: Leaders like <\/span><b>Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra and Babasaheb Ambedkar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who personally experienced caste-based discrimination, played significant roles in pioneering caste-based reforms in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Ambedkar Approach\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Efforts to Eradicate: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambedkar vehemently condemned the caste system and called for its annihilation for the progress of the nation.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His efforts led to special representation for depressed classes in the <\/span><b>Government of India Act, of 1935.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Challenging Inequality: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Ambedkar&#8217;s Mahad Satyagraha challenged regressive customs, and he later symbolically burnt the &#8216;Manusmriti&#8217; to signify the end of inequalities.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also established the <\/span><b>Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to advocate for the rights of Dalits. Their motto:<\/span><b> &#8216;Educate, Agitate and Organise&#8217;.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.206%; height: 120px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 162.554%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 50.4634%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><b>Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 112.091%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><b>Editorial Analysis<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 50.4634%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><b>Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 112.091%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><b>Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 50.4634%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><b>NCERT Notes<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 30px; width: 112.091%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><b>Free Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The battle against <\/span><b>caste-based discrimination<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India has been a complicated and <\/span><b>multi-dimensional fight<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Figures such as<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/pyq\/mahatma-gandhi-and-dr-b-r-ambedkar-despite-having-divergent-approaches-and-strategies-had-a-common-goal-of-amelioration-of-the-downtrodden-elucidate-200-words-12-5-marks\/\"><b>Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Gandhi<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, along with movements and legal changes, have been crucial in confronting and breaking down oppressive caste traditions. Continued efforts are necessary to <\/span><b>eliminate caste discrimination and promote a fair society,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> despite progress made by constitutional amendments, <\/span><b>social reform groups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>legislative measures.<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><i>Sign up for the <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>PWOnlyIAS Online Course by Physics Wallah<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> and start your journey to IAS success today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 99.0541%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 49.0541%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/pyq\/mahatma-gandhi-and-dr-b-r-ambedkar-despite-having-divergent-approaches-and-strategies-had-a-common-goal-of-amelioration-of-the-downtrodden-elucidate-200-words-12-5-marks\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/government-of-india-act-1935\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1935<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 49.0541%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/india-caste-system-struggles\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Caste System: Past Shadows &#038; Present Struggles<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; width: 50%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/brahmo-samaj-hindu-reform-movements\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brahmo Samaj<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Examine Challenging the Caste System to learn about significant social movements, legal changes, and influential individuals like Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. This will help you prepare for the UPSC exam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"doc_category":[5647],"doc_tag":[5654],"acf":[],"year_month":"2026-04","word_count":1914,"total_views":0,"reactions":{"happy":0,"normal":0,"sad":0},"author_info":{"name":"Priyanka","author_nicename":"priyanka6","author_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/author\/priyanka6"},"doc_category_info":[{"term_name":"Modern History","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-category\/modern-history"}],"doc_tag_info":[{"term_name":"Reform Movements","term_url":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs-tag\/reform-movements"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/127719"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127719"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/127719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138466,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/docs\/127719\/revisions\/138466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_category?post=127719"},{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/doc_tag?post=127719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}