Dr. Ambedkar’s Theorization on the Caste System

Introduction:

When we hear or think of the term ‘Caste system’, the first personality we reflect on is Dr. Ambedkar as he has played a vital role in shaping the lives of people who’ve been vulnerable due to social stratification through the lens of caste. Ambedkar’s views have been very relevant till date even on political platforms and this paper deals with Ambedkar’s ideas on the Caste system.

Context:

Ambedkar views caste system as ‘unexplained’ and a wide problem on both practical and theoretical terms. In my opinion, as a layperson would think of, caste systems were brought up with the idea of keeping a balance between karmas and professions. He believes that the caste system is a mere division of labourers over the division of labour. There is no harm in dividing labour but caste system as mentioned comes with discrimination. Also he believes that this caste division in terms of labour is not spontaneous but rather on natural aptitudes. Professions are such that they should be a choice based on preference and interests and efficiency. This rigidity and imposition of the caste system doesn’t allow a person to come out of its social standards and therefore there is such a high level of stratification causing the poor to be extremely poor and rich to be extremely rich.

Caste system promoted a hierarchy but it unfortunately came with discrimination, wherein the higher castes dominated the lowers at each stage. This discrimination makes caste system complex because it enhances an imbalance in the society. Therefore, it is complex practically because practices are unfair and theoretically because no theory suggests discrimination but actually leads to discrimination like in the case of Castes.

He has summarised many angles and perceptions to caste. Following are a few examples of those perceptions. One perception states that caste is hereditary relating to festivals and occupations, meaning, a person will derive what he celebrates and works as from his caste. Other perspective states that it is a system that doesn’t allow a caste to settle with other castes especially in terms of marriage. One perspective clearly links the idea of pollution with castes and tells how the level of pollution varies on different groups. The paper quotes, “The idea of pollution has been attached to the institution of Caste, only because the Caste that enjoys the highest rank is the priestly Caste: while we know that priest and purity are old associates. We may therefore conclude that the 'idea of pollution' is a characteristic of Caste only insofar as Caste has a religious flavour.”

Another perspective states exclusiveness as related to Casteism. The paper mentions caste system as an artificial chopping off of the population that restricts a fusion of these divisions with each other because of exclusiveness. While India till date is very particular about endogamy in some parts of India, Ambedkar back then suggested that inter caste marriages can help eradicate problems of exclusion. He aimed at social integration through marriages outside the community. In fact, Prime Minister of India launched a scheme for inter caste marriages which means marriage is seen a strong medium. In India, marriages play an effective role in the reproduction of caste inequalities and exclusion. This was Ambedkar’s belief and even till date, many people still believe or at least prefer getting married within their own communities because they feel they can best adapt to their own caste in terms of professions and mainly cultures.

The paper also mentions that the superposition of endogamy over exogamy itself is a creation of caste. For instance, even today, if a particular group wants their children to marry within the community, they’re reproducing their caste with their ideology of exclusion. In fact, the child’s children will come from the same caste in that case. This leads to addition to the system of endogamy.

With relating other sociological concepts to castes and it’s maintenance, Ambedkar then reflects on social issues like Sati and questions it as how they actually came into existence and what were the logic behind it. He then mentions justifications behind these social concepts and then questions them. In the paper, he mentions one of the quotes about girls’ remarriage and challenges it’s logic. Ambedkar states that these ideas should not make us blind to not understand the results that are derived from it. Ambedkar then directs again to the relation of castes with Endogamy. Stating endogamy is the only origin of castes, he says that with the origin of caste comes the origin of functioning of endogamy. In my opinion, endogamy is obviously the biggest medium to reproduce castes as many people wish to get their children married within the community and reproduce and this procedure goes on and on, but caste is practiced on other platforms too like jobs, types of work people do and of course, favouritism for the person belonging to the community.

In the later parts of the paper, he links the concept of class with castes. He states that an individual be it in any form, economic, social or cultural, comes from a particular class. The paper states that, “A caste is an enclosed class”. This is very true. A vulnerable caste will definitely not be able to attain a particular class of living that is attained by the privileged class. It will take a number of years for the vulnerable to be actually like the ones who come from a creamy background. Say even today, despite reservations and an upliftment of the Dalit community, the Dalits still remain the most backward. This shows that a caste system revolves around a particular class. Although many untouchables have managed to come out of the vulnerable zones, most of them still remain in the most backward class structure. The reasons for this still remains that people have not come out of their ideas about impurities and untouchability. Ambedkar speaks of the caste system as an idea mainly originating from the Brahmins as they’re at the most privileged position of the ladder of caste.

How to Kill the Growth of Caste System?

Ambedkar opposed the idea of religion not as a system of principles but as a system of rules that created differentiation. Especially in the context of Hindu religion, he suggested that there should be only one book referred by the Hindus that is acceptable by all collectively. He also suggested that priesthood should be abolished or at least be limited. He suggested a system of examination for priesthood that will only consider knowledge and merit. He thought that when priesthood will stop, it will kill the caste system such that there will be equality and liberty because it will cause a completely different perception towards mankind. Although this idea of priesthood is challenged by many Hindus it remains an idea.

Conclusion:

Every society and country has its own way of differentiation. But while most of the societies have overcome their taboos, India still faces issues related to caste and equality. When Ambedkar proposed many modern remedies to abolishing the caste system, many even opposed it. There were many thinkers even before Ambedkar who tried to finish off untouchability but nobody like Ambedkar could give this system an official red sign. Ambedkar suggested the mixture of blood through inter-caste marriages, he gave India the very debatable system of reservations to uplift the lowest castes. He suggested everybody to be liberal and believe in humanitarian causes. But unfortunately, India hasn’t seen many changes. Even people in the urban areas although today practice exogamy but through many indirect practices, differences are practiced. Although the urban people are trying to shift their mentality, it is not evident in all the people. In fact, rural India till the date witnesses discrimination. This is exactly not what Ambedkar had thought of. He dreamt of a secular, liberal and modern India that till date India needs to attain and has a long way to go.