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Caste in IndiaSubscribe to Caste in India

Relationship of Caste and Crime in Colonial India

Vol. 39, Issue No. 10, 06 Mar, 2004
Mukul Kumar

The discourse of caste, in many instances, cannot be constituted in separation from discourses on several other aspects of the Indian social structure. This paper, however, seeks to understand a relationship of a different order, that between caste and crime which in colonial India came to be linked in socially significant ways. Administrative discourse in colonial India sought to classify castes lower in the hierarchy and aboriginal tribes as criminal tribes and castes. Colonial administrative and metropolitan ideas and practices were thus used to classify certain groups as 'criminal'. Even as the state specified due requirements in the classification of such groups, these were prompted by broader imperatives - the consolidation of the colonial administrative edifice.

Social Background of Civil Service

Vol. 39, Issue No. 07, 14 Feb, 2004
R K Barik

Recruitment patterns in the civil services have revealed a distinct upper class, urban bias. Candidates from a rural background and from the minority communities find themselves increasingly at a disadvantage.

Deprivation of Basic Amenities by Caste and Religion

Vol. 39, Issue No. 07, 14 Feb, 2004
K Srinivasan, S K Mohanty

In a modern market-oriented economy, possession of basic social and physical necessities of life can be considered the basis of a dividing line of different levels of deprivation. This paper, by using consecutive NFHS data (1992 and 1999), attempts to estimate levels of deprivation based on possessions at the household level of some basic amenities of life. It examines changes in levels of deprivation, categorised as 'abject deprivation', 'moderate deprivation', 'just above deprivation' and 'well above deprivation' across Indian states and also analyses changes in terms of caste and religion.

Caste in Hinduism

Vol. 39, Issue No. 05, 31 Jan, 2004
R H Itagi

Caste Myths in Hinduism

Vol. 39, Issue No. 02, 10 Jan, 2004
M V Nadkarni

some other religions, because of its diversity, but it was certainly recognised as Caste Myths in Hinduism either Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. In M V NADKARNI Iam grateful to Gail Omvedt for her prompt response (EPW, November 22, 2003) to my article in EPW issue of November 8, 2003. The kind of doubts expressed by her may arise in the mind of some others too, and her response has given me an opportunity to clarify my position.

Caste, Class and Politics in West Bengal

Vol. 38, Issue No. 03, 18 Jan, 2003
Sukanta Bhattacharyya

This study analyses the interrelationships between caste, class and politics in a village in West Bengal and looks into the reasons for the relative absence of the rural proletariat in the political process. This relationship has been drawn both at the level of the panchayat raj institutions and the organisational structure of the dominant political party in the village.

Caste Discrimination and UN

Vol. 37, Issue No. 39, 28 Sep, 2002
Ambrose Pinto

The United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination, concluding its discussion on descent-based discrimination, strongly condemned caste practice in south Asia. This describes a new framework for moving towards the elimination of caste-based, descent-based discrimination.

Vanniyar Separatism

Vol. 37, Issue No. 32, 10 Aug, 2002
P Radhakrishnan

The vanniyars' case for a separate state stands on loose ground. The movement, nevertheless draws attention to the current absence of a rallying point for a caste-based party in the context of the strengthening multi-caste, multi-party nature of electoral politics.

Caste and the Metropolitan University

Vol. 37, Issue No. 12, 23 Mar, 2002
Anveshi Law Committee

In January the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) rusticated 10 dalit students and registered police complaints against them for resorting to violence on the campus. While the students were confined in a police lock-up for six days, several groups unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the university authorities to reconsider its decision. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the university to take an immediate decision on the appeal filed by the students. What caused the incident and what is at stake in this conflict?

Oppression and Denial

Vol. 37, Issue No. 06, 09 Feb, 2002
Sukhadeo Thorat

Progressive legislation and constitutional safeguards have done little to rid the social order of the widespread evil of caste discrimination. As this paper argues, taboos imposed by tradition and belief still exert their stranglehold across most of India, impose social obligations and economic deprivation on several of those in the dalit category, and as borne out in surveys conducted across four Indian states.

Caste Enumeration in Census

Vol. 35, Issue No. 35-36, 26 Aug, 2000
Ravivarma Kumar

There is a belief that including caste data in census enumeration will perpetuate the caste system and deepen social divisions. In fact, not including caste data would perpetuate the injustice of the caste system because lack of data will render inefficient policy measure meant to help the weak.

Economic and Caste Criteria in Definition of Backwardness

Vol. 34, Issue No. 40, 02 Oct, 1999
K Srinivasan, Sanjay Kumar

While the NFHS was conducted with the primary objective of collecting data on reproductive status, it has generated considerable data on caste and economic conditions. An analysis of this data set shows that there are wide differentials in the economic conditions of the socially backward castes and classes. This raises vital questions on the role and relevance of caste-based privileges.

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