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Ambedkar-Philosophy of Hinduism

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AMBEDKAR'S PHILOSOPHY OF HINDUISM AND CONTEMPORARY CRITIQUES<br />

PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />

• The poverty level in India's lowest castes dropped from 49 percent to 39 percent between 1995–2005,<br />

compared to a national average change from 35 to 27 percent.<br />

An indicator <strong>of</strong> caste-based violence, extent <strong>of</strong> hate crimes, disease and systematic discrimination in health care<br />

availability is the average life expectancy distribution for various castes. Table below presents this data for various<br />

caste groups in modern India. Both 1998 and 2005 data is included to ascertain the general trend. The Mohanty<br />

and Ram report suggests that poverty, not caste, is the bigger differentiator in life expectancy in modern India.<br />

Life expectancy statistics for Indian caste groups<br />

Life expectancy at birth (in years)<br />

Castes group 1998-1999 2005-2006<br />

Lowest castes 61.5 64.6<br />

Other backward castes 63.5 65.7<br />

Poor, tribal populations 57.5 56.9<br />

Poor, upper castes 61.9 62.7<br />

National Average 63.8 65.5<br />

Leonard and Weller have surveyed marriage and genealogical records to empirically study patterns <strong>of</strong> exogamous<br />

inter-caste and endogamous intra-caste marriages in a regional population <strong>of</strong> India, between 1900 to 1975. They<br />

report a striking presence <strong>of</strong> exogamous marriages across caste lines over time, particularly since the 1970s. They<br />

propose education, economic development, mobility and more interaction between youth as possible reasons for<br />

these exogamous marriages.<br />

A 2003 article in The Telegraph claimed that inter-caste marriage and dating are not uncommon in urban India.<br />

Indian societal and family relationships are changing because <strong>of</strong> female literacy and education, women at work,<br />

urbanization, need for two-income families, and global influences through the television. Female role models in<br />

politics, academia, journalism, business, and India's feminist movement have accelerated the change.<br />

The caste system is still socially relevant in India. Caste has become (see Caste politics in India) an important<br />

factor in the politics <strong>of</strong> rural India, although elections in the first decade <strong>of</strong> the 21st century seem to have diminished<br />

a hold that was very much evident in the previous few decades.<br />

The Government <strong>of</strong> India has <strong>of</strong>ficially documented castes and sub-castes, primarily to determine those deserving<br />

reservation (positive discrimination in education and jobs) through the census. The Indian reservation system relies<br />

on quotas. The Government lists consist <strong>of</strong> Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes:<br />

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