BALLOTS AND BOUNDARIES: THE ROLE OF CASTE IN SHAPING INDIAN POLITICS AND ELECTIONS

Abstract

The word “caste” derived from the Spanish word “casta”, which meant “race, lineage or breed”. Max Weber called class and caste a “status group”. Caste is related to hereditary group with some specific religious customs and rituals (Ahuja, 2007). The caste system which we see today has its roots in ancient history and its evolution can be traced from Vedic period to the British period perceive one of the most important basis of social stratification for socio-economic and religious purposes (Ahuja, 2007). As no social mobility is permitted in caste system, the social ranking is based on the birth-right which decides one’s occupation, marriage and social relationship (Ahuja, 2007). The Indian society is arranged hierarchically on the basis of occupation and birth-rights (Gupta, 2011) and the outcome of their social stratification creates specific group or caste with the restriction of mobility between themselves (Kolenda, 2014).