CASTE-BASED VIOLENCE IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN SOCIETY: RELEVANCE OF ‘ANNIHILATION OF CASTE’

Abstract

B.R. Ambedkar is a political figure who have been a part of the anti-caste movement in India and whose ideas are still relevant today. His text “Annihilation of Caste” tried to present his thoughts about how caste is the resultant of social hierarchy in Hindu religion. The paper discusses the relevance of caste system in social and political interactions of contemporary India. With a few case studies of people who are the victims of still prevalent caste-based violence and became the examples of socio-political studies, the paper further supports the argument. Further, the paper analyses how caste is reproduced in India after its independence which was different from the traditional system of caste hierarchy. The paper also tries to delve into the possible reasons due to which the caste system is still prevalent despite the anti-caste movements and globalization. Moreover, it is significant to understand whether the people who have been the part of anti-caste movement of modern India are working towards the social reform or they have different personal goals behind it. Lastly the paper interprets the legacy of Ambedkar’s ‘Annihilation of Caste’ to understand how it can be applied and related to the present form of caste-based hierarchies and violence that leads thereafter.