Does India still keep caste system today???

Question

I think it's a thing of the past, and it's no more. Am I right?

But I still heard people saying "caste system is a burden"...

Answer 1

Michael, I guess you and I were typing our answers at the same time. That is just HORRID news! I'm sorry to hear  it is still that strong. I guess prejudice is a poison, and it takes many generations for it to completely pass, like the prejudice of blacks in America. That was abolished 50 years ago too, but you will find a LOT of people, especially older ones who think they are still inferior. What poison prejudice is!

    This is what I had been told from various friends in various parts of India:

In older times, people in different castes were even separated by neighborhood. They are no longer separated by neighborhood, and most of the people in the middle and lower caste think it is old fashioned nonsense, but many of the upper caste enjoy their position, just as the rich and s****. in any other country, and some treat poorer people very badly. Some other rich people in India also agree that the caste system is no longer valid. It's not "set in stone" or part of the culture the way it used to be.

Answer 2

The caste system is alive and well in India. Just yesterday I heard that India has been having a lot of flooding and they rescued the untouchables (which are the lowest level caste system group) the last.

Answer 3

Hello,

Legally it was abolished over 50 years ago but sadly is alive and well in practice. Here is the latest story which made news headlines around the world.

'Untouchable' woman dies after Indian medics refuse treatment LUCKNOW, India, April 24 (AFP): An “untouchable” woman who gave birth outside an Indian hospital because doctors would not treat her died Thursday, a day after her baby, officials admitted. The newborn boy of Maya Devi, 28, died Wednesday due to lack of medical help minutes after being born outside the maternity wing of Kanpur Medical College in northern Uttar Pradesh state. Devi was only put in intensive care after giving birth but died of a heart attack early Thursday. Several doctors, including the hospital's chief medical superintendent, refused to touch her or provide medical care as she delivered her baby, the Press Trust of India reported. Devi was a Dalit, or “untouchable”, a group at the bottom of the caste social ladder long ostracised and forced into menial professions despite laws banning discrimination. Many high-class Hindus fear coming into contact with them. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)

- DAWN - Latest Stories; April 24, 2008

Cheers,

Michael Kelly