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Social Movements — Sociology STD 12 Humanities — Question

CBSE BoardEnglish MediumSTD 12 HumanitiesSociologySocial Movements6 Marks
Question
Describe the backward class/ caste movements.
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Answer

Introduction:
  • The emergence of backward castes/classes as political entities has occurred both in the colonial and post-colonial contexts.
  • The colonial state often distributed patronage on the basis of caste.
  • It made sense, therefore, for people to stay within their caste for social and political identity in institutional life.
  • It also influenced similarly placed caste groups to unite themselves and to form what has been termed a 'horizontal stretch'.
  • Caste, thus began to lose its ritual content and became more and more secularized for political mobilization.
Usage of the term Backward Classes:
  • The term 'Backward Classes' has been in use in different parts of the country since the late $19^{th}$ Century.
  • It began to be used more widely in Madras presidency since $1872$, in the princely state of Mysore since $1918$, and in Bombay presidency since $1925$.
  • From the $1920s$, a number of organizations united around the issue of caste sprang up in different parts of the country. These included the United Provinces Hindu Backward Classes League, All-India Backward Classes Federation, All India Backward Classes League. In $1954, 88$ organisations were counted working for the Backward Classes.
The Response of the Upper Castes:
  • The increasing visibility of both Dalits and other backwards classes has led to a feeling among sections of the upper caste that they are being given short shrift.
  • The government, they feel, does not pay any heed to them because they are numerically not significant enough.
  • As sociologists we need to recognize that such a 'feeling' does exist and then we need to scutinise to what extent such an impression is grounded on empirical facts.
The reality today:
  • By and large when compared to the situation prevailing before independence, the condition of all social groups, including the lowest caste and tribes, has improved today.
  • It is true that the variety of occupations and professions among all caste groups are much wider than now.
  • However, this does not change the massive social reality that the overwhelming majority of those in the highest or most preferred occupations are from the upper castes, while the vast majority of those in the menial and despised occupations belong to the lowest castes.

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