INDIAN CASTE SYSTEM
Manu Chaudhary | Sanjana Tripuramallu SDM 14
CASTE SYSTEM - Our chosen system is an integrated subsystem of a much larger hollistic social system. Social system is made up of Societal structure which is a group of “people� involved in social interaction forming clans of various kinds operating in multiple sub systems and connecting with each other.
CASTE
Expansion
Power
Discrimination in usage
Reservation
Facilities Structures
GOVERNANCE
Normativity Groupism
Polity
Comfort, utility convenience
Law (Set of rules)
LIFESTYLE
Respect
Rituals
CULTURE
Identity Ideologies
Language
Behavior
Consumptions & Aspirations
Habits
Property
Race
Resources
ASSETS Market
Exchange of goods
Disparity
Prestige
Purchasing Power Parity
Livelihood
Regional Food Classifications Habits
Reputation Knowledge
Transaction
Discrimination
MONEY
Class System
GEOGRAPHY Lust for more money
Corruption Regional Beliefs
Intangible Skills
Income
Regional Beliefs
Tangible
Economic Position
Consumerism
Regulation of distribution
Aspirations
Goods Possessions
Status Symbol
Behavior
PEOPLE
Race
Regio
Culture & Conditioning
Taxes & Duty Diversity
Language
Living Conditions
Ease of life
State specific policies and schemes
History
Development Indicator
Regulation of Cashflow
Harmony
Way of life
nal Sp
ecific
Herita
ge
Religion
Order & Regulation
Habits
Propagation
Primal drivers are the primal motivation factors which decides behavior ,This applies for all and has developed because of the way evolution has taken place.
Status & image
Dominance
Tradition
PRIMAL DRIVERS
Survival
Infrastructure
Beliefs
Growth
Black Market Regional Habits Heritage
Reservation: subsystem
Memory or record of the events occurred so far. Stock is forming memory and is continuing with the mental conditioning of individuals in society.
Stock:
Reinforcing loop: Reservations were introduced to bring balance and equality by providing opportunity to the unprivileged
in order to eliminate discrimination ,but from the current system behavior reservation is leading to a trend of reverse sanskritisation, where people want to be listed under unprivileged caste status to avail opportunities. This is reinforcing the system into loop of inequality, discrimination and conflict.
Outflow: The
only outflow in the system is ,due to connection of system with urbanization causing tolerance and co-existence. The many changes in society like inter-caste marriages, Private work culture are fading the bias, discrimination or intolerance because of one’s caste.
THEN
NOW
Caste system when introduced was based on profession.
Constant pattern in the system is that caste classifies, which is creating a pattern of behavior. When classification starts there are groups created, unifying the people within the groups because of the human nature to extend one’s ego and at the same time creating a divide between various groups creating bias, discrimination, disparity and eventually conflict. And sometimes lust for power which is conflicting to the original purpose of why it is created. The supposed harmony and sustainance of the system are no more behavior of the system.
Its purpose was to create a sustaining society along with harmony between different caste people.
EVENTUALLY
Desired model of the caste system should exhibit tolerance and harmonious co-existence of people from different castes in the system. In a way it aims at eventually aligning the purpose of the system to when it is first introduced.
LEVERAGE POINTS
Surname
Living area segregation
Opportunity discrimination
Caste system is structured and is continuing through birth for generations. In one way it has become an identity and is formally recognized by the government. This starts from a person’s surname. There are case studies showing discrimination in job opportunities and Interviews which is because of the perception formed based on the candidates surname.
Despite of population living in rural or urban areas, people of same castes tend to form particular area wise clusters of houses. This strengthens the internal groupism further and decreases the interaction among different caste people creating a divide in living conditions, infrastructure and hence opportunities. This has a parallel effect mentally as well. Strong perceptions and opinions are formed which causes intolerance.
Because of certain caste based reservation benefits, people are fighting to go down in the social caste hierarchy. Phenomenon of reverse sanskritisation is occurring. This is further creating conflicts between them for opportunities and benefits.
INTERVENTION Removing the column of last name from all admission processes, documents, government recognized ID proofs and certificates. Although the custom of having a last name will still remain same, no certificate (apart from caste certificate) will carry it anymore. This to some extent will address to the issue of bias and instant judgement based on last name (caste).
INTERVENTION Instead of caste based clusters, colonies based on profession should be made (similar to original profession based caste model). Indian government has already proposed 100 smart cities, with at least one smart city in each state. The redesigned city layout can be made in a way which will strategically increase the interaction and communication between these clustered castes. Ideally a research team with locals, ethnographers could suggest the ideal solution for that specified city.
INTERVENTION Conflict ends when there is abundance, The idea is to create abundant opportunities for all through privatization and foreign investments ending the fight for opportunities.
A certified identity
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
REDESIGNED MODEL PEACE | HARMONY | SUSTAINANCE
PRIVATISATION
ABUNDANCE
ECONOMY
OPPORTUNITY
LIFESTYLE TOLERANCE
UNBIASED DECISIONS
PEACE | HARMONY | SUSTAINANCE
AWARENESS
EMPATHY AWARENESS EXPOSURE
NEUTRALITY
CO MMUNI TY ENGAGEMENT
LIVING AREAS
INTERACTION HETROGENITY
NO LAST NAME
IDENTITY
CITY LAYOUT Smart Cities
Infrastructure of existing cities
THANK YOU!