Caste is the dividing line between India’s two majority communities, says social scientist and author Anupam Nath Mishra.
The word “caste” is a colloquialism that refers to a set of social classes, but is a broad term that encompasses many groups and social classes.
It can refer to a person’s race, caste, religion, caste-based caste-like social status or simply the way they are perceived.
Mishra says the word caste is a dangerous concept because it implies that any group of people or class is equal to others.
“The fact that the term ‘caste’ is used does not mean that we have no caste, caste is just a convenient way of saying that we do not all share the same social status,” Mishra said.
“If you take the word ‘castes’ out of the context of what we are saying, then it’s not a caste system.
It’s not about caste at all.”
In fact, Mishra notes, caste has been the dividing dividing line among different social groups and classes throughout history.
“Caste, like race and religion, is a very complex issue, because the word itself is a colonial word.
In colonial India, caste was a very, very complicated word.
It was used as a way of talking about a set or a group of individuals.
In fact the word has become a very controversial word,” Mishras says.
“In a way, the word was invented to separate people who were different from one another, or a very narrow category of people who had different social positions, so the word is really a very divisive term.”
While the term caste itself is not an issue, Mishras said it has been used to divide people based on their economic status, social class or caste.
“We have to acknowledge that caste is something that exists in our society.
It has been an ongoing process.
And there is no doubt that we need to talk about the word, but we need not create a caste society,” Mishram says.
But what about the caste question in India?
“We are all in this together, and if you are a member of a different caste, you have to deal with the consequences of that,” Misharas said.
Mishras believes that caste should be a central issue in Indian society, and that should be discussed in a way that does not take away from people’s right to be treated equally.
“Our social structure in India is very, quite complex.
The social classes and social class-like groups in India are quite different from those in any other country,” he says.
Mishreas point out that there is a need for better understanding of caste issues in India, and for the creation of a more holistic understanding of the different social classes in India.
“There are many people in India who are not in a caste-related system.
But the fact that they are not able to achieve the kind of economic status they would like to, it does affect their lives,” he adds.
“It also affects their families, their community and their health.”
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