Impact of Urbanization on Caste System

Impact of Urbanization on Caste System

Usually, it is assumed that caste is a rural phenomena whereas class is urban and that with urbanization, caste transforms itself into class. But it is necessary to note that the caste system exists in cities as much as it does in village, although there are significant organizational differences. There is no doubt that Caste identities tends to diminish with urbanization, education and the development of modern status symbols, such as life style, clothing styles etc. 

Among the westernized elites, class ties are much more important than caste ties. A noticeable change today is seen in such fusion of castes, be it friendship during college or in schools or in professional life or in the society or communities we live in. There are four kinds of such fusions:

1. On the job and in newer neighborhood in the city, persons of different sub-castes and of different castes meet and form a group of fusion caste.

2. Inter-sub-caste marriages take place, families get engaged, social gatherings take place promoting a fusion of sub-castes.

3. Like minded people with common interest meet and form a group of fusion class, like musicians or artists or start-up enthusiasts.

4. Democratic politics also fosters the fusion of sub-castes.

In respect to the change in the distribution of power, in pre-British India, upper caste was also the upper class. But with education and new types of occupations, this correlation of caste and class is no longer true. The frequency of inter-caste marriages and inter-religion marriages has increased in urban India.

On the other hand, Reservation system is playing negative role in Urban India by indirectly being responsible for the prevalence of the caste systems in Urban India. Usually, youth and students learn about differences of castes during their academic selections where cut-offs are being discussed with respect to their categories. This has become more to a political agenda than a social reform agenda in Urban India.

Though it's always said that "India lives in Villages", we will say "Castes born in Villages and died in Cities". A total reform of Indian Rural Villages required by restructuring cohesive living instead of Caste segregation to make Indian Villages free from Caste Discrimination. Majority of migrations are happening from lower Castes to cities as they get more acceptance and less discrimination in cities.

Note: These are my independent views and open for criticism/discussion. Please put your comments below.