Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian Society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations.

Caste may be defined as a small and named group of persons characterised by endogamy, hereditary membership and a specific style and is usually associated with a more or less distinct ritual status in a hierarchical system based on the concepts of purity and pollution.

Lost its relevance in Multi-Cultural Society:

1. Educational facilities were extended to all citizens, irrespective of their caste which has eroded the legitimacy of the caste system.

2. Rise of Inter caste marriages, Inter dining due to Urbanisation and Industrialisation.

3. In the industrial urban sector, the low caste people may hold higher positions. Thus, people belonging to the high castes work under them and accept the supremacy of the lower castes.

4. In the industrial colonies, the residential accommodation is usually so allotted that there is no distinction between high and low caste people.

5. Under the caste system, birth was taken as the basis of social prestige. But today, wealth has replaced birth as the basis of social prestige.

However, it has not completely lost its relevance:

1. Castes have begun organising themselves on the model of labour unions or caste association like Jat Mahasabha for reservation.

2. Honour Killing reflects the ingrained caste structure.

3. Politicisation of Caste.

4. Violence based on caste has also erupted in recent times.

Caste-based discrimination is diffused through the legislative enforcement but the divisions of identity will be difficult to erase.