How the Caste System Is Stopping India’s Take-off

Summary

On April 24, 2023, India became the world's most populous country, surpassing China, according to the UN. Despite its emerging economic power and political stability, India grapples with the caste system, a deeply entrenched social hierarchy that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality. The script explores the caste system's origins, legal battles against it, and its ongoing impact on education, employment, and even Silicon Valley. It raises questions about India's ability to fully capitalize on its demographic advantage while still dealing with this ancient social structure.

Takeaways

• 🌍 India became the world's most populous country on April 24, 2023, surpassing China according to the UN.
• 📈 India's population is projected to reach almost 1.7 billion by the middle of the century.
• 💼 India is positioning itself as a rising economic power and is seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• 🏛 The caste system in India, despite being legally targeted, still operates and affects social mobility.
• 📊 The Mandal Commission was established in 1979 to analyze the caste situation and suggest policies to reverse social stratification.
• 🇮🇳 India's Constitution, established post-independence, explicitly prohibits discrimination based on caste.
• 📉 The caste system has led to significant social and economic disparities, with lower castes facing more poverty and limited opportunities.
• 🏫 Education in India is affected by the caste system, with children from lower castes having higher dropout rates and less access to higher education.
• 🌐 The impact of the caste system has extended beyond India, with reports of caste-based discrimination in Silicon Valley.
• 🔄 Despite legal efforts to dismantle the caste system, it persists in India, indicating the deep-rooted nature of social stratification.

Q & A

What significant event occurred on April 24, 2023, regarding China's population?

On April 24, 2023, China officially ceased to be the most populous country in the world for the first time in many centuries, as the UN declared that India would surpass China to take first place in the ranking of countries with the largest populations.

What is the current population of India according to the United Nations?

According to the United Nations, India's current population is more than 1.4 billion people, and this figure is expected to grow to almost 1.7 billion by the middle of the century.

What is India's ambition in terms of its political presence on the global stage?

India is seeking to capitalize on its status as the most populous country on Earth and is now seeking, among other things, to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

How does the caste system in India still impact the country despite being legally targeted decades ago?

The caste system still exists in India even though it has been decades since the law made it a target. It continues to affect social mobility and economic opportunities for many, acting as a serious problem for India's aspirations.

What is the origin of the caste system in India?

The caste system in India is a very ancient form of social organization that can be traced back as far as 3,000 years before Christ. It consists of dividing people into different social groups known as castes, and it is hereditary.

What are the four main Varnas in the traditional caste system?

The four main Varnas in the traditional caste system are Brahmanas (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (rulers and soldiers), Vaishyas (merchants and traders), and Shudras (workers).

What was the Mandal Commission and why was it significant?

The Mandal Commission was established in 1979 to analyze the caste situation in India and outline a policy package to reverse social stratification. It recommended measures such as influencing quota systems and reserving public jobs and educational places for people from backward social classes.

What is the current status of the caste system in India according to the 2011 social and economic census?

The 2011 social and economic census showed that 4 out of 10 Indians were classified as part of the lower classes, and the lower castes and scheduled tribes accounted for almost another 30% of the population.

How does the caste system affect educational opportunities in India?

Children from lower castes or tribes have higher school dropout rates, and about half of all high school students from these groups may not be able to access university studies or quality vocational training due to the caste system.

What is the potential impact of the caste system on India's economic development?

The caste system leads to a loss of human capital, which is an indispensable variable for a country's development. It results in a significant opportunity cost for both Indians and the rest of the world.

How has the caste system influenced the Indian tech workforce abroad, particularly in Silicon Valley?

The caste system's influence has reached the United States, particularly Silicon Valley, where there have been reports and lawsuits alleging caste-based discrimination among Indian engineers.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 India Surpasses China as Most Populous Country

On April 24, 2023, India became the world's most populous country, surpassing China, according to the UN. With over 1.4 billion people, India's population is expected to grow to nearly 1.7 billion by the mid-century. India is an emerging economy with a growing military and political presence. The country is seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and has a stable political system with only two prime ministers since 2004. However, internally, India faces challenges such as the caste system, which, despite being legally targeted, still exists and affects social mobility and prosperity.

05:01

🏛️ The Caste System: A Persistent Social Hierarchy

The caste system in India is a deeply entrenched social order that dates back over 3,000 years. It divides people into different social groups based on heredity, determining their social status, jobs, relationships, and roles in society. The system includes four main castes and numerous sub-castes, with the 'Untouchables' at the lowest level, historically subjected to social exclusion and forced to perform 'impure' tasks. Despite legal efforts to dismantle the caste system since India's independence, it still impacts social mobility and equality, with significant portions of the population belonging to lower castes or tribes facing greater poverty and discrimination.

10:01

📚 The Impact of Caste on Education and Opportunities

The caste system's influence on education and opportunities in India is profound. Children from lower castes face higher dropout rates and limited access to quality education and vocational training. Despite improvements over the decades, significant disparities persist. The system's impact is so pervasive that it has even been reported in Silicon Valley, with Indian engineers facing caste-based discrimination. The caste system's persistence leads to a loss of human capital, hindering India's development and causing social inequality and unrest.

15:01

🌐 Caste System's Global Reach and Challenges for India

The caste system's effects are not confined to India; it has global implications, as seen in Silicon Valley where Indian engineers have reported caste-based discrimination. The Indian Institutes of Technology and Management, despite having quota systems, still predominantly cater to higher castes, perpetuating social stratification. The caste system's continued presence in India leads to inequality, frustration, and social unrest, posing significant challenges for the country's development and its aspirations to become a global power. The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on the caste system and suggest ways to eradicate it.

Keywords

💡Population

Population refers to the total number of people living within a specified geographic area. In the context of the video, it is central to the theme as it discusses India surpassing China to become the most populous country in the world. The video mentions that according to the United Nations, India is home to more than 1.4 billion people, a figure expected to grow significantly by the middle of the century.

💡Caste System

The caste system is a social stratification system that has been traditionally practiced in India, dividing people into different social groups based on their lineage and social status. The video discusses how this system, despite being legally abolished, still influences social mobility and opportunities in modern India, and is seen as a potential impediment to the country's economic and social development.

💡Demographic Giants

Demographic giants are countries with very large populations that can significantly influence global trends and dynamics. The video uses this term to refer to countries like India, which, due to its large population, is poised to have a significant impact on global economics and politics.

💡UN Security Council

The UN Security Council is a principal organ of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. The video mentions India's aspiration to have a permanent seat on the council, reflecting its growing influence and desire for a greater role in global governance.

💡Social Mobility

Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals or families to move upward or downward in social status. The video discusses how the caste system historically limited social mobility in India, and despite legal changes, its effects are still felt in the country today.

💡Untouchables

The term 'Untouchables' refers to the lowest social group in the traditional caste system of India, who were considered impure and were often socially excluded. The video explains that even though the caste system is officially illegal, the concept of 'Untouchables' still has social repercussions and contributes to the marginalization of certain groups.

💡Mandal Commission

The Mandal Commission was a commission of the Government of India that aimed to identify socially and educationally backward classes for affirmative action. The video discusses the commission's recommendations for reservation in jobs and education as a means to address historical social inequalities.

💡Scheduled Castes and Tribes

Scheduled Castes and Tribes are officially designated groups in India that have historically been disadvantaged and marginalized. The video highlights that these groups continue to face significant challenges in terms of poverty, education, and social status, despite legal protections and affirmative action policies.

💡Human Capital

Human capital refers to the skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by individuals, which are valuable for economic development. The video points out that the caste system's impact on education and social opportunities represents a significant loss of human capital for India, potentially hindering the country's growth and prosperity.

💡Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a measure of acute poverty, capturing overlapping deprivations in health, education, and living standards. The video uses the MPI to illustrate the persistent poverty faced by many Indians, particularly those from lower castes and tribes.

💡Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

STEM fields refer to areas of study that include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The video notes that Indian university students are increasingly inclined towards STEM majors, which is a positive indicator for the country's economic development and innovation potential.

Highlights

April 24, 2023, marked the day when China was no longer the most populous country, as India took the lead according to the UN.

India's population is expected to grow to almost 1.7 billion by the middle of the century.

India seeks to capitalize on its demographic status, including a bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

India's caste system, despite being legally targeted, still operates and affects social mobility.

The caste system in India is an ancient form of social organization that has been in place for over 3,000 years.

India's Constitution of 1949 prohibits discrimination based on caste, religion, race, sex, or place of birth.

The Mandal Commission was established in 1979 to analyze the caste situation and propose policy recommendations.

The implementation of the Mandal Commission's recommendations in 1990 sparked protests and led to the Prime Minister's resignation.

Despite legal persecution, the caste system's influence persists, affecting poverty, health, education, and social opportunities.

India has made progress in education, but the caste system still determines educational performance and opportunities.

The caste system's effects have extended beyond India, with reports of caste-based discrimination in Silicon Valley.

The Indian Institutes of Technology and Management, despite quotas, largely favor students from higher castes.

The caste system leads to a loss of human capital, which is a significant opportunity cost for India's development.

The caste system's legacy is a stain that follows individuals, affecting their social and economic prospects.

The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on the caste system and potential solutions.

Transcripts

the 24th of April 2023 was not just any

day it was a day that went down in

history for the first time in many many

centuries China officially ceased to be

the most populous country in the world

on that day the UN declared that in the

next update of its population estimates

India would surpass China to take first

place in the ranking of countries with

the largest populations in other words

India is by far the most populous

country on the planet at the moment

according to the United Nations more

than 1.4 billion people live in India

today a figure that is expected to grow

to almost 1.7 billion by the middle of

the century the countries on the screen

will be the new demographic Giants and

as you can see leading all of them and

by far will be India it's an emerging

economy with the discrete but active

nuclear Arsenal and a political presence

that has begun to take off in recent

years

[Music]

visualpolitan viewers India wants to

capitalize on its status as the most

populist country on Earth and so now is

seeking among other things to have a

permanent seat on the UN Security

Council even so if instead of looking

abroad we focus on the domestic matters

of the country we will find very

different realities for example the

caste system in this country is

something of a popular mystery much is

known about its existence but not so

much about how it actually works and

what its consequences are because yes in

a way the caste system still exists even

though it has been decades since the law

made it a Target and that has caused us

a visual politic to ask ourselves a few

questions to what extent does the caste

system still operate how exactly does it

work in Modern India could this

phenomenon be a kind of Achilles heel

capable of preventing the world's most

populous country from prospering well in

this new visualpolitik video we're going

to try to find all the answers to those

questions so

let's get cracking

[Music]

lately India has been catching on and is

starting to make big headlines like

these ones India wants Key Supply Chain

role as firms shift from China

30 April 2023 why everyone in business

loves India right now

21 June 2023 legendary Emerging Markets

investor Mark Mobius who's known for his

bullish views on China is Now setting

his sights on India what's more this

emerging superpower has a relatively

stable political system from 2004 to

date there have only been two prime

ministers firstly Manmohan Singh of the

Indian National Congress and now Miranda

Modi of the Indian people's party in

other words regardless of how

controversial these political figures

might be the truth is that the system of

government seems to be quite stable and

predictable two ingredients that are

highly appreciated by Foreign investors

so basically India seems to have all the

traits of a rising power a growing

economy a growing military Arsenal a key

geopolitical rule between the west and

the East and a reasonably good

relationship with Washington Moscow and

even Beijing at least as good as they

could be if we take into account the

historical mistrust between the two

Asian Giants nevertheless I don't know

there is something that seems off to me

wanting to be a rising power that in

addition aspires to achieve the same

economic success that the Asian dragons

had and then at the same time

maintaining a system that classifies the

population According to which casts or

lineage they belong to that doesn't

really seem to add up does it but what

exactly are casts basically we are

talking about the mother of all of

bureaucracies a social order from which

it is very difficult to escape a very

ancient form of social organization we

can trace its existence as far back as 3

000 years before Christ basically this

system consists of dividing people into

different social groups known as castes

and it is hereditary that is if you are

born into a cast you usually remain in

it for the rest of your life

originally casts were defined through

Varna a word that in the Sanskrit

language that translates as color

although in this case it does not refer

to skin but to social classification a

classification that traditionally

conditioned your whole life the jobs you

could do who you could be related to

your role in society and so on and so on

in this way an attempt is made or at

least was made to structure society as a

whole Hindus divide people according to

their past lives at the top are the

brahmanas the priests and Scholars then

the chatriyas are the rulers and

soldiers below them are the vaishyas

that is the merchants and Traders and

then the shudras the workers finally the

Dallas are The Untouchables considered

impure and unclean Unworthy of belonging

to any cast by tradition they are the

lowest link the fact is that all people

born into a particular cast already have

an assigned role in their social life

that is to say they are faced with

predetermined social and economic steps

and be careful because we you're talking

about a classification that besides the

four major casts actually has about 3

000 casts and almost 25

000 subcasts and then there are the

tribes which are another classification

and then there are people who remain

outside this system and who form the

group known as The Untouchables the

lowest stratum of the entire Society

these are people who were forced to

perform work considered dirty or impure

and who were often socially excluded as

you can imagine such social levels have

an enormous opportunity cost for Century

this system has limited social Mobility

like no other fortunately it is now in

Decline although as we shall see Indian

Society has not yet managed to rid

itself completely of the system in fact

for many it remains a serious problem

for India's aspirations but guess what

to understand the whole story we have to

look back slightly we have to look at

how and when this perverse system began

to be challenged so let's get into it

from words to Deeds

visual party viewers during the British

Raj European agents themselves

Incorporated the Indian caste system

into their system of government they

used it to allocate the various

positions and local institutions for

instance not surprisingly by 1920. the

British themselves began to limit its

use in part to curb growing discontent

with the crown and what can I say it

stands to reason that being born poor

and not being able to hope to improve

your situation or having to resign

yourself to a life very similar to that

of your parents is not a really a good

thing for anyone but that was only the

beginning when India finally did manage

to seal its independence it came up with

a constitution that went head-on against

the caste system one article said

precisely this the state shall not

discriminate against any citizen solely

on the ground of religion race cast sex

place of birth or any of them Article 15

of the Constitution of India 1949. the

construction of the new nation finally

freed from British colonialism was led

for the most part by the highest castes

which have the rule precisely of

conducting the Affairs of the state yet

despite this in the Constitution itself

they single out the caste system

prohibiting the state from making

decisions based on this Dreadful social

classification the first step to putting

an end to it the problem is that this is

one of those matters that is easier said

than done

since then Government after government

the Indian authorities have tried to

dismantle the rigid social

stratification that the country was

experiencing in 1985 for example the

untouchability Act was enacted which

criminalized caste-based discrimination

in the workplace or in education in 1976

the scope of this law was broadened

renaming it to the protection of Civil

Rights Act and saw a potpourri of new

rules laws and Provisions were passed

until the Turning Point came in 1979 the

establishment of the socially and

educationally backward classes

commission or it is popularly known the

mandal commission foreign

[Music]

this commission takes its name from Babu

bindeshwari Prasad mandal a politician

from one of the most powerful castes in

the country who is commissioned by prime

minister mujari deja's government to

prepare a report analyzing the caste

situation and to outline a policy

package to reverse the enormous social

stratification well the report was

completed in 1980 and was presented to

the then prime minister Indra Gandhi

which opened a fierce political and

social debate the report basically

stated that despite all the legal

prohibitions the caste system was still

in place classifying and regulating the

lives of hundreds of millions of Indians

what's more he claimed that because of

caste many social groups had been left

terribly behind condemned to live in

abject poverty and keep in mind that we

are not talking about a few people

[Music]

according to the same report people who

belong to the lower castes or classes

and were therefore the most

disadvantaged by A system that in fact

despised them accounted for nearly 50

percent of the country's entire

population to try and reverse this

situation the mandal commission made a

number of recommendations such as

influencing quota systems and reserving

at least 27 of public jobs and

educational places for people from

backward social classes who were not

already protected the problem is that

the cost of such a plan and above all

the resistance of different political

sectors to accept this report as valid

delayed the adoption of the various

recommendations made and so it was until

1989 when the Indian government enacted

the scheduled classed and scheduled

tribes act further tightening measures

against this kind of social classism

what's more in 1990 the government began

to implement the recommendations of the

mandal commission this by the way

sparked huge protests because of what

was considered a clear violation of the

meritocratic principles of the Indian

state

[Music]

in the end things went so wrong that the

Prime Minister himself ended up

resigning in November of that same year

which led to a reconsideration of the

quota and reservation system but that's

not where the controversy ended the

controversy went all the way to the

Supreme Court of India in 1992 this body

decides that the national backward

classes commission would be created and

that progress would be made on the

measures dictated by the mandar

commission report favoring nevertheless

social and educational measures since

then the national backwards classes

commission functions as an executive

body through which each government

channels its measures against the caste

system put this another way the Indian

government has been fading against this

system for years the question is has it

really managed to eradicate it what

impact do casts still have in India why

do analysts think that they could be an

impediment for the economic takeoff of

this country well let's find out

[Music]

casts in the in the first century

[Music]

as we've already shown in recent years

all governments have tried to fight

against the caste system but the truth

is that it still survives in some form

it still survives today it seems that

three or four or five decades have not

been enough to bring down a tradition

that is more than 3 000 years old

in 2011 for example the social and

economic census still showed that 4 out

of 10 Indians were classified as part of

the lower classes and not only that the

lower castes and the scheduled tribes

which are groups that are already

socially disadvantaged and discriminated

against to a letter of Greater extent

accounted for almost another 30 of the

population only the general castes are

those who do not suffer Prejudice and

enjoy privileges and as you can see in

2011 they barely accounted for 30.7 of

the population it was and still is the

privileged group at the expense to a

large extent of the rest of the country

but we don't have to go that far back

obviously things are not so bad now but

even in 2021 this system still had for

example a high incidence of poverty

in terms of Health Nutrition years of

schooling sanitation or housing

whichever way you look at it belonging

to a low caste or trade or to The

Untouchables group is still synonymous

with having many more problems and worse

living conditions in other words the Gap

has not closed and if it is not closed

it is because of the influence of this

system which still persists overall 5

out of 6 people in multi-dimensional

poverty in India live in households

headed by a person belonging to a

scheduled tribe scheduled cast or other

backward class multi-dimensional poverty

index MPI 2021 and keep in mind that the

Indian population exceeds 1.4 billion

inhabitants we are talking about close

to 1 billion people who have a harder

time than the rest due to a simple

question of lineage and I am not

referring to the wealth of families but

to their ability to advance their

professional social and even political

positions according to their own merits

really it's crazy and you know what this

is where we get to the key part of this

video despite all the progress achieved

by the government's increasing

persecution the main problem that comes

institutes the cause of the social

stratification has to do precisely with

the loss of human capital that it

entails and let's not forget that human

capital is an absolutely indispensable

variable for a country to develop visual

politic viewers we may be talking about

a gigantic opportunity cost both for

Indians and for the rest of us in the

world check this out

[Music]

the potential in the shadows

when we take a look at the Indian

education system the first thing that we

find in primary and secondary school is

that the difference between the various

social groups is also quite remarkable

three-quarters of students are part of

the Untouchables or the socially

disadvantaged castes and tribes which

makes sense poorer families continue to

have more children and we have already

seen that the caste system continues to

have a big impact on poverty data be

that as it may the problem is that this

also determines their educational

performance children from these families

have higher school dropout rates this

obviously entails an enormous

opportunity cost yes it is true the data

have improved decade after decade but

there are still significant differences

and if we go to the higher levels the

differences are even greater it is here

that we find two totally different faces

[Applause]

on the one hand India is according to

UNESCO the country with the highest

number of students in secondary school

as you can see almost twice as many as

China and that is great news a more

educated population usually translates

into better jobs and faster development

and not only that India is also one of

the countries in the world where

University students are more inclined

towards science technology engineering

and Mathematics Majors on the other hand

because of the caste system it is very

likely that about half of all these high

school students mentioned above will not

be able to access university studies or

quality vocational training this is a

huge waste of talent

[Music]

in fact this dreaded social

classification system is still so

entrenched that its effects have even

reached the United States itself and not

just anywhere it is suspected that this

is even beginning to have an impact in

Silicon Valley hang on do you think

we've gone crazy I mean the United

States and the caste system will see for

yourselves because that's exactly what

explains news stories like these India's

Engineers have thrived in Silicon Valley

so has its caste system how Tech Giants

are importing India's cast Legacy to

Silicon Valley last year a dalit

graduate of IIT Bombay filed a lawsuit

in the U.S against Cisco Systems Inc and

two of his classmates saying he had

suffered caste-based discrimination okay

maybe it's just a couple of isolated

cases maybe not because the truth is

that in recent years dozens of engine

Engineers working abroad particularly in

the United States have taken this issue

to court which at the very least we

could see is pretty significant in fact

this particular cultural export could

have its origin in the Indian Institutes

of management and the Indian Institutes

of technology these institutions were

created by the Indian government in the

1960s and today are the creme de La

Creme of the University system now

although they do have a quota system to

allow access to some students from the

least favored casts the majority of

places are occupied by the most favored

social groups

Federal Polytech Community the caste

system has been officially persecuted

since the 1970s but despite this it

continues to have an enormous influence

on Indian Society families of lower

lineage under the system tend to be

poorer their children have a higher rate

of educational failure and much more

difficulties being hired and a good job

it is so to speak a stain that sticks

with them for life not surprisingly this

can lead to many problems inequality

frustration and eventually even social

unrest it seems unbelievable but this is

still an issue that India has to take

very seriously but at this point the

questions are over to all of you what do

you think of this particular system of

social classification why do you think

that no government has managed to

eradicate it what would they have to do

to put an end to it once and for all as

always you can leave us your answers and

your impressions in the comments below

and if you found this video interesting

don't forget to like And subscribe to

all of us here at visualpolitik if you

haven't already done so thank you very

much for watching I hope you enjoyed the

video and I'll see you next time

[Music]