is there still a caste system in india?
436482
The government claims equality for it's people but very very old habits won't die away so quickly.  Look at the US, there is still some residue of segregation.
1037203
There are several clear indicators of the fact that Indian women continue to be discriminated against: the sex ratio is skewed against them; maternal mortality is the second-highest in the world; more than 40 per cent of women are illiterate; and crimes against women are on the rise. Yet, the women's movement which gathered strength after the 1970s, has led to progressive legislation and positive change, spurred on by the participation of women in local self-government.\n \n\n \nRoots of discrimination / Beginnings of change / Status of women in India / The women's movement / Legal status / Political participation / Minority rights / Current concerns\n\nIt is a paradox of modern India that women wield power and hold positions at the topmost levels, yet large sections of women are among the most underprivileged. Some women from the upper classes head political parties and command large followings, yet women's representation in the Parliament and state legislatures has not been more than 10 per cent.\n\nThe roots of discrimination against women lie in the religious and cultural practices of India. The beginning of changes started with the reform movements in the nineteenth century, which addressed practices like sati, child marriage, life of the widows, etc. The status of women in the contemporary context is reflected in the state of their health, education, employment and life in society.\n\nThe Indian women's movement started with addressing the problems that women faced, like violence, property rights, legal status, political participation, and the rights of minority women. Today, Indian women have won several victories against an oppressive way of life and are poised to raise pertinent questions that will make their lives more emancipating.\n\nWHERE DO THE ROOTS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN LIE? \n\nThey can be traced back to ancient Hindu civilisation. Although some studies point to the equal status and rights that women enjoyed in the Vedic period (2500 B.C. to 1500 B.C.), patriarchy seems to have been the norm throughout history.\n\nIn the later Aryan period after 300 B.C., domination by the Brahmins (the priestly class), the growth of the caste system and other factors led to social decline. Child marriage became the norm, wives were expected to worship their husbands, barren women were thrown out of their homes and widows were not permitted to remarry. Many of these vicious customs are still observed in parts of the country. \n\nOther religions, like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism or Islam, have questioned some of the practices in Hinduism, but, by and large, all religions have kept their women in varying stages of confinement and restrictions. The Bhakti cults tried to restore women's status and questioned some of the forms of oppression. \n\n\nTHE BEGINNING OF CHANGES\n\nOne of the fallouts of English education for the middle class during the colonial period was a change in attitude towards women. Through the Arya Samaj and the Brahmo Samaj, the Bengali middle class questioned the rigidity of brahminical Hinduism. Social reformers like Raja Rammohun Roy opposed sati or the practice of burning the widow on the husband's funeral pyre. The government abolished it in 1829. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's crusade for widows led to the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856. Several decades of agitation led to the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 that stipulated 14 as the minimum age of marriage for a girl. Education of girls through formal schooling was another major concern. The All India Women's Education Conference held in Pune in 1927 became a leading organisation in the movement for social change. \n\nWomen played a major role in the struggle for freedom from colonial rule. In 1917, the first women's delegation met the Secretary of State to demand women's political rights. The Indian National Congress supported the demand. In 1949 independent India gave them their due by enshrining in the
560913
India is the only country in the world that in the last 5 years have over come as one of the main manufacturing sources of all industries (all Industries!)... India have 2 important and key facts... very qualify human resources at a very low cost... They have converted their industries into a very high quality standards and this have of course make them grow very significantly... Yes they have improved....and keep on improving...
912305
All you have mentioned are SUB SECT(ION)S of Brahmin community in Maharastra and North Karnataka area. It is all made due to certain reasons and some anchesters like Kanva Maharishi etc. Now a days it has not relavance and marriages in bestween the sub-sects not only in Maharastra but all so all over India are solomnised.\n\nAccording to me all are human and no one is superior or lower. It is one's own idea -
321116
no reservations shhould not be there. we should be counted according to our capabilities not by the caste. reservations creates a breakage line within the unity of our country.
953874
I'm sourthern Indian and I'm ashamed to say that the caste system stays alive and well here. (It's worse in the North with added problems.) Many of us throw all of these out and believe every human being is the same as the other. There is no 'low' and no 'high'. Consider this the same as racism. Most of them are not fortunate to break away from the caste system, because of the way they've been brought up -  to think that this is 'right'. It's going to take a very long time for India to turn around. Having said that, we've got lots of beauty in our people too and most of my friends have married people from other communities and inter-racially too :-) Of course, the whole bunch is judged by one bad apple. Pity, this opinion will stick, untill the entire problem goes away.
457913
animism is still very much part of hinduism. we believe god is present everywhere. rishi kanad declared everying is made of atoms(kana). it also accepted that whole world is made of 5 elements (earth,water,fire,air and space). and \nevery element is a form of god.\n\ni do not know about Tantric rituals as such. but often a milder form of it is still practiced. even on internet. you will find tantrik raksha kavatch sold on line. there are yntras representing god and mantras to recite revering it in that form. \n\nmostly these pooja are more related with mother Kali or Kal Bhairav(a form of shiva, time personified). \n\n some tantrik sects still do exist. and I would not be surprised if there are some of them still following full fledged tantric rituals. some of these sects were not respected that much, you know why i guess. but people still believe in their powers. and were too afraid of them to criticize at their face. still are. \n\nbuddhist also had a tantric sect and goddess Tara was the chief goddess.\n\nshamans are still out there. mostly in tribal areas or villages but even in big cities tantrik have a good buissness. though most of them are frauds. even muslim shamans are present.\n\n\n\nregarding Ali's post:\n\nwell dear we do not need muslim scholar to tell what you are saying. we already know it. it is a long established fact; for some 3000 years now . i am surprised that only one muslim scholar was able to find that out! man! that is slow.
754541
The caste system in INDIA is mainly because of the real time politicians because they need to get vote and like to destroy the INDIA without any developement Because of the follwing of the caste system only the India is losing lot of good Laborurs who is in the foreign countries other than the country which is named as india. thats why the forign country is developing and INDIA is in Backward till the caste system removed from INDIA india cannot dominate the world.
328344
india is democracy. Democracy helps when majority population is educated/able to make proper decisions on issues/candidates, else it can be unsuccessful, as unscrupulous people or theives can get voted by making false/wrong statements.
336721
Certainly Yes. They had "Indus valley civilization" - which is one of the oldest organized civilization and then the monarchy system took control. after that, britishers invaded india on the name of 'business' (because india was the richest country in the world at that time) and they, with the other invedors, looted and ruled for some centuries. after freedom, they have democracy. so now India is the world's largest democracy and also it is most diversed country in terms of religions. India is great !!
737324
They do and will continue to do so.  Some have 'westernized' their beliefs somewhat but the caste system is alive and strong and will continue to be so.  In funneling much business to India the U.S. government has given their blessings to this discriminatory practice.
590084
It is already abolished.\n\nNow a days it only surviving because of "reservation" and vote politics.\n\nReservaed quota is deviding the society today not the ancient cast system.
523773
Class is something you can change.  You can change your education and move up, you can raise your income and move up.  Class is also a matter of perception.  You can perceive yourself to be any class.  You are born into a caste and you remain there the rest of your life.  A caste is something you accept.  Most wouldn't even think of changing their caste; it just isn't done.
730278
Any Day I will say "Its the Public" . Public is the most powerful in India because it has the right to Vote, Right to bring this Politicians into power or remove them.\n\nBut unfortunately, These politicians have played there politics well and have ensured that under the disguise of Affirmative action the society is divided into First General and SC/ST , Then In Hindu and Non Hindu's and when vote banks got so much divided that finally OBC's and Don't see that day very far away when within OBC's , SC's , ST's also we will have sub-reservations that 20% for SC's of such caste and all. If allow these guys to continue Indian's will not be left with any self esteem or a national pride , we all will be divided to the core and will not Be able to control these politicians.\n\nThat will mean that we will loose the power given to us by Constitution to these Brokers of Power.\n\nTo ensure that Public remains powerful, we need to be united and One that is we should be just indians and nothing else.
659965
As long as they continue with their present caste system and fight poverty and overpopulation, India will continue to have the same problems for years to come, even beyond 2020. Developed, YES. Superpower, NO!
346947
That's for the Indians to decide. They are the world's largest Democracy in terms of population though.
590307
It is the scheduled castes, tribes, backward communities  that have benefited the most from this segregation. When Ambedkar envisaged reservation, he thought that within 40 years of Independence, all the castes would be assimilated and the Hindus will have one homogeneous caste.\n\nToday to the SC, ST, BC have been added minorities who have reservations in every aspect of life, right from preference in schools, to jobs, to everything in life.\n\nIt is said that one man cannot pay for the sin/s of another. The SC, etc say that my forefathers have looted, cheated, commit ed atrocities on them and I should pay for this by giving them various concessions. I have checked up my family history over three generations, I have not come across any case of any atrocity by my forefathers. So I am being paid for crimes that my ancestors never committed, just because appeasement of these segments will win votes for the politicians and assure them another six years in power.\n\nIronical, isn't it Ambedkar started the reservation policy to assimilate his people, all ta-ht it has ended up doing is increased awareness in segregation and chaos in the country!\n\nst