Gender, Religion and Caste

Introduction

In a democracy, social divisions like gender, religion, and caste inevitably influence politics. The key question is whether this influence is positive or negative. This chapter examines how each of these social divisions interacts with politics in India, with special reference to Andhra Pradesh.

1. Gender Division and Politics

Understanding Gender Division

• Sex vs Gender: Sex is biological; gender refers to social expectations of how men and women should behave.
• Patriarchy: A social system where men hold primary power. Women are often given subordinate roles.
• Sexual division of labour: The belief that household work and child-rearing are 'women's work' and that women should not work outside the home.

Indicators of Gender Inequality in India

• Literacy: Female literacy rate (about 70%) is lower than male literacy (about 84%).
• Work participation: Only about 25% of women participate in the formal workforce.
• Political representation: India ranks very low globally in women's representation in Parliament (about 14% in Lok Sabha).
• Wage gap: Women earn less than men for the same work.
• Violence: Domestic violence, dowry deaths, and sexual harassment remain serious issues.

Feminist Movements

• Feminism: A movement advocating equal political, economic, and social rights for women.
• First-wave feminism (19th-20th century): Focused on legal rights — voting, property, education.
• Second-wave feminism (1960s-1980s): Focused on social and cultural equality — workplace, family, reproductive rights.
• Third-wave feminism (1990s onwards): Focus on diversity, intersectionality, and individual choice.

Women's Political Representation

• Panchayati Raj: 33% of seats reserved for women in local bodies (AP reserves 50%).
• Women's Reservation Bill (2023): Provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies — became law as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
• Current reality: Despite reservations at the local level, women's representation in Parliament and state assemblies remains low.

Exam Tip: The Women's Reservation Bill (2023) is current and frequently tested. Know: 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. AP already has 50% in local bodies.

2. Religion and Politics

Is Religion a Problem in Politics?

• No — religion and politics can coexist: Many religious leaders in India supported the freedom movement. Religious communities can legitimately raise moral and social issues.
• Problem — Communalism: When one religious group is pitted against another in the political arena.

What Is Communalism?

Communalism is the belief that people belonging to different religions cannot live as equal citizens. It takes three forms:

1. Everyday communalism: Prejudice, stereotypes, and social segregation.
2. Political communalism: Political parties mobilising voters on religious lines.
3. Violent communalism: Riots, hate crimes, and terrorism based on religion.

Key distinction: Religion in politics is not necessarily bad. Communalism is the misuse of religion for political gain that creates hostility between communities.

India as a Secular State

• Secularism in India: The Constitution guarantees equal freedom to all religions.
• Features of Indian secularism:
  • No official state religion.
  • The state treats all religions equally.
  • The state can intervene in religious matters for social reform (e.g., banning untouchability, permitting temple entry for all).
• Difference from Western secularism: In the USA and France, secularism means a complete separation of state and religion. In India, it means equal respect for all religions ('Sarva Dharma Sambhava').

Communalism in AP

• AP has seen relatively less communal violence compared to some other states.
• Important AP context: Telugu Muslims have historically integrated well into Telugu society. AP's secular traditions have been strengthened by figures like Tanguturi Prakasam, who respected all communities.

AP Board Focus: The distinction between communalism and legitimate religious expression in politics is an important concept for short-answer questions.

3. Caste and Politics

The Caste System in India

• Origin: An ancient hierarchical social structure based on birth.
• Traditional four varnas:
  • Brahmins (priests and teachers)
  • Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers)
  • Vaishyas (traders and merchants)
  • Shudras (labourers and servants)
• Dalits (formerly 'untouchables'): Outside the varna system, subjected to severe discrimination.
• OBCs (Other Backward Classes): Socially and educationally backward castes.

Caste Inequalities

• Social discrimination: Dalits and lower castes faced (and still face) social exclusion, denial of entry to temples, restrictions on inter-caste marriage.
• Economic disadvantage: Lower castes are disproportionately represented in poverty statistics.
• Education: Dalits and OBCs have lower literacy rates and school dropout rates are higher.

Caste in Politics

Caste influences Indian politics in several ways:

1. Vote banks: Political parties often appeal to specific caste groups for support.
2. Ticket distribution: Candidates are chosen based on caste composition of the constituency.
3. Reservations: SCs, STs, and OBCs have reserved seats in legislatures, government jobs, and educational institutions.
4. Identity politics: Caste-based parties (e.g., BSP for Dalits, SP for OBCs in UP) mobilise voters along caste lines.

Key insight: Caste in politics works both ways — caste influences who gets elected, and politics influences caste hierarchies (e.g., lower-caste leaders gaining power).

Caste and Elections in AP

• AP caste dynamics:
  • Reddys: Traditionally dominant landowning caste, powerful in politics.
  • Kammas: Another dominant caste, historically associated with agriculture and business.
  • SCs, STs, BCs: Have significant vote share and political representation.
  • Political parties: TDP has been associated with the Kamma community, YSRCP with the Reddy community. Both parties also court other caste groups.
• Reservations in AP: AP provides reservations for SC (15%), ST (6%), and BC (29%) in education and jobs.

4. Social Reform Movements in AP

Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848-1919)

• Called the 'Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Andhra' .
• Led the social reform movement in the Telugu-speaking regions.
• Key contributions:
  • Advocated for widow remarriage.
  • Started a school for girls in Dowleswaram (Rajahmundry, 1874).
  • Published Viveka Vardhini and Satyavadhi to spread reformist ideas.
  • Fought against the dowry system and caste discrimination.
• Impact: Inspired a generation of social reformers in AP.

AP Board Focus: Veeresalingam's contributions to social reform in AP are frequently asked in the AP Board exam. Expect 2-mark or 5-mark questions.

5. Common Mistakes

1. Confusing communalism with casteism: Communalism is religion-based; casteism is caste-based.
2. Thinking feminism is anti-men: Feminism is about equality, not superiority.
3. Believing caste has disappeared: While caste discrimination has reduced, caste still influences marriage, politics, and social status.
4. Mixing up India's secularism with Western secularism: India practices 'equal respect for all religions', not 'separation of religion and state'.

6. Quick Self-Test (with Answers)

Q1: What is the difference between sex and gender? A1: Sex is biological; gender is the social construct of roles and expectations for men and women.

Q2: What is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023)? A2: The Women's Reservation Bill providing 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

Q3: What is communalism? A3: The belief that people of different religions cannot live as equal citizens. It creates hostility between religious communities.

Q4: How is Indian secularism different from Western secularism? A4: Indian secularism means 'equal respect for all religions' (Sarva Dharma Sambhava), while Western secularism means 'separation of state and religion.'

Q5: Who is known as the 'Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Andhra'? A5: Kandukuri Veeresalingam.

Q6: What reforms did Veeresalingam advocate? A6: Widow remarriage, girls' education, and abolition of the dowry system.

Q7: How does caste influence elections? A7: Parties choose candidates based on caste composition, appeal to caste groups for votes, and caste-based parties emerge.

Q8: What percentage of women's reservation does AP provide in local bodies? A8: 50% (higher than the constitutional minimum of 33%).

Q9: What are the dominant caste groups in AP politics? A9: Reddys and Kammas.

Q10: Give one example of caste inequalities in India. A10: Social exclusion of Dalits from temples, restrictions on inter-caste marriage, or economic disadvantage of lower castes.

7. AP Board Exam Focus