CASTE AND POLITICS IN INDIA

Abstract

Caste is a hereditary, endogamous, usually localized group, having a traditional association with an occupation and a particular position in the hierarchy of castes. Caste is a social factor and an important part of the Indian system. Ideas of purity and impurity expressed themselves in various ways in inter-caste relations. This social factor of caste influences the politics very deeply and politics also influenced caste system. The main focus of this paper is to analyse the relation between caste and politics. The paper aim to study caste based political parties, caste based reservation, caste based pressure groups, caste and voting behaviour.