India's Caste System: A Panacea for Peace or Conflict? An interview with Dr. Kshemendra Kumar Upadhyay

Abstract

For over 1,500 years, anyone born a Hindu was right at the centre of the caste system. If one was born among the lower castes - the Dalits or the Sudra (Untouchables), a life of struggle and torment began. But life is the exact opposite if one is born a Brahmin. Rape, torture, and killings continue to take place in the name of caste. Dalit massacres have been committed since 1947 and still continue. The massacres in Andhra are still memorable if not causing tears of sorrow. With globalisation, the caste system has begun to change and, as a result, new conflicts between the old and the new guards are emerging. Ethnopolitics continues to play a key role in India's inter-caste relations. In this interview with Dr. Kshemendra Kumar Upadhyay, he draws on his 25 years of experience as a development expert working with the marginalised in India.