Gender, Religion and Caste [02] [Answer]

Gender, Religion and Caste [02] [Answer]

1. b. partition

Explanation: Sometimes communalism takes its most ugly form of communal violence, riots and massacre. India and Pakistan suffered some of the worst communal riots at the time of the Partition. The post-Independence period has also seen large scale communal violence.

2. a. elections are all about caste and nothing else

Explanation: The focus on caste in politics can sometimes give an impression that elections are all about caste and nothing else.

3. a. It follows that people who follow different religions can belong to the same

social community.

Explanation: The followers of a particular religion must belong to one community. Their fundamental interests are the same. Any difference that they may have is irrelevant or trivial for community life. It also follows that people who follow different religions cannot belong to the same social community. If the followers of different religion have some commonalities these are superficial and immaterial.

4. d. India

Explanation: Sri Lanka ,Pakistan and England have official state religion.

India is a secular state and does not have any state religion.

5. d. Secularist

Explanation: Secularist is a person who does not discriminate on the basis of religious beliefs.

6. Local governments provide one-third representation for women in India.

7. One-third of seats are reserved for women at the local level of Government i.e. Municipality and Panchayats.

8. 33 percent.

9. It refers to the community belonging to a majority category takes the status of majoritarian dominance.

10. Impact of caste system on Indian democracy :

i. Caste system was based on exclusion and discrimination against the out caste groups who were subjected to untouchability.

ii. Expression of caste differences in politics gives many disadvantaged communities the space to demand their share of power. In this sense, caste politics has helped people from Dalits and OBC caste to gain better access to decision-making. iii. Several political and non-political organizations have been demanding and agitating for an end to discrimination against particular castes, for more dignity and more access to land, resources and opportunities.

iii. Inspite of many reforms, caste system has not disappeared from contemporary India. Even now, most people marry within their own caste or tribe. Untouchability has not ended completely.

iv. Exclusive attention can produce negative results as well. It can divert attention from other pressing issues such as poverty, development and corruption. In some cases, it leads to violence.

11.  The focus on caste in politics sometimes gives an impression that elections are all about caste and nothing else. We can state following reasons for the same.

i. Actually, the candidate and party have to win the confidence of more than one caste and community and hardly any parliamentary constituency has a clear majority of one single party.

ii. It's not certain that people with the same caste or community have same interests, they may have different interests depending on their economic status and social condition. Thus, caste cannot be a sole factor.

iii. Regarding voters, they may have more than one candidate from their caste, while others may not have any candidate from their caste.

iv. Irrespective of caste, voters consider the performance of the govt. & popularity of the leaders while voting. Hence, we can clearly conclude that "caste alone cannot determine election result in India."

12. Advantages of the political expression of caste differences are:

i. It gives many disadvantaged groups the opportunity to demand a share in power and decision- making. Caste politics has helped people from Dalits and OBC castes to gain better access to decision making.

ii. Many political parties take up the issue of ending caste discrimination and aim for more dignity, more access to land, resources and opportunities.

iii. Measures for uplifting the status of the backward castes will be undertaken.

13. Gender division is a form of hierarchical social division based on social expectation and stereotypes:

i. Boys and girls are brought up to believe that the main responsibility of women is housework and bringing up children.

ii. There is a sexual division of labour in most families where women do all the household chores and men work outside the home.

iii. Majority of women do some paid work in addition to domestic labour both in rural and urban areas but work is not valued and does not get recognition.

 

14.

i. Communalism involves religious prejudice, stereotypes of religious communities and belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other religions.

ii. A communal mind often leads to a quest for political dominance of one’s own religious community.

iii. Political mobilization on religious lines is another frequent form of communalism. In electoral politics, this often involves a special appeal to the interests or emotions of votes of one religion in preference to others.

iv. Sometimes communalism in India takes its most ugly form of communal violence, riots and massacre.

v. Communal prejudice and propaganda need to be countered in everyday life and religion based mobilization need to be counted in the area of politics.

15.

i. Gender division is a form of hierarchical social division which is found in everywhere. It tends to be understood as natural and unchangeable.

ii. In our society from the very childhood, boys and girls are brought up to believe that the main responsibility of women is housework and bringing up children.

iii. There is a sexual division of labour in most families where women do all work inside the home.

iv. It is not that men cannot do the work, but it is the society which makes them understand that this domestic labour is the sole responsibility of women. D. Majority of women do some paid work in addition to domestic labour.

v. As a result, women's role in public life, especially in politics is minimal in most societies, women face disadvantage, discrimination and oppression in various ways.