Transformation of the Caste System and the Dalit Movement

Thanks to its unique structure, caste system is a big§source of knowledge for today s researchers of social§sciences be it history, sociology or anthropology. §It also gives quite valuable information about the so§called modernization or westernization process of§eastern societies. India is a very unique example§of an eastern country where reform movements and§modern ideals like nationalism, equality, social§rights flourish under the British §order side by side with the resistance against§British rulers. §§This unique position of India and the caste system§turns them into a research ground or a laboratory §for the researchers who are in search of the west-east image and question. §§Dalits can also be a key in understanding the reform§movements and transformation of India as they had§virtually no rights prior to the modernization§process. The Dalit movement is the inner circle of§the Indian reformation and modernization. A growing§idea of national identity within another growing idea§of nationality. A reform movement within another§reform movement.§§This study is very brief look about the caste system§and the dalit movement respectively.