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Evil of the Caste System

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Evil of the Caste System
Hindu society is plagued by the ills of caste system and of late, this problem has taken the proportions of Goliath and is threatening the very integrity of the nation. The society in India is rather divided on the basis of caste and not a single day passes without an incident where caste becomes the focal point. Recently in Maharashtra State a Dalit family of four was done to death by the upper caste Hindus and there was big riot and arson in the State. Similar incidents also take place in other State from time to time. Trains were burnt, shops were looted and life came to stand still. A caste war is a regular phenomenon in Bihar and Jharkhand States. For western people, this issue appears rather very strange and weird. The extreme end of caste problem is the case of untouchability that was once predominant in Hindu society. This practice although has died out outwardly, is still raising its head at some place or other in the country and causing serious heart burns. These issues have been examined. The caste system and the practice of untouchability have lowered the image of Hinduism in the eyes of the world. Eminent social reformers in all ages tried to fight the system and could not eliminate the evil. The modern stalwarts like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Babasaheb (Respectful addressing in Hindi) Dr Bheem Rao Ambedkar (Much publicized as an architect of Indian Constitution and an eminent Barrister), Mahatma Phule, the social reformer are some of the noted social reformers who struggled to eradicate the evil. But they could not succeed. Frustrated Ambedkar finally shifted over to Buddhism from Hinduism.
The problem was also recognized in 12 th century in the present State of Andhra Pradesh by eminent social reformer Brahma Naidu (Brahmanna), the Prime Minister of King Nalagama Raja who ruled at Gurajala in the present Guntur District and was a very valiant military commander. His policies also resulted in the great Palanati Battle fought in 1182 ~1186 in which



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