The current prejudices and discrimination that occurs in india. Research paper.

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Prejudice and Discrimination in India
Mechelle Davidson
Sociology 120
November 11, 2011
Professor Lee Daffin

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India's Prejudice and Discrimination toward the people of Dalits and Adivasis, inside
India runs as deep as the multicultural roots forming its country.
Inside India, there exists an abundance of ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural
plurality, a magnificent collective of diverse interactions and ideas as well grossly unjust
prejudice and discrimination. This paper examines deeper into the racial attitudes of average
educated Indians within India, with integration, inequality, and racism with a primary focus on
accepted historical protocols that change according to the alterations within the environment of
society’s generations. With prejudicial emphasis, the focus will include the Dalits (formerly
known as ‘untouchables’) and the Adivasis (forest-dwelling tribes) continued movement, as they
fight for social recognition and human dignity.
India described as an extremely multicultural population, of which describes those social
conditions of diversity and unity among its people which is evident throughout various
formations. Formations, refers to these vast differences of diversity in terms of racial, language,
ethnic, religious, and cultural characteristics (Bilgrami, 2010, p. 199). These social and cultural
diversities, based upon recognition of this multiculturalism, integration that acknowledges the
various challenges, needs, and rights of the majority groups within the society’s mainstream.
Within India, lays land that because of its diversity stands unified. Across the expanse of
Indian country, one can find diversity, unity, pride, Indian life force, diverse in a magnitude of
cultures and influenced by all. Surrounded by the habits, style, preferences, costumes, labels,
traditions, cultures, and even heritage of each nationality, of India has but one identity-Indian

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(Bilgrami, 2010). With India as one of the oldest cultures, it presents diversified culture in
dances, languages, people, customs, festivals, and even religions. India holds a combination of
every one of these characteristics, which allows the exclusive Indian rich expansive culture to
enhance and weave a collectivistic culture that encompasses the wondrous mixture, and variety
that influences endless variations and variety for one to marvel.
Traditional Indians hold values that transcended down through generations as genetic
traits of simplicity, tending toward fatalism or quietism accepting of the fortune or misfortune
alike without much complaint. Different cultural orientations can be strong, with values
emphasizing the drive and behaviors of working adults according to the faction of culture and the
organizational values indoctrinated through training (Mujtaba & Pohlman, 2010). “The term
Culture refers to a state of intellectual development or manners” (Bilgrami, 2010, p.203). Social
and political forces influences the growth of culture, resulting in India’s rich and diverse culture
composing unique manners and communications with others. This multicultural society could
not be stable or last long without the development of integration among the citizens. With equal
citizenship crucial to their fostering of a common sense of belonging, it is not enough;
acceptance, status, and rights are needed to implicate the full feeling of significance within the
Indian community.
The way in which society characterize itself, the undignified ways in which one is treated
among members of other groups, or the dismissive and patronizing ways in which they are
treated sends the feeling of rejection, and a sense of alienation that is a form of prejudice and
discrimination. The Dalits make up one-sixth of India’s population, with between 170-200
million (estimates vary) (Bidwai, 2004, p.19). Historically they represent the most marginalized

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and impoverished of Indian society discriminated-against. The Indian Constitution recognizes
the need for equality and social justice for all, and values the society’s motivation to enhance the
poor while eating away at the hierarchical. This Constitution provided a host of positive
measures including the abolition of ‘untouchability’, prohibiting the practice. While its practice
has not disappeared, it has reduced through the assistance of anti-discriminatory and preventative
laws (Bidwai, 2004).
However, the Dalits are limited in their advancements while having adequate
representation within the state, there is not in the economic market. While arranged
constitutionally mandated affirmative action has led to gains in employment by 38% in India’s
urban areas, together with public education have cultivated an emerging Dalits middle class.
Bestowing the Dalits with vital leadership and creating a hope for advancement in the entire
Dalits population (Bidwai, 2004).
Philosophically, notable leaders of India’s past like; Gandhi saw the world in terms of
harmony; Ambedkar saw it in terms of contradictions, and regarded capitalism and class as
oppressive-believing that enlightenment was in the state of socio-economic justice. The Indian
social movement, inspired by both Gandhi’s’ vision of local empowerment, social harmony, and
anti-secularism; and Ambedkar modernist view, offer a source of immense pride and respect for
the significant educational achievements and leadership in the struggle against untouchability.
With different cultures representing diverse systems of both meaning and visions, there is
a realization of limited human capacities and emotions to grasp only a limited range or part of
the human existence, and its need of other cultures to understand itself better.

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Within the social identity of India aspects of education and social mobility, religious
interactions and class expression of Hindu, Dravidian, Muslim, and others are key. These areas
that emerges the tribal expression of society and property rights are engaging many cultural
struggles with cultures of others around them such as the tribal’s of north-eastern states, Orissa,
Madhya Pradesh and others (Singh, Srinivasan, Sista, & Parashar 2008, p.255). Within this
culture, having access to others will promote enrichment, if not culturally self-contained; life is
practically equal for most human beings inside the modern, mobile, and interdependent world of
today’s India.
As culturally embedded senses grow within a culturally controlled world, human beings
arrange their lives and social relations to the perspective way of viewing life. While culture
grows through the conscious and unconscious interactions with others, identity is the significant
parts of these origins that defines the differences as safeguarding integrity devoid of coherence or
external influences, which assimilates self-determination. With India’s signatory to elimination
of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW, a committed national level to formulate
affirmative action programs for women that promotes gender equality to the mainstream
contemporary India (Anand, 2009, p.96). With India’s inimitable cultural history and heritage,
primarily a patriarchal society, and through the rich diverse cultural heritage of ancient days,
India’s unity in diversity is rooted in making a multicultural existence more meaningful and
strong.
With several centuries of experience living with multicultural society, and the advent of
technology and women emancipation, western concepts of dress, beliefs, and work are concepts
most homeland Indians are adapting with their hospitality and tolerance, managing immense

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potentials to transform within this opportunity of extended multicultural society in the
international arena. A social movement and political parties must work together to organize a
growing recognition for global peace to transcend nationalist ‘anti-imperialism’, and the
mobilization of the worlds’ second superpower. This bringing India a closer dialogue between
the left and the movement for justice and peace to strengthen both on ethnic issues with
interaction of Dalits and foreign delegates (Smith, 2008, p.23). For bonding multiculturalists’
perspectives within a good society, one cherishes the diversity and encourages a creative
dialogue between these different cultures and the moral visions of each.
The commitment for a common interest will make a healthy society, understanding each
other and unite in the adhesive of love for country and strength that will never wither away. This
too will bring people closer, irrespective of color, creed, religion, status, and boundaries learning
the finesse of binding people with love and friendship-giving way to unity with all variations to
the hard-earned independence of each culture. This will strengthen the sparks of affection
bringing people closer, within this multilingual, multi-religious, multiethnic, geographically, and
economically diverse country.

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References
Anand, M. (2009). Gender in Social Work Education and Practice in India. Social Work
Education , 96-105.
Bidwai, P. (2004). India Hosts the World. Nation:Vol.278 Issue 6, , 7-22.
Bilgrami, T. (2010). Multiculturalism in India. Learning Community: Vol.1 No.2. , 199-205.
Mujtaba, B. G., & Pohlman, R. (2010). Value Orientation of Indian and U.S. Respondents: A
Study of Gender, Education, and National Culture. SAM Advanced Management Journal , 40-49.
Singh, S. K., Srinivasan, V., Sista, S., & Parashar, M. (2008). Cross Cultural Conceptualizations:
A Case for Multiple National Cultures in India. IIMB Management Review , 249-262.
Smith, P. J. (2008). Going Global: The Transnational Politics of the Dalits Movement.
Globalizations, Vol. 5, No. 1, , 13-33.