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edly diabolical', calling it a 'real curse'.

There have been a number of early challenges to the caste system from Buddha,[31]  Mahavira Jain and Makkhali Gosala. The opposition to the varna system is regularly noted in the Yoga Upaniá1￡ads and is a regular feature of CÄ«na-ācāra tantrism, a Chinese-inspired movement in Asom; both dating back to the medieval period. The system of Nātha , founded by Matsya-indra Nātha and Go-raká1￡a Nātha around the same time, had similarly been opposed to the system of varna stratification.

The caste discriminations were rejected by many saints belonging to the Bhakti period  which accepted all castes even untouchables, into their cult. This sentiment gathered force during the British Raj, and many reform movements like Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj condemned caste-based discrimination. The social inclusion of untouchables allowing them to join the mainstream was favored by many active social reformers.

The untouchability as a practice was officially and formally outlawed by the Constitution of India in 1950, and since then it has declined significantly, to this age when eminent people from lower castes have occupied high political offices, like former President K. R. Narayanan in 1997,[32] and former Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan.

The caste system in modern India

In quite a few rural areas and towns, the caste system is still followed as a rigid system. Caste has also become a key factor in the politics of India.

The Indian Government has officially documented several castes and sub-castes, in order to determine those castes that deserve reservation (which is positive discrimination in education and jobs) through the population census. The Indian system of reservation, although limited in its scope, relies extensively on quotas. The official Government lists comprise of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes:

Scheduled castes (SC)

Scheduled castes mostly consist of 'Dalit'. The current population is 16% of the entire population of India (i.e. around 160 million).

Scheduled tribes (ST)

Scheduled tribes mostly consist of tribal groups. The current population is 7% of the entire population of India (i.e. around 70 million).

Other Backward Classes (OBC)

The Mandal Commission studied more than 3000 castes classified as OBC Category and claimed that OBCs number is around 52% of the Indian population. However, a similar study by the National Sample Survey pegs the figure at 32%.[42] There is considerable debate over the true number of OBCs in India; it is generally accepted to be sizable, but many are of the opinion that it is significantly lower than the figures quoted by the Mandal Commission and the National Sample Survey.[43]

The Caste system as practiced among non-Hindus

Christians

In few parts of India, Christians are classified by location, sect and the castes of their ancestors,[44] usually in relation to the upper class Syrian Malabar Nasranis. Christians of Kerala are generally divided into different communities, for example, Syrian Christians and the 'Latin' or 'New Rite' Christians.

Kerala

Syrian Christians have a derived status with本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。