Tag: political science

Jyotiba Phule worked for the upliftment of the lower castes to ensure they get equal educational rights. B.R. Ambedkar worked for the upliftment of the Dalits. He also ensured the eradication of untouchability from the society. Gandhiji worked for the upliftment of the Harijans or the backward castes.

Confucius born in 551 BC was a politician, musician and philosopher who wandered throughout China as government employee and later as Chou dynasty political adviser. The philosophy and teachings of Confucius came to be known as Confucianism whose goal was learning to be human. Lao Tzu translated as 'Old Master' from 604 BC is believed to be author of Taoism. Before leaving civilization he wrote a book Tao Te Ching, which became the important text of Taoism. Taoist believe everything is one despite all appearances. In 440 CE China adopted Taoism as state religion.  

The caste system in India is like a hierarchy. It comprised of the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras from the top to the bottom in the hierarchy.

National conference party is a state political party of J & K. It was founded by Sheikh Abdullah and Choudhary Ghulam Abbas in 1932. Earlier it was named as "All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference". In 1939 it was renamed as National Conference to represent all the people of J & K.

Democracy involves competition among different political parties. This competition later become responsible for division of any society. If these political parties start competing in terms of some existing social division, it can convert social division into political division and lead to conflicts, violence or disintegration of a country.

Different political parties put up same caste candidates in an election if that caste is believed to dominate the electorate in a particular constituency. They do so so that everyone from the same caste should not vote for a particular party. In this way, it reduces majoritarianism.

Caste-based politics is unhealthy in a democracy. Democracy loses its essence when the caste-related issues are brought in politics, to achieve the personal motives of the politicians. Forming a government based on caste politics is a biased approach and can disrupt social harmony. Caste-based politics can divert attention from the pressing issues in the country.

Now a days as per the norms, some of the constituencies are reserved for specific group. In these constituencies only candidate from that group can contest in election . So parties select their candidate from that group.