Geetha B. Nambissan and S. Srinivasa Rao
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780198082866
- eISBN:
- 9780199082254
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198082866.003.0009
- Subject:
- Sociology, Education
This chapter examines the nature, forms, and consequences of caste and social discrimination in education in India. After discussing the theoretical background of discrimination in general, the ...
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This chapter examines the nature, forms, and consequences of caste and social discrimination in education in India. After discussing the theoretical background of discrimination in general, the author goes on to analyse discrimination in the Indian context, and how this impinges on education. This chapter describes the different forms of caste discrimination which include caste-intensified discrimination, caste-specific discrimination, caste-imposed discrimination, and self-imposed caste discrimination. It goes on to discuss discrimination in education and academic discourse in general. In Indian society—based on a rigid social structure—education has been viewed both as means of development and the source of perpetuating inequality. After describing various forms of social discrimination, the author points out that the mentality of the ‘victimizers’ also needs probing. How far has Indian education contributed to the modern values of justice, equality, and secularism, through the democratic pattern of governance vis-à-vis caste system needs to be conceptually and theoretically understood and analysed. The author concludes by pointing out that analysis about caste as the base of social discrimination, and its impact on education, is missing from the discourse of social sciences, including SoE. This needs to be remedied.Less
This chapter examines the nature, forms, and consequences of caste and social discrimination in education in India. After discussing the theoretical background of discrimination in general, the author goes on to analyse discrimination in the Indian context, and how this impinges on education. This chapter describes the different forms of caste discrimination which include caste-intensified discrimination, caste-specific discrimination, caste-imposed discrimination, and self-imposed caste discrimination. It goes on to discuss discrimination in education and academic discourse in general. In Indian society—based on a rigid social structure—education has been viewed both as means of development and the source of perpetuating inequality. After describing various forms of social discrimination, the author points out that the mentality of the ‘victimizers’ also needs probing. How far has Indian education contributed to the modern values of justice, equality, and secularism, through the democratic pattern of governance vis-à-vis caste system needs to be conceptually and theoretically understood and analysed. The author concludes by pointing out that analysis about caste as the base of social discrimination, and its impact on education, is missing from the discourse of social sciences, including SoE. This needs to be remedied.
