0% found this document useful (0 votes)
128 views3 pages

GENDER, RELIGION & CASTE Question-Answers

1. The document discusses the relationship between religion and politics in India, citing Gandhi's view that religion brings morality to politics. It also discusses how the government protects religious minorities and regulates family laws. 2. A secular state treats all religions equally and does not give preference to any one religion. India is a secular state as it has no official religion and guarantees freedom of religion for all. 3. Caste barriers are breaking down due to urbanization, economic development, occupational mobility, and constitutional provisions against discrimination. The work of leaders like Ambedkar and Gandhi also helped reduce caste inequalities.

Uploaded by

apurva jha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
128 views3 pages

GENDER, RELIGION & CASTE Question-Answers

1. The document discusses the relationship between religion and politics in India, citing Gandhi's view that religion brings morality to politics. It also discusses how the government protects religious minorities and regulates family laws. 2. A secular state treats all religions equally and does not give preference to any one religion. India is a secular state as it has no official religion and guarantees freedom of religion for all. 3. Caste barriers are breaking down due to urbanization, economic development, occupational mobility, and constitutional provisions against discrimination. The work of leaders like Ambedkar and Gandhi also helped reduce caste inequalities.

Uploaded by

apurva jha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

GENDER, RELIGION & CASTE

Question-Answers
Q1. Describe relationship between religion and politics. Mention three instances. Also
mention its effects.
Answer:
(1) The instances showing relationship between religion and politics are as mentioned
below :

1. Religion cannot be separated from politics :


1. Gandhiji considered religion a part of politics. Man’s activities cannot be divided
into water-tight compartments.
2. He believed that without religion, politics would be dirty and a shameful game.
For Gandhiji religion was not particular religion like Hinduism or Islam but
moral values that inform all religions. Religion brings morality into politics. He
believed that politics must be guided by ethics drawn from religion.
2. Government to protect religious minorities: Human rights groups are of the view
that the communal riots in the country affect the religious minorities – who are the only
victims in such incidents. They demand that the government should protect the
religious minorities.
3. Family laws: Women’s movement has argued that the family laws of all religions
discriminate against women. They demand that steps should be taken by the
government to enhance their rights and to bring equality between men and women.

(2) Effects:

1. All these instances involve a relationship between religion and politics. These are not
dangerous ideas.
2. Ideas, ideals and values drawn from different religions can and should play a role in
politics.
3. People should be able to express in politics their needs, interests and demands as a
member of a religious community.
4. The government/state should be able to regulate the practice of religion so as to prevent
discrimination and oppression. Every religion should be treated equally.

Q2. What is a secular state? Explain factors which make India a secular state. 
Answer:

1. A secular state is a concept of secularism, whereby a state is or purports to be officially


neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. It grants equal
status to all religions.
2. In India secularism means equal treatment of all religions by the state. With the 42nd
Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976, the Preamble to the
Constitution asserted that India is a secular nation.
The factors that make India a secular state are as mentioned below :
1. There is no official religion in India. Our Constitution does not give a special
status to any religion as has been done in Sri Lanka (Buddhism), Pakistan (Islam)
and England (Christianity).
2. The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities freedom to profess,
preach and practice their own religion. It grants the right to establish and
maintain their educational institutions.
3. The Constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion.
4. The Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of religion in order to
ensure equality within religious communities. For example, it bans untouchability.
The state could also help religious communities by giving aid to educational
institutions run by them.
Thus, in India secularism is not just an ideology of some parties or persons. This idea
constitutes one of the foundations of our country. The makers of our Constitution
were aware that communalism was and continues to be one of the major challenges to
democracy in India. Hence, they chose the model of a secular state. A secular
constitution like ours is necessary along with countering communal prejudices and
propagand

Q3. Why the caste barriers are breaking down in India? Explain any five reasons.
Answer:
The reasons for breaking down of caste hierarchy are as mentioned below:

1. Urbanisation : In urban areas, people do not bother who is walking along next to us on
a street or eating at the next table in a restaurant. There is a shift of population from
rural to urban areas.
2. Economic development: As a result of economic development, the economic
condition of lower castes has improved. They live in the areas where people of upper
castes are living in the cities.
3. Occupational mobility : There is a shift from one occupation to another, usually when
a new generation takes up occupations other than those practiced by their ancestors.
This has helped in breaking the caste hierarchy.
4. provisions : The Constitution of India too prohibits discrimination on the basis of
caste. So we find people of different castes working together in offices. Untouchability
is a legal offence. The Constitution laid the foundations of policies to reverse the
injustices of the caste system.
5. The role played by political leaders and social reformers like Jotiba Phule, Mahatma
Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar Ramaswami Naicker was important in this
direction. Gandhiji called untouchable ‘Harijan’. The efforts of these leaders tried to
remove caste-based inequalities from society.
Q4. ‘Gender division is not based on biology but on social expectations and stereotypes.’
Support the statement.

1. Gender division : It is a form of hierarchial social division. Generally, it is considered


as natural and unchangeable. Actually it is based not on biology but on social
expectations and stereotypes.
2. Division in practice :
1. There is common belief that the main responsibility of women is housework and
bringing up children as reflected in a sexual division of labour.
2. Men do the work such as cooking, tailoring if these jobs are paid for. For
example most tailors or cooks in hotels are men.
3. Women too work outside their home. Poor women work as domestic servant in
middle
class homes while in urban area women work in offices along with men. It is
done in addition
4. their domestic work. But their work is not valued and does not get recognition.
3. Results :
1. Although the population of women is half of the humanity, their role in public
life especially politics, is minimal in most societies.
2. This has led to agitations for equal rights for women such as voting rights,
enhancing the political and legal status of women and improving their
educational and career opportunities. These movements are called ‘feminist’
movements.

You might also like