Indian independence in 1947 marked a big, but ultimately only partial break with the colonial past. Caste considerations had inevitably played a role in the mass mobilisations of the nationalist movement. Efforts to organise the “depressed classes” and particularly the untouchable castes predated the nationalist movement, having begun in the second half of the nineteenth century. This was an initiative taken from both ends of the caste spectrum – by upper caste progressive reformers as well as by members of the lower castes such as Mahatma Jotiba Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar in western India, Ayyankali, Sri Narayana Guru, Iyotheedass and Periyar (E.V. Ramaswamy Naickar) in the South. Both Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar began organising protests against untouchability from the 1920s onwards. Anti-untouchability programmes became a significant part of the 40 Congress agenda so that, by the time Independence was on the horizon, there was a broad agreement across the spectrum of the nationalist movement to abolish caste distinctions. The dominant view in the nationalist movement was to treat caste as a social evil and as a colonial ploy to divide Indians. But the nationalist leaders, above all, Mahatma Gandhi, were able to simultaneously work for the upliftment of the lower castes, advocate the abolition of untouchability and other caste restrictions, and, at the same time, reassure the landowning upper castes that their interests, too, would be looked after.

Which of the following statement is incorrect in the context of caste system in post independent India?

Prejudice against the untouchables remained quite strong in villages although it disappeared from cities 

The correct answer is Option 3: Prejudice against the untouchables remained quite strong in villages although it disappeared from cities 

Option 1: The development activity of the state and the growth of private industry affected caste indirectly through the speeding up and intensification of economic change. Correct. The expansion of state-led development and private industry accelerated economic change, which indirectly influenced the caste system by creating new occupations, encouraging urbanisation and weakening some traditional caste practices.

Option 2: Caste remained resilient despite the process of urbanisation and modernisation. Correct. Despite the spread of modern industry, urbanisation and liberal ideas, caste adapted to changing circumstances and continued to influence areas such as recruitment, marriage and politics. This demonstrates its resilience rather than its disappearance.

Option 3: Prejudice against the untouchables remained quite strong in villages although it disappeared from cities. Incorrect. While prejudice against the untouchables was generally less severe in cities than in villages, it did not disappear from cities. The word "disappeared" makes the statement incorrect.

Option 4: Modern educated Indians were attracted to the liberal ideas of individualism and meritocracy and they began to abandon the more extreme caste practices. Correct. Exposure to modern education and liberal values encouraged many educated Indians to move away from rigid caste practices, although this did not lead to the complete disappearance of caste.

NCERT: "The development activity of the state and the growth of private industry also affected caste indirectly through the speeding up and intensification of economic change. Modern industry created all kinds of new jobs for which there were no caste rules. Urbanisation and the conditions of collective living in the cities made it difficult for the caste-segregated Sri Narayana Guru (1856 – 1928) patterns of social interaction to survive. At a different level, modern educated Indians attracted to the liberal ideas of individualism and meritocracy, began to abandon the more extreme caste practices. On the other hand, it was remarkable how resilient caste proved to be. Recruitment to industrial jobs, whether in the textile mills of Mumbai (then Bombay), the jute mills of Kolkata (then Calcutta), or elsewhere, continued to be organised along caste and kinship based lines. The middle men who recruited labour for factories tended to recruit them from their own caste and region so that particular departments or shop floors were often dominated by specific castes. Prejudice against the untouchables remained quite strong and was not absent from the city, though not as extreme as it could be in the village."