Re-examining Caste: Perspectives of Children from Rural Bihar

Abstract

Caste affiliation becomes the basis for social differentiation, inequality, conflict, violence and exclusion for a majority of children in rural India. The article is based on a qualitative study conducted in a village of Bihar. It aims to examine caste and caste identity from the perspective of children. The article argues that children’s engagement with their caste identity is mediated by the dominant caste ideology and its passive intake by children suggests the absence of a catalyst which can encourage a counter dialogue on caste identity