Page 184 - SST Class 06

Once a teacher, Mr Sinha asked the students to developing skills, people
answer, which language she/he considered the could not change their
best. The total strength of the class was 50. occupation.
Language Dr B. R. Ambedkar
belonged to the Mahar
A – 8
caste. He had suffered
B – 15
various kinds of discrimi-
C – 2
nation right from his
Mother-tongue (D) – 25 childhood. Even today,
Conclusion : Most of students are prejudiced in many people from the
Dr B. R. Ambedkar
favour of their mother-tongue, but against C. untouchable castes suffer
What does it seem to show? different types of discrimination especially in

villages and small towns. A person from the
DISCRIMINATION
untouchable caste is not allowed to enter a
When someone acts on the basis of prejudices,
temple. He is not allowed to take drinking water
the act may result in discrimination. Debarring
from the village well.
someone from certain facilities only because of
Caste system was so deep-rooted that it was
difference in religion, gender, caste or regional
difficult to come out of the pre-defined social
origins is called discrimination. Following are
levels. The son of a potter could only become a
some examples of discrimination :
potter and nothing else. The son of a cobbler
Gender-based Discrimination : A girl is not
could only become a cobbler and nothing else.
allowed to go to school beyond standard five or
The task of conducting religious rituals could only
six is an example of discrimination. Similarly,
be done by a Brahmin. A person from the so-
most of the girls are not allowed to select a career
called lower castes was not allowed to attend the
of their choice rather they are forced into mar-
feast being organised by upper-caste people.
riage. In some families, girls are not allowed to
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
wear western dresses while boys in such families
There are provisions in our constitution against
often wear western dresses.
discrimination and inequality. These are facili-
Religion-based Discrimination : A person
tated by Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles
does not get a job only because he belongs to a
of State Policy and the Fundamental duties.
particular religion. A person is not allowed to
Rights are very essential for good life and self-
enter some public places; especially the places of
development of Indian for good life and self-
worship; because he/she belongs to another
development. India being a democratic country
religion.
provides such rights to its citizens which are
Caste-based Discrimination : Caste system is
called Fundamental Rights.
an age-old system in India. According to this
Our Constitution guarantees the following six
system, people were kept under different castes.
Fundamental Rights to the citizens of India:
A person from a particular caste was supposed to
1. Right to Equality : During the British rule,
do only a particular kind of work. For example, a
all Indians did not enjoy the right to equality
person from Mahar caste could only engage in
in the true sense. The rich people and the
cleaning the garbage and clearing dead carcasses
landlords enjoyed special rights. On the
from the village. In spite of getting education and

Social Science-6 184