CIVICS (VI) LESSON- 2 DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION LESSON NOTES

CIVICS (VI) LESSON- 2

DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION

LESSON NOTES

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø In the last chapter we have discussed the meanings of diversity. But some times we feel hurt, angry, helpless or sad when friends or others treat us bad due to our differences. In this chapter we will try and explore how such experiences are related to the society we live in. We will look at how they are connected to the inequalities that exist around us.

v DIVERSITY IN INDIA

Ø In our country people belongs to different religion as Hindu, Christians, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.

Ø There are more than 1600 languages spoken in our country.

Ø We have different costumes, food and dance forms etc.

Ø But this diversity is not always celebrated. This is because we feel unsafe and insecure with people who look differently.

v DIFFERENCE AND PREJUDICE

Ø Differences can only be stated only on the basis of a comparison or categorization. For example all colors are different from other. We celebrate different festivals. We like all these.

Ø Prejudice-The tendency to judge other people negatively or consider them inferior is known as prejudice. It is an unfavorable opinion or feeling, formed without knowledge, thought, or reason. For example- if we think English is the best language and other languages are not important, we are judging these other languages negatively. we might not respect people who speak languages other than English

v STEREOTYPES

Ø When we fix a person, place or thing into a particular image—positive or negative—without thinking over carefully, that is known as stereotype. It is a generalization about a person or group of persons. It does not consider the fact that human beings are complex and multidimensional with unique attributes. Some example of stereotypes-

COMMON STEREOTYPES	BREAKING  STEREOTYPES
Boys are physically strong.	Merry Komm is a famous Boxer champinon
Girls are good at dance	Remo D'Souza, Prabhu deva
Woman are good in cooking	Sanjeev Kapoor
Handicaps persons are helpless.	Deepa malik (pera Olympic Champion)

v DISCRIMINATION

Ø When people act according to their prejudice or stereotype, then discrimination takes place: For example, not sharing the same seat with a person of another caste is a form of discrimination. There are many other cause of discrimination-

§  Due to different religions

§  Different economic background

§  Different language and castes, culture etc.

v CASTE SYSTEM

Ø Earlier Hindu society was divided into four varna according to their work as the Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. After that it was difficult to categorized them into four group. So the sub division of varnas is known as caste. It is strictly decided by birth.

Ø Caste system is ladder in which some castes are on higher position and some are on the lower position. So known as higher and lower caste. Higher caste persons saw themselves as superior and lower caste persons unworthy and called "untouchables".

v DALIT

Ø It is a term used for the people belongs to called lower. It means those who have been 'broken'. They prefer this word to 'untouchable' The government refers to this group of people as Scheduled Castes (SC). Mahars are the largest Scheduled Caste group in Maharashtra. They faced some problems like-

§  They were not allowed to enter the homes of the upper castes

§  They cannot take water from the village well,

§  They could not even enter temples.

§  Their children could not sit next to children of other castes in school.

v CONSTITUTION: 

Ø The document of rules and regulation by which a country is governed is called as constitution. Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar is known as father of Indian constitution. There are many provision in our constitution for equality as-

§  Everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

§  Untouchability is seen as a crime and has been legaly abolished by law.

§  People are free to choose the kind of work they wish to do.

§  The government to take specific steps for poor and marginal communities.

§  India is secular country where people have the freedom to practise and follow their religion without any fear of discrimination.

v BR AMBEDKAR

Ø Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar (1891-1956) is considered the father of the

Indian Constitution and is also the best known leader of the Dalits. Dr Ambedkar fought for the right of the Dalit community. He was born into the Mahar caste, which was considered untouchable. Dr Ambedkar was the first person from his caste who completed his college education and went to England to become a lawyer. He led many efforts of Dalits to gain entry into temples. Later in life he converted to Buddhism in his search for a religion that treated all members equally

v GLOSSARY

Ø Untouchability: A form of discrimination in which a particular caste of people is considered impure by “upper-caste” people is called untouchability.

Ø The Preamble: The first page of the Constitution that presents a “summary” of the rules by which that nation must function, is called the Preamble.