Question map
Which of the following was not one of the many forces released by the British rule, which gradually under- mined the caste system?
Explanation
The British rule introduced several forces that undermined the traditional caste system. These included the introduction of a secular education system [1], the opening of administrative services to all castes based on merit rather than birth [1], and the establishment of equality before the law [1]. The Permanent Settlement in Bengal and other land revenue reforms also disrupted the caste-vocation link by allowing the free sale of land, which upset the traditional caste balance in villages [3]. While these structural changes in administration, law, and land ownership patterns weakened caste rigidities, the 'consumption of foreign goods' was primarily an economic phenomenon related to the drain of wealth and the destruction of Indian handicrafts [t2]. It did not serve as a social force aimed at or resulting in the undermining of the caste hierarchy, making it the correct answer as the force that did not contribute to this social change.
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 8: Socio-Religious Reform Movements: General Features > Factors that Helped to Mitigate Caste-based Discrimination > p. 200
- [3] https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/secsocscicour/english/lesson-05.pdf