Question

Read the passage given and answer the question:

The following observations were made by G.B. Pant during a speech that moved the constitution of the Advisory Committee on fundamental rights, minorities, etc. "We have to take particular care of the Depressed Classes, the Scheduled Castes, and the Backward Classes ...we must do all we can to bring them up to the general level..the strength of the chain is measured by the weakest link of it and so until every link is fully revitalised, we will not have a healthy body politic. Recent years have seen renewed debate about the States' decisions on reservation to this section."

1. Based on the passage above, who are referred to as the weakest link of the society?
2. Why should and how can this weakest link be fully revitalised?
3. Define 'Secularisation of caste'

Answer 1

1. Based on the above passage, the depressed classes have been referred to as the weakest. link. They include the Scheduled castes and backward classes.
2. The weakest link needs to be revitalised as the strength of the chain which is the society is measured by it and to have a healthy and progressive society the weakest link needs to be empowered and stringent laws introduced along with education must be made available to them.
3. Secularisation of castes refers to the historical process where religion loses social and cultural significance. In secularised societies, faith lacks cultural authority, and religious organisations have little social power. Secularisation has many levels of meaning, both as a theory and a historical process.