Caste System Influnce In Indian Urban Planning

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Mr. Narendra Rajbanshi Senior Town Planner, Municipal Corporation of Jaipur "Influence of Caste System and Religion in Indian Urban Planning" Mr. Rajbanshi started by noting that the caste system is more prevalent in India than in the rest of the world. The caste system divides people into classes. India initially had four classes of people which were; The Brahamins (noblemen), Kshatriya's (warriors), Vaish (economist or traders), and the Studras (servicemen, the working class). In India's caste one class of people is more important and the others feel subservient, except the warriors, the warriors have their own jobs and concerns. The classes are divided by the job performed, based on economic background. Economist/traders made money, their status in society didn't matter, and this class did survive. The Studras was the working class, they did the jobs no one else wanted to do, such as cleaning and cooking. This class was looked down upon.

Most kings came out of the Kshatriya's class.

The cities in India were zoned into four parts for each caste. Facilities were provided for each zone, and effected all around planning. The caste system effected planning by effecting the household levels. The British found the caste system very beneficial because they could easily recruit the natives instead of bringing more soldiers from England. The main economic concern was the very low economic conditions. The caste system survived though several different national instabilities such as war and independence.

After independence the uplifting of the lower class began. Incentives were given to them, but this was not enough the social barrier was not removed. The real living conditions of these people were not removed either. There was no talk about eradicating the slums only improving them. Land prices came into play and when they started to decline...