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Indian Polity

🧭 CHAPTER 2: DIVERSITY & DISCRIMINATION

 

📘 1. What is Prejudice?

  • Prejudice means judging people negatively or as inferior without knowing them.

  • People may be prejudiced based on:

    • Religion

    • Language

    • Skin colour

    • Clothes

    • Region

🔑 Example: Thinking people from rural areas are not smart is a form of prejudice.

🔳 2. What are Stereotypes?

  • A stereotype is when we fix people into one image and assume they must be like that.

  • Common stereotypes:

    • “Girls are weak.”

    • “Boys don’t cry.”

    • “Only men can lead.”

Stereotyping ignores individual qualities and potential.

🚫 3. Discrimination

  • Happens when people act on their prejudices or stereotypes.

  • Discrimination can be based on:

    • Religion

    • Economic background

    • Caste

    • Occupation

🧱 4. The Caste System in India

  • Divides people by birth into occupational groups (e.g., potters, cobblers).

  • Certain jobs seen as “dirty” or “impure.”

  • Created a class of untouchables (now called Dalits or Scheduled Castes).

  • Denies social mobility and dignity.

📜 5. The Indian Constitution on Equality

  • All Indians are equal before the law.

  • Untouchability is abolished (Article 17).

  • People have:

    • Equal opportunity in jobs

    • Freedom to practice religion

    • Right to dignity and self-expression

👤 6. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

  • Leader of the Scheduled Castes.

  • Born into the Mahar caste (considered untouchable).

  • First person from his caste to attend college and study abroad.

  • Framed the Indian Constitution.

  • Later converted to Buddhism for equal treatment.

🧠 Summary:

  • Prejudice, stereotype, and discrimination are linked.

  • Caste system caused deep-rooted inequality.

  • The Constitution ensures equality, justice, and freedom for all.

  • Dr. Ambedkar's life is a powerful example of fighting for dignity and rights.

📝 MCQs for Practice

✅ Level 1 (Moderate)

  1. Judging people as inferior is called:
    → (b) Prejudice

  2. A fixed image about people (e.g., "boys don't cry") is a:
    → (d) Stereotype

  3. Discrimination happens due to:
    → (c) Both Prejudice and Stereotype

  4. The caste system is mainly associated with:
    → (a) Jobs

  5. Untouchability is seen as:
    → (b) A crime

  6. Feature NOT found in the Constitution:
    → (c) Right to treat SCs as untouchables

  7. Father of the Indian Constitution:
    → (b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

  8. Dr. Ambedkar adopted:
    → (d) Buddhism

  9. Leader of Dalits:
    → (c) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

✅ Level 2 (Advanced)

Q1. Prejudice and stereotype examples?
→ (c) Both 1 and 2
(Judging by religion = prejudice; Girls like pink = stereotype)

Q2. Untouchables = low jobs, Dalits = STs, law bans untouchability
→ Correct: (b) 1 and 3 only

Q3. Constitution provides:

  • Equality ✅

  • Discrimination ❌

  • Job Choice ✅

  • Religious Freedom ✅
    → Correct: (c) 1, 3, 4

Q4. Dr. Ambedkar facts
→ (a) Born into the Mahar caste

Q5. Not a vision of Constitution makers:
→ (c) Discrimination on language