Transformation of the Caste System and the Dalit Movement: A brief look from the ancient Aryan invasion to the Western colonialism

Thanks to its unique structure, caste system is a big source of knowledge for today?s researchers of social sciences be it history, sociology or anthropology. It also gives quite valuable information about the so called modernization or westernization process of eastern societies. India is a very unique example of an eastern country where reform movements and modern ideals like nationalism, equality, social rights flourish under the British order side by side with the resistance against British rulers. This unique position of India and the caste system turns them into a research ground or a laboratory for the researchers who are in search of the ?west-east? image and question. Dalits can also be a key in understanding the reform movements and transformation of India as they had virtually no rights prior to the modernization process. The Dalit movement is the inner circle of the Indian reformation and modernization. A growing idea of national identity within another growing idea of nationality. A reform movement within another reform movement. This study is very brief look about the caste system and the dalit movement respectively.

Melih Rüstü ÇALIKOGLU: He was born in Elazig, Turkey on June 28th, in 1972. He received his B.Sc in Law from Ankara University, in 1996 and his M.Sc in the History in Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2005. He served as an auditor in the public sector for 6 years and is currently serving as the PR Coordinator in the Turkish National Agency.