The BBC has released a nationwide survey of 'attitudes' pertaining to national identity and the Indian marketplace.
The results of the poll, released Monday, surprised many. Contrary to widely held beliefs about the weak effect of Caste on India's future, 55 per cent of all respondents thought that the "caste system is a barrier to social harmony".
"This poll shows that caste is not a fading social problem but that caste abuse continues to restrain India," said Dr Joseph D'Souza, President of the Dalit Freedom Network. "Caste segregates India in every social arena: from marriage to hiring practices to politics, caste is dividing India and will continue to divide India until transformation begins among the lowest castes to negate the ill effects of caste discrimination."
The poll results reflect growing concern in the international community over atrocities against India's 'untouchables', known as Dalits, as evidenced by last week's passage by the EU Parliament of a resolution describing the living conditions and legal protections afforded Dalits as unacceptable.
The BBC poll also revealed that among major religious groups, Indian Christians were most proud of their national heritage. Asked if they agreed with the statement "I am proud to be an Indian," 73 per cent of Christians responded followed by 71 per cent of Hindu respondents and 60% of Muslim respondents.
"These results contradict the oft-repeated idea that Christians in India are somehow less nationalist or less patriotic than their Hindu compatriots. Christians in India are proud to be Indian and look forward to a time when all faiths can practice their faith with equal protection under the law," continued Dr D'Souza. "These results show the arguments for anti-conversion legislation to be lies: Christian activity in India is not and has never been anti-Indian."
Anti-conversion laws targeting Christians and, in particular, Christian Dalits are now present in several Indian states. The laws have been used to justify anti-Christian violence across India.
Results of the poll are available here: BBC Poll Results
