<P> B.R. Ambedkar was born in a caste that was classified as untouchable, became a leader of human rights campaigns in India, a prolific writer, and a key person in drafting modern India's constitution in the 1940s . He wrote extensively on discrimination, trauma and what he saw as the tragic effects of the caste system in India . He believed that the caste system originated in the practise of endogamy and that it spread through imitation by other groups . He wrote that initially, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras existed as classes whose choice of occupation was not restricted by birth and in which exogamy was prevalent . Brahmins then began to practise endogamy and enclosed themselves, hence Ambedkar defines caste as "enclosed class". He believed that traditions such as sati, enforced widowhood and child marriage developed from the need to reinforce endogamy and Shastras were used to glorify these practices so that they are observed without being questioned . Later, other caste groups imitated these customs . However, although Ambedkar uses the approach of psychologist Gabriel Tarde to indicate how the caste system spread, he also explains that Brahmins or Manu cannot be blamed for the origin of the caste system and he discredits theories which trace the origin of caste system in races . </P> <P> Economic inequality seems to be related to the influence of inherited social - economic stratification . A 1995 study notes that the caste system in India is a system of exploitation of poor low - ranking groups by more prosperous high - ranking groups . A report published in 2001 note that in India 36.3% of people own no land at all, 60.6% own about 15% of the land, with a very wealthy 3.1% owning 15% of the land . A study by Haque reports that India contains both the largest number of rural poor, and the largest number of landless households on the planet . Haque also reports that over 90 percent of both scheduled castes (low - ranking groups) and all other castes (high - ranking groups) either do not own land or own land area capable of producing less than $1000 per year of food and income per household . However, over 99 percent of India's farms are less than 10 hectares, and 99.9 percent of the farms are less than 20 hectares, regardless of the farmer or landowner's caste . Indian government has, in addition, vigorously pursued agricultural land ceiling laws which prohibit anyone from owning land greater than mandated limits . India has used this law to forcibly acquire land from some, then redistribute tens of millions of acres to the landless and poor of the low - caste . Haque suggests that Indian lawmakers need to reform and modernise the nation's land laws and rely less on blind adherence to land ceilings and tenancy reform . </P> <P> In a 2011 study, Aiyar too notes that such qualitative theories of economic exploitation and consequent land redistribution within India between 1950 and 1990 had no effect on the quality of life and poverty reduction . Instead, economic reforms since the 1990s and resultant opportunities for non-agricultural jobs have reduced poverty and increased per capita income for all segments of Indian society . For specific evidence, Aiyar mentions the following </P> <P> Critics believe that the economic liberalisation has benefited just a small elite and left behind the poor, especially the lowest Hindu caste of dalits . But a recent authoritative survey revealed striking improvements in living standards of dalits in the last two decades . Television ownership was up from zero to 45 percent; cellphone ownership up from zero to 36 percent; two - wheeler ownership (of motorcycles, scooters, mopeds) up from zero to 12.3 percent; children eating yesterday's leftovers down from 95.9 percent to 16.2 percent...Dalits running their own businesses up from 6 percent to 37 percent; and proportion working as agricultural labourers down from 46.1 percent to 20.5 percent . </P>

When was the caste system in india abolished