- Desire to move upward in the social strata by some lower castes (Sanskritisation).
- Over many centuries, upper castes, especially Brahmins had enjoyed royal and British patronage. They got higher services, access to religious functions, all basic human rights and even political presentation. All these were outrightly denied to the lower classes due to the discriminatory caste system.
- British government through the division of Indian society (Divide and rule) and promoting certain sections over others, helped in generating feelings against class division. Preference given to the ruling elite and Brahman through various representations in the government gave rise to a visible divide that was widely endorsed by the government.
- Due to the spread of modern education and the rise of intellectual ideals, there was a wave of new individuals who belonged to the lower class but wanted to bring change to society and class division. Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar was one such person.
- Initial phase of the National Movement (Swadeshi Movement and Home Rule League) could not materialise the participation of the lower caste. Top political parties were tagged as pro-brahmins and anti-untouchable. To bring wider participation of backward classes in the national movement, Indian National Congress and later Mahatma Gandhi tried to raise the social outreach towards the backward.
