In India, the contrasts are startling. While in the Capital, individuals of the same sex have the right to love each other and be together, in other parts, choosing your own partner even from the opposite sex can spell death for the boy or girl. ‘Honour killings’ are justified in the name of the caste system. As a part of the special series on caste in India, NDTV spoke with students in Delhi and Lucknow to find out how the youth of today feel about the centuries-old system. Many students at Lucknow University feel that the vices of the caste system are not being eliminated at the same rate at which the society is developing.

  “The rate at which we are being educated, women are gaining economic independence, society is developing, we are still falling behind,” said Monish, one of the students. “If you are educated you should know what is good for you. Most important is economic independence. When you are dependent on....