The Caste System
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Transcript The Caste System
Caste System
Origins of the Caste System
Scholars differ on origins, but agree that it is an ancient
institution
Historical Origins:
Complexion and occupations of the Aryans who invaded India around
1500 B.C.
Varna (“color”): differences in skin tone between darker indigenous
peoples and fairer Aryans
Origins of the Caste System
Religious sanction:
Traditional Hindu view: humans were divided on the basis of their
intrinsic qualities
Rig Veda: mythical origins from the ritual sacrifice of the primeval male,
Purusha:
Brahmins came from his face/mouth
Kshatriyas from his arms
Vaisyas from his thighs
Sudras from the soles of his feet
References in the ancient epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata
Detailed description in the “Laws of Manu” (700 C.E.)
The Caste System
Four distinct classes:
Brahmin: priests
Kshatriya: warriors and administrators
Vaisya (“The People”): Producers: farmers, merchants, artisans
Sudra: servants and laborers
The Caste System
Subdivided into over 3,000 categories
Correspond to different occupations for men
For women, caste determines who they can marry
“Outcastes”: considered outside of society; includes the
“Untouchables,” who only recently have gotten some legal
rights
Based on heredity; determined by karma
The Four Castes
Brahmin
Kshatriya
The Four Castes
Vaishya
Shudra
Justification for the Caste System
Age when antiseptics and antibiotics didn’t exist
Practical to have one group do the dangerous work of carting away carcasses
and making leather from animal hides
Theory that the “untouchable” caste developed immunities over
generations
Other castes had to avoid them purely for health reasons
Caste evolved to serve the same purposes that workers’ guilds served
in medieval times, and unions are supposed to serve today:
Protected workers from unfair competition
Preserved the knowledge of each community
Still, many Hindus today feel that it is morally and ethically without
any justification
Caste System Over Time
Attempts of other religions (including Buddhism, Christianity
& Judaism) to eradicate the caste system did not succeed
Industrial Revolution and urbanization : brought possibility of
social mobility
Centuries later, it was adopted by the British rulers in India
The British later passed laws designed to aid the lower castes
Could not find a lasting solution since they saw themselves as a
privileged ruling class
Constitution of India (1949): guarantees the right of all citizens
to justice, liberty, equality, and dignity
The Caste System Today
Dalits: 18-20% of India’s population
Christian population of India: 3%
Christians who are Dalits: 50%
Marriage across caste lines is still taboo for some families
India’s rapid economic expansion and booming high-tech
sector is chipping away at the reservation of well-paying jobs
for some and menial jobs for others
Hiring of thousands of workers for high-tech firms
International companies hire on the basis of merit
Number of Dalit entrepreneurs has increased w/ the advent of a
market economy
The Caste System Today
Economists describe “two Indias” – one rich and one poor.
India’s caste system can no longer fully contain the
socioeconomic change the country is undergoing. Different
religions, occupations, and levels of education are no longer
correlated with caste
Limited access to education and resources is still a problem for
some Dalits, although missionary schools and governmentsponsored education have helped