Caste SystemCaste System

Origins of the Caste Origins of the Caste SystemSystem

Scholars differ on origins, but agree that it is an Scholars differ on origins, but agree that it is an ancient ancient institutioninstitution

Historical Origins:Historical Origins: Complexion and occupations of the Complexion and occupations of the Aryans Aryans who invaded India who invaded India

around 1500 B.C. around 1500 B.C. Varna Varna (“color”):(“color”): differences in skin tone between darker differences in skin tone between darker

indigenous peoples and fairer Aryansindigenous peoples and fairer Aryans

Origins of the Caste Origins of the Caste SystemSystem

Religious sanction:Religious sanction: Traditional Hindu view: humans were divided on the basis of Traditional Hindu view: humans were divided on the basis of

their their intrinsic qualitiesintrinsic qualities Rig Veda: Rig Veda: mythical origins from the ritual sacrifice of the mythical origins from the ritual sacrifice of the

primeval male, primeval male, PurushaPurusha:: Brahmins Brahmins came from his came from his face/mouthface/mouth KshatriyasKshatriyas from his from his armsarms VaisyasVaisyas from his from his thighsthighs SudrasSudras from the soles of his from the soles of his feetfeet

References in the ancient epics of the References in the ancient epics of the RamayanaRamayana and and MahabharataMahabharata

Detailed description in the Detailed description in the “Laws of Manu” “Laws of Manu” (700 C.E.)(700 C.E.)

The Caste SystemThe Caste System

Four Four distinct classes:distinct classes: Brahmin: Brahmin: priestspriests Kshatriya: Kshatriya: warriors and administratorswarriors and administrators Vaisya Vaisya (“The People”): Producers: farmers, merchants, artisans(“The People”): Producers: farmers, merchants, artisans SudraSudra: : servants and laborersservants and laborers

The Caste SystemThe Caste System

Subdivided into over Subdivided into over 3,000 categories3,000 categories Correspond to different Correspond to different occupationsoccupations for men for men For women, caste determines who they For women, caste determines who they can marrycan marry

““Outcastes”Outcastes”: considered outside of society; includes the : considered outside of society; includes the “Untouchables,” “Untouchables,” who only recently have gotten some who only recently have gotten some legal rightslegal rights

Based on Based on heredityheredity; determined by ; determined by karmakarma

The Four CastesThe Four Castes

BrahminBrahmin KshatriyaKshatriya

The Four CastesThe Four Castes

VaishyaVaishya ShudraShudra

Justification for the Caste Justification for the Caste SystemSystem

Age when Age when antiseptics and antibiotics antiseptics and antibiotics didn’t existdidn’t exist PracticalPractical to have one group do the to have one group do the dangerous work dangerous work of carting away of carting away

carcasses and making leather from animal hidescarcasses and making leather from animal hides

Theory that the “untouchable” caste developed Theory that the “untouchable” caste developed immunitiesimmunities over generationsover generations Other castes had to avoid them purely for Other castes had to avoid them purely for health reasonshealth reasons

Caste evolved to serve the same purposes that Caste evolved to serve the same purposes that workers’ workers’ guilds guilds served in medieval times, and served in medieval times, and unionsunions are supposed to are supposed to serve today:serve today: Protected workers from Protected workers from unfair competitionunfair competition Preserved the knowledge Preserved the knowledge of each communityof each community

Still, many Hindus today feel that it is morally and ethically Still, many Hindus today feel that it is morally and ethically without any justificationwithout any justification

Caste System Over Caste System Over TimeTime

Attempts of other religions (including Buddhism, Attempts of other religions (including Buddhism, Christianity & Judaism) to eradicate the caste system Christianity & Judaism) to eradicate the caste system did not succeeddid not succeed

Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution and and urbanizationurbanization : brought : brought possibility of social mobilitypossibility of social mobility

Centuries later, it was adopted by the British rulers in Centuries later, it was adopted by the British rulers in India India The British later The British later passed laws designed to aid the lower castespassed laws designed to aid the lower castes Could not find a lasting solution since they saw themselves as Could not find a lasting solution since they saw themselves as a a

privileged ruling classprivileged ruling class

Constitution of IndiaConstitution of India ( (1949)1949): guarantees the right of all : guarantees the right of all citizens to justice, liberty, equality, and dignitycitizens to justice, liberty, equality, and dignity

The Caste System The Caste System TodayToday

Dalits: Dalits: 18-20%18-20% of India’s population of India’s population Christian population of India: Christian population of India: 3%3% Christians who are Christians who are Dalits: Dalits: 50%50%

Marriage Marriage across caste lines is still taboo for some across caste lines is still taboo for some familiesfamilies

India’s India’s rapid economic expansion rapid economic expansion and and booming high-booming high-tech sector tech sector is chipping away at the reservation of well-is chipping away at the reservation of well-paying jobs for some and menial jobs for otherspaying jobs for some and menial jobs for others Hiring of thousands of workers for high-tech firmsHiring of thousands of workers for high-tech firms International companies hire on the basis of meritInternational companies hire on the basis of merit Number of Number of Dalit Dalit entrepreneurs has increased w/ the entrepreneurs has increased w/ the

advent of a market economyadvent of a market economy

The Caste System The Caste System TodayToday

Economists describe Economists describe “two Indias” “two Indias” – one rich and one – one rich and one poor. India’s caste system can no longer fully contain poor. India’s caste system can no longer fully contain the socioeconomic change the country is undergoing. the socioeconomic change the country is undergoing. Different religions, occupations, and levels of education Different religions, occupations, and levels of education are no longer correlated with casteare no longer correlated with caste

Limited access to education and resources Limited access to education and resources is still a is still a problem for some problem for some DalitsDalits, although missionary schools , although missionary schools and government-sponsored education have helpedand government-sponsored education have helped