India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste System

Caste DescriptionCaste Description ““The Indian caste system has been in use for many The Indian caste system has been in use for many

years.  Still today the values of the caste system years.  Still today the values of the caste system are held strongly.  It has kept a sense of order, and are held strongly.  It has kept a sense of order, and peace among the people.  There are five different peace among the people.  There are five different levels of the system: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, levels of the system: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and Harijans. Within each of these Shudra, and Harijans. Within each of these categories are the actual "castes" or categories are the actual "castes" or jatis jatis within within which people are born, marry, and die. They all which people are born, marry, and die. They all have their own place among each other and accept have their own place among each other and accept that it is the way to keep society from that it is the way to keep society from disintegrating to chaos.  This system has worked disintegrating to chaos.  This system has worked well for Indian people and still has a major role in well for Indian people and still has a major role in modern India.”modern India.”

Terence Callaham and Roxanna Pavich http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/india.htm

Caste HierarchyCaste Hierarchy

Brahman – highest caste, priestsBrahman – highest caste, priests Kshatriya – ruler, warrior, landownerKshatriya – ruler, warrior, landowner Vaishya - merchantsVaishya - merchants Shudra – artisans, agriculturalistsShudra – artisans, agriculturalists Harijans – ‘untouchables,’ poor, Harijans – ‘untouchables,’ poor,

dung handlers, musicians, really dung handlers, musicians, really outside of the caste systemoutside of the caste system

India’s SurnamesIndia’s Surnames

Delhi – Hindi(Language)- Delhi – Hindi(Language)- Sharma, Singh, Agrawal, Kapoor, Sharma, Singh, Agrawal, Kapoor, vermaverma

Punjab – Punjabi's – Sharma, Punjab – Punjabi's – Sharma, verma, Singh.verma, Singh.

Rajasthan – Marvadi’s – rajput, Rajasthan – Marvadi’s – rajput, chaudary.chaudary.

Gujarat – Gujarati's – Patel, shah, Gujarat – Gujarati's – Patel, shah, trivedi, Bhesania*(Iran), ambani.trivedi, Bhesania*(Iran), ambani.

Uttar Pradesh – jatt’s – Uttar Pradesh – jatt’s – Singh,rathva, jath,vaidya Singh,rathva, jath,vaidya (doctors)(doctors)

Maharastra – Marathi’s – kelkar, Maharastra – Marathi’s – kelkar, panikar, etc. - …kar suffix.panikar, etc. - …kar suffix.

Calcutta – Bengali's – Calcutta – Bengali's – Chokraborty, Bose, Chokraborty, Bose, Majumdar,Mukharjee, chatterji Majumdar,Mukharjee, chatterji etc.etc.

karnataka – Kannada – jagadish, karnataka – Kannada – jagadish, patil , ray, shetti.patil , ray, shetti.

Hyderabad – Andhra’s – kurapati, Hyderabad – Andhra’s – kurapati, thonta, ravula, kottam, reddy.thonta, ravula, kottam, reddy.

Tamilnadu – tamilian’s – Tamilnadu – tamilian’s – venkataraghvan, vidya , vijaya…venkataraghvan, vidya , vijaya…etc.etc.

Exceptions – “Salim Patel” , Exceptions – “Salim Patel” , “Abdul Shah” - Hindu surnames “Abdul Shah” - Hindu surnames in Muslim families. – adopted in Muslim families. – adopted surnames.surnames.

Name of families from Name of families from occupationsoccupations

55% of the communities 55% of the communities derive their names from derive their names from the traditional the traditional occupations they occupations they pursue. pursue.

Maiden surnames:-Maiden surnames:- Topiwala (cap seller)Topiwala (cap seller) Batliwala (bottle seller)Batliwala (bottle seller) Daruwala (liquor seller)Daruwala (liquor seller) Ganjawala (weed seller)Ganjawala (weed seller) Sodawala (soda seller)Sodawala (soda seller) Joonjoonwala Joonjoonwala

(unrecognized)(unrecognized)

By occupation:-By occupation:- Maji - fisherMaji - fisher Bhuiyar (peasant), Bhuiyar (peasant), Alvan (salt maker),Alvan (salt maker), Churihar (bangle-Churihar (bangle-

maker), maker), Lohar (blacksmith), Lohar (blacksmith), Bunkar (weaver),Bunkar (weaver), Chitrakar (scroll-Chitrakar (scroll-

painter), painter), and also gaddis, and also gaddis,

gujjars, julahas, dhobis, gujjars, julahas, dhobis, sapera, nai, etc. etc.sapera, nai, etc. etc.

By names of creatures :- By names of creatures :- Mankad – bug. Mankad – bug. Kansari – bug.Kansari – bug. Hathi – elephant.Hathi – elephant.

By family Business:-By family Business:- Ambani, valia – chemical business.Ambani, valia – chemical business. Parikh – ornaments.Parikh – ornaments. Shah – gold,diamond.Shah – gold,diamond. Kapoor,kumar – film industry.Kapoor,kumar – film industry. Raipara – wire making.Raipara – wire making. Nai – barber.Nai – barber. Chattopadhyay – professor.Chattopadhyay – professor. Prajapati – potter.Prajapati – potter. Jaiswal – liquor business Jaiswal – liquor business Gupta – different food profession like – sweet maker.Gupta – different food profession like – sweet maker. Bhandari,pandit,pandya,joshi – priest Bhandari,pandit,pandya,joshi – priest

Surnames by ordinary names:-Surnames by ordinary names:- Veena, veera (brother), veer, vidyarthi (student), tina, tushar, Veena, veera (brother), veer, vidyarthi (student), tina, tushar,

kunal……kunal……

Trade names used as surname:- developed quite recently Trade names used as surname:- developed quite recently from English from English

Merchant Merchant Contractor Contractor Engineer Engineer DoctorDoctor

Patel – farming, grocery shop, small and big retail Patel – farming, grocery shop, small and big retail businesses.- any new business – depend on land and businesses.- any new business – depend on land and the business which makes money.the business which makes money.

Caste categories are also based on occupations, and Caste categories are also based on occupations, and cut across religion. Many surnames derive from cut across religion. Many surnames derive from occupations pursued, offices traditionally held, and occupations pursued, offices traditionally held, and original villages, cutting across community boundaries original villages, cutting across community boundaries and region. and region.

Singh, Acharya, Patel, Naik, Prasad, Gupta, Sharma, Singh, Acharya, Patel, Naik, Prasad, Gupta, Sharma, Khan are examples.Khan are examples.