Transcript The caste system of India

October
th
4
 How do people identify themselves and the group they
are in? Are people able to change identities and
themselves if they want?
 How would you describe “upper-class”, “middle-
class”, and “lower-class”?
India and the Caste
System
Background Information
 Population

Second most populous country

1.24 Billion People
 Size:

1.27 Million square miles
 Independence:

Gained in 1947 from Great Britain
 Religion:

Hindu
What exactly is a caste system?
 Social stratification → people are ranked into groups
 “True” caste systems are only found in India
 The caste is a closed group whose members are severly
restricted in their choice of occupation
 Social status is determined by the caste of one’s birth
 Marriage outside the caste is prohibited
The caste system of India
 Has been in use for many years
 Still today the values of the caste system are
held strongly
 Has a major role in modern India
Where does the system come
frome?
(1) Early migrants to India established a caste
system in which they placed themselves in
higher classes.
The different castes
(from highest to lowest)
(1) Brahman → priests, scholars
(2) Kshatriya →ruler, warriors, landowner
(3) Vaishya →merchants
(4) Shudra → artisans, agriculturalists
(5) Harijan → actually not part of the caste system,
outsiders, and once known as untouchables
(1) The term “untouchable has been outlawed
The Four Varna
Caste and Dharma
• In Hindu religious texts, the dharma—the law, or duty—of
each varna (caste) is described.
• It was thought that this dharma was an inherited, or
inborn, quality.
• People thought that if intermarriages took place, there
would be much confusion as to the dharma of the next
generation of children.
Independence and Untouchables
After India became an independent
nation in 1947, its new constitution
outlawed the practice of
untouchability The constitution also
established affirmative action
programs to ensure that the scheduled
castes would have access to higher
education and better jobs. Because of
these programs, there has been a
marked improvement in the status of
the scheduled castes.
Why does the system
persist?
Today, the caste system continues to be the
main form of government in villages
throughout India. In large part, its
continuity depends on two central Hindu
concepts: caste dharma and karma. In
Hindu society, caste dharma is considered
to be a divine law. In the words of Mahatma
Gandhi, caste dharma is "the duty one has
to perform" and "the law of one's being."
Many Hindus believe that this obligation
tends to enhance the spiritual development
of the individual. Because of it, each person
learns from an early age to overcome selfish
desires and instead focus on group goals
and ideals.
Criticism on the system
 Some activists think the system is a form of
racial discrimination

Lower castes aren’t allowed to go to the high castes
areas

Lower castes have to drink water from public wells

Mustn’t visit the same temples as the higher castes

Often sit in the back of classrooms
 Many Hindus are persuaded that the system is a
part of the society and not with Hinduism
backgrounds
 Observers think the caste system is a system of
exploitation of poor lower castes by the higher