...Caste System A caste system is a social system based on ascribed statuses, which are traits or characteristics that people possess as a result of their birth. Ascribed statuses can include race, gender, nationality, body type, and age. A caste system ranks people rigidly. No matter what a person does, he or she cannot change castes. People often try to compensate for ascribed statuses by changing their nationality, lying about their age, or undergoing plastic surgery to alter their body type. In some societies, this strategy works; in others, it does not. Example: Religion is an ascribed status in some societies. Americans may convert to other religions, but in other countries, people may not change out of the particular religion into which they were born. India’s Caste System The Indian government officially outlawed the caste system in 1949, but vestiges of it remain today. The system originated with the Hindu religion, which subscribes to the concept of reincarnation, the belief that while the physical body dies, the soul of a person is immortal and goes on to be reborn into another body. People who are good in their current life will come back to improved circumstances in the next life, but if they are evil, they will be punished in the next one. Therefore, those who are poor or ill are suffering punishment for having done something wrong in a past life. One should not interfere in the life of another person because that individual’s circumstances are the result of what...
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...CLASS AND CASTE- BACKWARD CLASSES AND DALITS The term Apartheid was coined to define the social and political policy of racial segregation enforced by the whites on the black natives of South Africa. Apartheid of India is ‘Casteism’. So, is India a replica of South African apartheid? Certainly not. The South African natives were segregated on the basis of laws, made by men in authority ,which were later dismantled by human efforts, again by men in authority. But in India, the discriminatory nature of class as well as race is duly recognised by the Constitution but not practised as the men in authority here are not distinct. Hence, the apartheid between Bharat and India is beyond the reach and ambit of human intervention. Class and caste discrimination in India is as old as the Himalayas. The enormity of human degradation, inequality, discrimination and untouchability is beyond comprehension and is enforced by scriptures which are held and hailed as sacred. Violation of scriptural ordinance is blasphemous and therefore unimaginable. It all started with the advent of the Aryans and the writing of the Vedas. The caste system has been there in India since then but it was merely a class system on the basis of division of labour. But it accelerated during the British Raj as they produced the Scheduled Caste List to enforce their ‘ Divide and Rule’. The colonial experience resulted in the obsession of Indians with fair skin colour. But even this inferiority complex fails to provide...
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...The caste system began around the year 1200 B.C., but it wasn't until 1947, just 63 years ago, that the caste system was outlawed. The caste system is similar to the class system we have in the United States, yet completely different. In the caste system, you are born into a caste that sets up the rest of your life and there's absolutely no changing it. While our class system, you can be born into poverty and work your way up to wealthier class. India made the right decision in taking away the caste system. The caste system is wrong just as segregation in the United States, The caste system segregates people a lot like the problem we had in the United States 60 years ago. Segregation in America was based upon the color of your skin. White...
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...special article caste in the 21st century: From system to elements A M Shah The argument that while caste as a system is more or less dead, individual castes are flourishing is widely accepted. However, the notion of “caste as a system” is derived mainly from studies of the rural rather than the urban community. In this article, individual caste is seen in the context of both rural and urban communities and its several aspects, particularly the rule of endogamy as its defining criterion, are analysed at some length and some implications of the analysis are pointed out. n 1955, M N Srinivas presented a paper, ‘Castes: Can They Exist in the India of Tomorrow?’, at a national seminar on “Casteism and Removal of Untouchabilty” in Delhi, attended, among others, by such distinguished persons as S Radhakrishnan, Jagjivan Ram, Govind Ballabh Pant, V K R V Rao, Kaka Kalelkar and Irawati Karve. The paper was published in the seminar report as well as in the Economic Weekly (1955). After a lifetime of scholarship on caste, in 1999, the last year of his life, Srinivas delivered a lecture under different titles in Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata, on the passing away of caste as a system. It was published posthumously in 2003 in the Economic and Political Weekly under the title, ‘An Obituary on Caste as a System’. Srinivas expanded this title into a sentence, “While caste as a system is dead, individual castes are flourishing” (ibid: 459). He made this statement almost at the end of...
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...brayhmayajina which is the daily study and chanting of the Vedas. Later on in the day the Brahmin must teach his disciples the Vedas. Near the end of the day a Brahmin must bathe again and perform madhyahnika. Brahmins must feel repentant if they fail to perform the rites they are bound to perform. They must devote the years of their life to the pursuit of their dharma. * Kshatriyas are responsible for defending Indian society and upholding justice. The caste held an essential monopoly on military education and defense training for generations. They were expected to marry other kshatriyas. * Vaisyas duties are to carry on trade, to lend at interest and to cultivate the land which was a vital part in keeping the economy going. They are allowed to wear the sacred thread and enter the temples * Sudras Sudras are not allowed to wear the sacred thread but they are allowed to enter all Hindu Temples * Untouchables are forbidden from entering Hindu temples and school or touching members of the other castes Step 3 1. * Brahmins ( Priests and teachers) * Ksatriyas (Warriors and Rulers) * Vaisyas (Farmers,Merchants,Artisans etc) * Sudras (Laborers) * Untouchables (Polluted Laborers) 2. * Brahmins are not allowed to eat meat and drink alcohol. They are usually expected to leave everything behind to focus on...
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...Globalization and the Caste System in India Mimi Winters Abstract India has experienced significant economic growth as a direct result of globalization even during the current global economic crisis. Yet many argue that this success does not reach all levels of Indian society. Indeed, some argue that globalization has actually had a negative impact on the lowest members of Indian society, the Dalits. This paper explores both sides of the argument by briefly explaining India’s 3,000-year-old caste system and its influence or lack of influence on the reduction of poverty among the Dalits. Globalization and the Caste System in India India is becoming one of the most significant players in the world economy today. Its rapid economic growth can be contributed to its increasing role in the global community. “Economic liberalization, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and has served to accelerate the country's growth, which has averaged more than 7% per year since 1997” (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012, para. 3). India’s GDP was estimated at $4.463 trillion with a real growth rate of 7.8% and $3,700 per capita in 2011 (2012, para. 14). A majority of this success can be directly contributed to globalization. Although growth is expected to slow due to the global economic crisis, India is still experiencing...
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...INDIAN CASTE AND VARNA SYSTEM India is a diverse nation and one of the most prominent historical features of this country is its caste system. Under this caste system, people are divided and differentiated on the basis of region, class, place of birth, language, religion, tribe and gender. This caste system is seen as a tool to intricately stratified social hierarchy which plays a key role in distinguishing the culture of our nation from any other in this entire world. It has a history which is multi-dimensional and multifarious and is considered as the sole basis of a methodical ranking system on the basis of your occupation and inequality among the people, which is the root cause of the problem of inequality of the society. According to this caste system, the social standing of a person should be decided on the basis of the caste in which he is born in. To study the history of caste system in India, we must first study the history of Hinduism. The definition of ‘caste’ should be considered before studying about the Caste system of India. Caste can be defined as “a collection of families or groups of families bearing a common name; claiming a common descent from a mythical ancestor, human or divine; professing to follow the same hereditary calling; and regard by those who are capable to give an opinion as forming a single homogeneous community”. It can also be defined as an hierarchal division of different parts of the society on the basis of their occupation and place of...
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...MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CASTE SYSTEM Merits of caste system: In spite of various demerits, caste system in India has been proved to be a stabilizing and interacting force. It cannot be denied that since its origin it has served the development and preservation of Hindu community. According to K.M. Panikkar, “The Hindu people constitute one of the oldest integrated societies of the world. For over two thousand five hundred years the Hindu have been a people. They had, broadly speaking, an organized social system the main characteristic of which were the same from Himalayas to Cape Comorin, No doubt the Dharma Shastras and the Griha Sutras which embody these principles applied only to certain dominant classes and beneath them were many communities professing a wide variety of customs and practices. And yet it is one of the miracles of history that loosely knit though it was, Hindu society has survived over two and half millions and remains today an active and vigorous society ready to make its place, in the world. Some of the principal merits of Indian caste system are mentioned as below: Harmonious Division of Society: Classification of society is indispensable in every country. In ancient India such classification existed in a perfect form. The whole society was divided into four classes namely. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishayas and Sudras. These classes were not rigid and closed. No one was Brahmin by blood nor was any one Sudra by birth. Everyone was free to attain the...
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...Their Indian class set up is historically one of the main specifications in which people of india are socially separated through class, religious beliefs, location, group, sex, and spoken language. Even Though this or other forms of distinction appear in all the human communities, it might be an issue once one or more of these specifications cover one another and turn the only foundation of organized ranking and unequal entree towards valuable sources such as riches, earnings, power and ranking. The Indian class set up is thought of as a sealed setup of social stratification, which means that a individual's social state is required that class these people were born into. There are boundaries at discussion as well as conduct with individuals out of some other social standing. This document is going to be going through the various aspects of the Indian class setup as well as results in India today. The class set up is the group of individuals towards a few hierarchically rated classes named varnas. They're categorized in accordance to career and figure out use of riches, power, and opportunity. Their Brahmans, normally priests as well as students, are in the best. Following tend to be the Kshatriyas, or governmental rulers as well as military. They're accompanied by the Vaishyas, or sellers, as well as the fourth was the Shudras, who are normally employees, peasants, craftsman, as well as servants. At the very bottom part is the regarded as the untouchables. These people complete...
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...devotees to their polytheistic system of beliefs. This ancient religion has spread across the Indian Sub-Continent from generation to generation. Hinduism had a huge impact toward the development of the caste system in India. The caste system was a determination, system of various social rankings or class. The caste system consists of five different levels, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and the Untouchables. Brahmins are priests; they have much importance for they are closest to god. Kshatriyas are warriors or kings; they are second in ranking for they protect the innocent...
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...Earlier sources read described the importance of the caste system within Indian culture, and Hinduism. In earlier texts form the, Rig Veda: Sacrifice as Creation, a passage written suggests that not only was the very essence of the world created through the sacrifice of Purusha, but also India’s caste system with which the Brahmans so heavily relied upon to preserve their power and differentiate themselves among the lower classes, “His mouth became the Brahman; his two arms were made into the Rajanya; his two thighs the Vaishya; from his two feet the Shudra was born.” (Pg. 89). This passage, in a way, intertwines religion and politics into one, so either are hardly recognizable from one another. However, the caste system began to lose stride...
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...battling with the idea of participating in fighting a battle with his family and friends on the opposing side. During his conversation with his charioteer, who happens to also be Krishna, he is told that he should do his duty as a warrior and to fight to help regain control of the kingdom. It is noted that physical death does not mean the ultimate ending of a life, that there will be rebirth or eventually moksha. The true struggle that Arjuna should be facing is not the turmoil over the killing, but should be over the act of going against his dharma. It is interesting to look at the Bhagavad Gita in relation to the caste system that played a major role in society and culture that has historically practiced Hinduism. While the system has been outlawed, it still has played a large part in shaping the society and the people in the region. The caste system is a stratification system that limited people into acting only within their assigned roles in society. Individuals are highly limited...
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...Assef becomes a key official in the Taliban, which persecuted and killed many Hazara. Thus bringing Assef childhood vision to fruition in his adulthood. Overall, the Caste system cause a huge divide, the Pashtuns were the high class and the Hazara were the untouchables. These two classes caused tremendous heartache and tragedy within the Islamic community. The author appeared to be showing how something as trivial as someone’s heritage could have a devastating impact on a whole society. The author made it clear that one’s gender plays and vital role in Islamic society. What is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the Gander. For example, Hosseini showed the double standard that Islamic culture holds for men and women concerning sexual promiscuity. In chapter 13 Amir and Soraya are at the wedding of Soraya’s uncle’s son. Meanwhile, one of the guests at the wedding says that the groom married a virtuous and pure girl and did well not to marry his cousin Soraya. On the way home Soraya cries and vents to Amir saying “Their sons go out to nightclubs looking for meat and get their girlfriends pregnant, they have kids out of wedlock and no one says a goddamn thing. Oh, they're just men having fun! I make one mistake and suddenly everyone is talking nang and namoos, and I have to have my face rubbed in it for the rest of my life” (Hosseini, 2003, p. 179). This quote clearly shows that although men may do things that are culturally unacceptable they are...
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...Sociology CIA1 Making sense and construction of social change through the studies of Sanskritization,Westernization and Dominant caste Pooja Agarwal 1313240 IIPSENG INTRODUCTION There have been various changes in the social structure of India brought about by the British administration, its economic policies, educational system and introduction of modern means of communication had a far reaching effect on Indian society and economy. Though the Indian society which is based on the caste system is often regarded as a “closed society”, there is still a possibility for changes. Within the framework of the caste itself some kind of mobility is observed. Lower castes have often tried to claim higher status by imitating the life-styles of upper-castes like the Brahmins and Kshatriyas, while the upper castes including Brahmins, attempt to orient their life-styles on the model of the Westerners. This trend has become so widespread that today not only the upper class and middle class people are trying to orient their behaviour, attitudes, beliefs and life-styles towards those of developed societies; but also the entire mass of people are involved in this process. Daniel Lerner calls this process ‘modernisation’. It denotes a process of social change whereby “less developed societies acquire the characteristics common to more developed societies”. The study of social change in India has taken different shapes and directions depending on the nature, shape and direction. Sociologists...
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... yet there is still widespread discrimination of these people because of cultural ideals, the impure history attached to them and the traditional occupations that they are associated with. While the abolishment of caste discrimination in India in 1950 and the Buraka Liberation League in Japan has improved the lives of many people within these communities, there is still a great level of discrimination against the Indian untouchables, the Dalits, and Japanese untouchable population, the Burakumin. A Dalit is a member of the lowest rank in the Hindu caste system and Indian society. The term, Dalit, translates to “oppressed” or “broken”, signifying that members of the Dalit caste are immediately labelled as inferior to the rest of Indian society. In India today, Dalits make up 16.2% of its population, that number being approximately 166 million, which conveys the large spread of Dalits across the Indian population. The traditional Dalit position in Hindu society is one of great inequality in terms of their economic, social, political, and cultural rights. The Hindu caste system is relatively based on purity, and henceforth those that are outside of this caste system are considered impure. The Dalits are untouchable for this very reason of being below the caste system, which means that a Dalit must perform...
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