Caste System
Gabrielle Hyrny
Background
The caste system has been in place in India for centuries. Its origins are in the vast bodies of the religious scripture known as the Vedas which were compiled between 1500 and 1000 B.C.E. However, they were transmitted orally over several generations before ever being written down. This shows that the caste system is deeply imbedded in the culture of India and other Hindu societies. This most likely came about as the result of curiosity about the creation of mankind. Wanting to know where they came from and trying to make sense of the world around them is what led to the formation of this system. However, the exploitation of this system happened as a result of the lack of curiosity. During the British occupation of India, the caste system was made inflexible and concrete because it was used to maintain social order and power. The British were not interested in learning the culture of the people already occupying India and made assumptions about their ways of living. Instead of integrating and understanding the societal customs already in place, the British pushed their ideas for society onto the people and hardened the existing society.
Turning Point
The caste system is a way of stratifying a society into ranked groups that has been around since the 1200 BCE. This is most common in South Asia and is associated with the Hindu religion. Caste is a European term given to this system, but jāti which means “kind,” is the Sanskrit term that designates a group that can range in size[1]. Traditionally there are four social classes, or varnas, that the thousands of jāti are arranged into based on a hierarchy. The Vedas, ancient bodies of religious scriptures, contain the story of how these four groups came into being. The first man created, Purusa, was sacrificed to give rise to the varnas. His mouth became the Brahmin, commonly identified as priests and the educated. His arms became the Kshatriyas, associated with rulers, warriors, and property owners. His thighs became the Vaishyas, associated with common people such as traders. And the last varna, Shudras, came from his feet and are commonly servile laborers.[2] A fifth group, the Harijan (untouchables), do not have a place in the varna because they are considered impure and have the most defiling jobs, such as toilet cleaning and garbage removal[3].
Hindus believe in a dharma, which is a holy path in life, and this depends on the caste and stage of life a person is currently in. It is seen as a duty to follow the caste one is born into by the laws of rebirth[4]. Each jāti usually has a specific occupation to go along with it but this is not strictly followed. However, people tend to marry and socialize only with others in their same caste. Membership in each jāti is determined by birth and is believed to be embedded in the substance of people's bodies, so it is retained for life.[5] As a result, there is little upward or downward mobility between jāti and especially between castes. The idea that each caste possess certain characteristic “coded substances” (hair, bodily secretions) that can be transferred through food and water, lead to dietary and social habits that prevent this pollution between castes[6]. Ultimately performing the duties appropriate to one's caste in this lifetime will lead to a higher caste after rebirth. This is what keeps the divisions so concrete and how the system has had such a long history[7].
Effect
This system has religious origins but has transcended into the political, economic, and social aspects of all peoples' lives it touches. Power and status are separated in South Asia, as shown by the priest being higher than the king[8]. The early caste system allowed for specialization in society where each member knew his/her role. The caste system is interlinked with the story of creation and therefore lends itself a great deal of reverence and validity. This established a society in which the lower castes accepted their position and made no attempt to overthrow or gain more power. The caste system developed as society evolved and the need for specialized functions came about. People became classified according to function, occupation, and economic place in society, but the caste system was not absolute or concrete for most of its history.[9]
However, this fluidity ceased once the British Raj took power[10]. The caste system justified the British intervention in India beginning in the 18th century because Britain believed the Hindu to be narrow-minded and chauvinistic. The system set in place a way of knowing and controlling the population for the British by establishing a way of classifying people. The term caste became capable of expressing, and organizing India's diverse forms of social identity and community into one[11]. The caste system changed the history of India and other Hindu societies since its beginning and continues to today. Since India's independence in 1947, the political parties being formed are reflecting caste distinctions. Caste has been rejuvenated since independence through extensive caste quotas in public life, and by democratic politics, which encourages the mobilization of caste loyalties for electoral support[12]. The caste system has touched all aspects of people's lives that live in areas where it is predominant.
[1] Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia. 2002. p.145.
[2] Rig Veda. “Hymn XC. Purusa”. 1896.
[3] Singh, Ekta. Caste System in India: A Historical Perspective.2009.p.20.
[4] “Caste”. 2010. p.1.
[5] Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia.2002. p.146-147.
[6] “Caste”. 2010. p.1.
[7] Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia.2002. p.147-148.
[8] Allchin, Bridget, and Petraglia, Michael. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics, and Genetics. 2007.p.342-343.
[9] Singh, Ekta. Caste System in India: A Historical Perspective. 2009. p.25-28.
[10] Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia. Indiana University Press. 2002. p.149.
[11] Allchin, Bridget, and Petraglia, Michael. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics, and Genetics.2007. p.343-345.
[12] “Caste”. 2010. p.1.
Bibliography
Allchin, Bridget, and Petraglia, Michael. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South
Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics, and Genetics. Springer. Netherlands. 2007. 342-345.
“Caste”. The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Abington: Helicon,
2010.Credo Reference http://www.credoreference.com/entry/heliconhe/caste4.
Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia. Indiana University Press. Bloomington.
2002. 145-150.
Rig Veda. “Hymn XC. Purusa”. Translated by Griffith, Ralph. 1896.
Singh, Ekta. Caste System in India: A Historical Perspective. Kalpaz Publications. Delhi. 2009. 20-33.
Gabrielle Hyrny
Background
The caste system has been in place in India for centuries. Its origins are in the vast bodies of the religious scripture known as the Vedas which were compiled between 1500 and 1000 B.C.E. However, they were transmitted orally over several generations before ever being written down. This shows that the caste system is deeply imbedded in the culture of India and other Hindu societies. This most likely came about as the result of curiosity about the creation of mankind. Wanting to know where they came from and trying to make sense of the world around them is what led to the formation of this system. However, the exploitation of this system happened as a result of the lack of curiosity. During the British occupation of India, the caste system was made inflexible and concrete because it was used to maintain social order and power. The British were not interested in learning the culture of the people already occupying India and made assumptions about their ways of living. Instead of integrating and understanding the societal customs already in place, the British pushed their ideas for society onto the people and hardened the existing society.
Turning Point
The caste system is a way of stratifying a society into ranked groups that has been around since the 1200 BCE. This is most common in South Asia and is associated with the Hindu religion. Caste is a European term given to this system, but jāti which means “kind,” is the Sanskrit term that designates a group that can range in size[1]. Traditionally there are four social classes, or varnas, that the thousands of jāti are arranged into based on a hierarchy. The Vedas, ancient bodies of religious scriptures, contain the story of how these four groups came into being. The first man created, Purusa, was sacrificed to give rise to the varnas. His mouth became the Brahmin, commonly identified as priests and the educated. His arms became the Kshatriyas, associated with rulers, warriors, and property owners. His thighs became the Vaishyas, associated with common people such as traders. And the last varna, Shudras, came from his feet and are commonly servile laborers.[2] A fifth group, the Harijan (untouchables), do not have a place in the varna because they are considered impure and have the most defiling jobs, such as toilet cleaning and garbage removal[3].
Hindus believe in a dharma, which is a holy path in life, and this depends on the caste and stage of life a person is currently in. It is seen as a duty to follow the caste one is born into by the laws of rebirth[4]. Each jāti usually has a specific occupation to go along with it but this is not strictly followed. However, people tend to marry and socialize only with others in their same caste. Membership in each jāti is determined by birth and is believed to be embedded in the substance of people's bodies, so it is retained for life.[5] As a result, there is little upward or downward mobility between jāti and especially between castes. The idea that each caste possess certain characteristic “coded substances” (hair, bodily secretions) that can be transferred through food and water, lead to dietary and social habits that prevent this pollution between castes[6]. Ultimately performing the duties appropriate to one's caste in this lifetime will lead to a higher caste after rebirth. This is what keeps the divisions so concrete and how the system has had such a long history[7].
Effect
This system has religious origins but has transcended into the political, economic, and social aspects of all peoples' lives it touches. Power and status are separated in South Asia, as shown by the priest being higher than the king[8]. The early caste system allowed for specialization in society where each member knew his/her role. The caste system is interlinked with the story of creation and therefore lends itself a great deal of reverence and validity. This established a society in which the lower castes accepted their position and made no attempt to overthrow or gain more power. The caste system developed as society evolved and the need for specialized functions came about. People became classified according to function, occupation, and economic place in society, but the caste system was not absolute or concrete for most of its history.[9]
However, this fluidity ceased once the British Raj took power[10]. The caste system justified the British intervention in India beginning in the 18th century because Britain believed the Hindu to be narrow-minded and chauvinistic. The system set in place a way of knowing and controlling the population for the British by establishing a way of classifying people. The term caste became capable of expressing, and organizing India's diverse forms of social identity and community into one[11]. The caste system changed the history of India and other Hindu societies since its beginning and continues to today. Since India's independence in 1947, the political parties being formed are reflecting caste distinctions. Caste has been rejuvenated since independence through extensive caste quotas in public life, and by democratic politics, which encourages the mobilization of caste loyalties for electoral support[12]. The caste system has touched all aspects of people's lives that live in areas where it is predominant.
[1] Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia. 2002. p.145.
[2] Rig Veda. “Hymn XC. Purusa”. 1896.
[3] Singh, Ekta. Caste System in India: A Historical Perspective.2009.p.20.
[4] “Caste”. 2010. p.1.
[5] Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia.2002. p.146-147.
[6] “Caste”. 2010. p.1.
[7] Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia.2002. p.147-148.
[8] Allchin, Bridget, and Petraglia, Michael. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics, and Genetics. 2007.p.342-343.
[9] Singh, Ekta. Caste System in India: A Historical Perspective. 2009. p.25-28.
[10] Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia. Indiana University Press. 2002. p.149.
[11] Allchin, Bridget, and Petraglia, Michael. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics, and Genetics.2007. p.343-345.
[12] “Caste”. 2010. p.1.
Bibliography
Allchin, Bridget, and Petraglia, Michael. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South
Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics, and Genetics. Springer. Netherlands. 2007. 342-345.
“Caste”. The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Abington: Helicon,
2010.Credo Reference http://www.credoreference.com/entry/heliconhe/caste4.
Lamb, Sarah and Mines, Diane. Everyday Life in South Asia. Indiana University Press. Bloomington.
2002. 145-150.
Rig Veda. “Hymn XC. Purusa”. Translated by Griffith, Ralph. 1896.
Singh, Ekta. Caste System in India: A Historical Perspective. Kalpaz Publications. Delhi. 2009. 20-33.