Ancient India's Caste System

(Worlds, 2475) The four castes originated from “Riga Veda” which speaks of the sacrifice of Purusha and how “his mouth became the brahman; his two arms were made into the rajanya; his two thighs the vaishyas; from his two feet the shudra was born.” (Worlds, 2597) While a caste system has good organization in the aspect of the four caste divisions from Brahmans to the Sudras this meant no one is equal in the social hierarchy, and since a mans status is pre-determined, his status cannot be changed, and he cannot move up through the four castes in society, so someone will always be inferior to the other. This also applies to marriage, you had to marry someone within your own said caste, this really shows the rigid social system within

The caste system was and continues to be a terrible reality for people in Europe and Asia. Even though it is not as prominent now as it was before it was abolished, it still affects many people all around the world. To be born into a status, one that you can never leave or outlive is a great tragedy. How does one come to terms with knowing that a choice was never an option? It doesn’t matter if all the laws changed today, the fact remains that the human race is habitual: people will continue to operate based on what they have done for years. The abolition of slavery and the caste system didn’t mean that people would stop doing it but merely meant that it was no longer legal to do

The caste system has been extremely stable in India for over two thousand years. It is only since the more modern, independent state of India was formed that the system has come under any scrutiny at all. It is presently outlawed, but many of the practices, attitudes and traditions remain ingrained in Hindu society (University of Wyoming, 1997).

When we talk about caste system, one must talk about the southern and border states of the United States during the 1877 to mid-1960. These states primarily operated and upheld what is called Jim Crow laws. Under Jim Crow laws it legalized anti-black racism; it was a way of life for black citizens to live under a series of rigid anti-black laws. It was a system which was supported by beliefs that white citizens were superior to black citizens to include intelligence, morality and civilized behavior. Jim Crows laws suggested by mixing of the races would produce mongrel race that would destroy America, treating blacks equal would encourage interracial sexual relations and violence was the means to keep blacks at the bottom of the race hierarchy

Firstly, the caste system reflects the inequality of Indian society. Although religion in India is characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices, majority of Indian population follow Hinduism. Therefore, the dominance of Hinduism beliefs is common in India. There is a belief in caste system, as Brood said, “a system of hierarchical social organization”1. Hindu society is divided into four main classes; the priestly class, the warrior and administrator class, the producer class who is farmers and merchants and the servant class. The remaining group of people who is “outcastes” is called “untouchables” or dalit. Brodd recognizes “dalits continue to suffer terrible oppression, especially in rural communities in India”. I still could not imagine how terrible this bottom class suffers until reading Max Bearak article. All sufferings of Rohith Vemula, from the hardships of growing up poor, interactions with society in caste to scholarship revoke and suicide, happened tragically because he was born in a dalit family. This is the

In ancient India and China a social system was developed to separate the society into levels. This social system is called a caste system. Which caste level you belong to was determined by your occupation and family origin. If you were born the son of a king your life was grand. But, if you were born to a farmer you are a farmer for life. Your birth determines where you fall in the caste system, and you live according to the rules. Both ancient India and China had the caste system. Ancient India and China had similarities and differences in the caste system.

The caste system itself is a system of social stratification, based on two concepts, varna and jati. Varna

Vedic society was divided into four different classes, Brahmans, nobles, commoners and the serfs. These classes are part of the cosmic hierarchy and were based on purity. This gave way to the caste systems. Castes are arranged in the following order of the polarity of purity; Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and the shudras. With a fifth group called the untouchables at the very bottom. They are the untouchables because they are the most impure. The caste of an individual cannot be removed. Each caste has strict rules on caste endogamy.

Aldous Huxley draws a future built off of the past in his intriguing novel Brave New World, pulling aspects of the globally developing society of just a century ago. One of these practices from this time that Huxley elaborates on is the caste system that was used in India until the 1950’s, where it was abolished. However, abolishment doesn’t mean it still isn’t being practiced, and in Brave New World, the World State’s lab-bred population system becomes the backbone of a functioning society. In the story, the population is ranked into 5 castes: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon where Alphas are destined to become the leaders, advisors, or philosophers of the world and Epsilons placed into depressing, menial labor. This system is determined before you are born, and even before the idea of you exists.

The caste system identified a person’s place in Indian society. The caste system depended on your occupation or your wealth. First came the Brahmins who were priests and were seen as the highest class or highest Varna. Then came the Kshatriyas who were rulers or warriors, they were considered to be the second highest class. Then came the Vaisyas who were farmers, craftspeople, and traders, they were considered the third class. Then came the Sudras who were workers and servants, they were considered the lowest class.

What are the four major castes? What implications does the caste system have for everyday life? How does the caste system relate to Hindu ideas of spiritual life? “The four major castes of Hindu society are; seers ( brahmins ), administrators ( kshatriyas ), artisans or farmers ( vaishyas ), and followers or servants ( shudras)”( Smith 56). Smith writes, religious leaders, teachers, artists, and philosophers are members of the first caste, brahmins, khatriyas, the second caste, first known as warriors are now managers. The tillers of the land, the makers of bricks, and the builders are part of the third caste, vaishyas. The fourth caste is made up of servants, those who will take care of the other castes’ needs (56)”. While I was working in India, summer of 2001 and there at the invitation of the richest family in India and staying at one of their compounds, some of my co-workers and I were playing snooker. A young boy walked into the room where we were playing. He stopped and talked to us for a few minutes before continuing to bed. Accompanied by a man of about twenty years old, the boy’s shudra, who had been the boy’s personal servant for ten or more years. The shudra’s purpose was to protect and serve his charge’s every need. Although there is inequality between castes, Smith denotes.“ within each caste, there is equality, opportunity, and social insurance ( 57)”. Although the text

In India, the Hindu belief created the caste system and was, but still is illegally practiced today, the moral understanding of life and for their culture. The driving force behind the caste system is to reach Koksha (liberation). Individuals and India as nation actions’ and social mobility were quantified by the caste system. For example, there is a large population of Hindus who are vegetarians. This principle is rooted in the Hindu teaching of Karma, and Karma is directly linked with the caste system.

India 's system of social stratification, referred to as the caste system, has many different origin theories. These

The caste system is a form of differentiation wherein constituent units of a system justify endogamy based on assumed biological differences which are semaphored by ritualization of multiple social practices. The idea of purity and pollution has had a very serious impact in the Indian society and the fates of people have been decided on this very notion almost forever now. B.R Ambedkar, the father of our constitution, in his book The Annihilation of Caste has made several strong points on why India as a country should abolish the caste system. When one comes to think of it, each and everything he has mention in that book needs to be given a very serious thought, for a country like India to develop and move forward.

According to Indianchild.com the India caste system is a hierarchical society. In the Indian caste system, no matter where you live or what religion you are