Caste System, The Scourge of Indian Civilization Essay

The Caste system has aroused much controversy than any other feature of India’s society. Every day, Dalits are butchered, assaulted, abused, raped, lynched, shot or openly mutilated without considering any consequences of the offenders. The deaths of pregnant women who are not able to pay the bribes at government hospitals, some boys with eyes raised completely out for falling in love with a girl of a superior caste, and horrid stories of employees boiled to death because of spewing out arguments with the boss are continuously reported in mainstream newspapers. After years of democracy, the social structure stands to practice the caste system disregarding abolishment laws. Every international or national effort to abolish caste differentiation and segregation has been proven ineffective. The caste system of India is a deeply inculcated social problem requiring immense commitment domestically and internationally in understanding what has stopped the measures to get rid of this ancient system and what measures are needed to complete elimination of the system.

Even though India does still practice a caste system, it does differ from Europe’s feudal system by being based off of a different religion, Hinduism, which is very different from Roman Catholic. This could, in turn, prove the premise to be true again because it is based of different moral values within their respected religions.

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).

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

At this point in history, the social and economic diversity was a big part of India. The diversity was not only caused by a linguistic difference or a racial aspect, but also by the caste system. The caste system was a major factor in the ever-popular religion of Hinduism. With the country constantly growing and the surge in population, subcategories in the caste system came into existence; based on a person’s abode, occupation, and family. The caste system made sure everyone had a place in the social hierarchy; the system put you in a spot and expected you to stay there (Gilbert). When Buddhism and Jainism came around, their teachings challenged this idea. About this time, the political and economic situation of India was picking up speed and growing. When the religions began confronting the idea of the caste system, the Mauryan merchants joined in.

Certain critics claim that it originated with “the second millennium B.C. a host of Aryans possessing a different language, culture, and physiognomy … migrated to India.” The caste system is critical because it has a significant effect on the daily lives of Hindus. The caste system is somewhat rigid, and Hindus have followed that practice since its beginning although some would argue that it did not become rigid until the influence of Islam and subsequent invasion of the British. Nevertheless, they are an integral part of the system, and there are four distinct groups: “seers, administrators, producers, and followers.” One does not usually break away from a caste system, and the caste system dictates your social status within a given region with corresponding level of education and economy. The Elite caste, the Brahmins, has the most benefit holding the position of power. Although some people in India are trying to fight the caste system, many people adhere to the caste system where it is still uncommon to marry outside your caste or even ascend to a higher caste

But the most well-known caste system today is in Indo-Pak Sub-Continent. Around one in 25 people in the world experiences some form of caste discrimination; more than half of these are in India and Pakistan. This system dates almost 3600 years back and was formed on the need to form a social order in ancient India but is still prevalent today in the

Starting off, the caste system in Hinduism it originates from the Rig Veda, not only is it an ancient system but many regard it as a distinctive trait of Hinduism and its long history and that it is virtually identical to the essence of Hinduism (Varna & Jati 9522) caste is also known as Varna in Sanskrit which means color but can be better translated to mean order (Varna & Jati 9522). The caste system places people into four hierarchal classes Brahmin or priest is the highest in the caste they are considered the closest to god, they are also the people responsible for keeping sacred knowledge and teaching it to others. Since they were the first caste created from the cosmic man they have a superiority over all other caste members this is one of the only traits shared by the various

Ever since the religion of Hinduism was founded in 2800 B.C., India has upheld a social caste system that later evolved in its order and strictness. The caste system began when Aryan newcomers arrived in India, bringing with them a discriminatory mindset of racial separation. From this, varna, the Sanskrit word for caste, was born. Varna, also meaning color, placed the lighter-skinned Aryans at the top of the social pyramid and darker-skinned indigenous Indians at the bottom. Later, the Untouchables, or Dalits, were added to the system as outcasts and were immediately treated with nothing but distaste and inhumanity. These

As children grow up in the United States, they are often told they can do whatever they want when they are an adult. They are often told to reach for the stars and to chase their dreams. In India however, this was not the case. India followed what is known as a caste system. A caste system does not allow young children the fantasy of becoming whoever they want to become, but instead their future is born when they are. The word “caste” was first coined by Portuguese traders in the 16th century and translates to race. The original caste system in India was developed more than 3,000 years ago and in some instances, still continues today. (Funk & Wagnalls 2016) It was created by Aryan priests who had separated society into four different categories. At the top of the list was Brahmans (priests), next were the Kshatriyas (warriors), then came the Vaisyas (farmers and merchants), and lastly was the Sudras. The Sudras were composed of servants and laborers who were to work for the other three castes. Even worse than being a Sudra though, was being a member of the Harijans, commonly known as the Untouchables. This group was composed of the Dravidians who were native to India and shunned for ‘religious or social sins’ from the other classes they originally came from. All formed by the priests, this system of hierarchy was created and made part of the Hindu religious law (Funk & Wagnalls 2016). The creation of the caste system came with many laws. For instance,

The Indian caste system involves four castes and outcasted social groups. Although generally identified with Hinduism, the caste system was also observed among followers of other religions in the Indian subcontinent, including some groups of Muslims

The nation of India operates on a caste system which is a form of “social class” structure from birth. For example, if you were born “poor” you will always be “poor” and vice versa. “The caste system in India is quite rigorous, boasting 3,000 castes and 25,000 subcastes; memberships range between the hundreds and the millions. India’s caste system originated in Hinduism, but other religious groups in India subscribe to similar systems (Gale 2001). Word Count: 90

The class systems of Medieval Europe and India were created as a means of providing the people of those cultures with social structure and order. Over time, the people of each culture came to perceive their system with its underlying religious beliefs as an integral part of their “rich cultural heritage,” one that if lost would deny them not only God’s good graces but of more immediate concern the good graces of their clergy and rulers. Although the underlying religious beliefs of the two cultures were different, both impeded the economic progress necessary to lift large numbers of their populations out of poverty. In today’s India, the caste system and its underlying religious beliefs continue to impede economic progress.

The age-old caste system is one of the main causes for social inequality in India. It has contributed in keeping a large portion of the country 's population backwards. The caste system resulted in lot of evil actions because of its rules. Society was divided into strict compartments and those belonging to the higher castes exploited the lower caste people- The shudras and untouchables had to perform all the menial tasks. They could not even think for their betterment. Their children had to remain slaves or bonded labourers, even if someone was intelligent and aspired to study.

I am neither a sociologist nor an anthropologist but a student of the human society and for being that I leave the choice to the readers that they can assign me under any terminological category as they wish. However, I must clarify what prompted me and compelled me to touch the issue of 'caste' although all my academic education were pertained to 'engineering and technology'. Much abler and more profound pens have analysed the issue of