October 4th 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 India and the Caste SystemSystem

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 In Hindu religious texts, the dharma—the law, or duty—of each duty—of each varna varna (caste) (caste) is described. is described.

• It was thought that this dharma was an inherited, It was thought that this dharma was an inherited, or inborn, quality. or inborn, quality.

• People thought that if intermarriages took People thought that if intermarriages took place, there would be much confusion as to place, there would be much confusion as to the dharma of the next generation of children. the dharma of the next generation of children.

Independence and Untouchables

After India became an After India became an independent nation in 1947, its independent nation in 1947, its new constitution outlawed the new constitution outlawed the practice of untouchability The practice of untouchability The constitution also established constitution also established affirmative action programs to affirmative action programs to ensure that the scheduled ensure that the scheduled castes would have access to castes would have access to higher education and better higher education and better jobs. Because of these jobs. Because of these programs, there has been a programs, there has been a marked improvement in the marked improvement in the status of the scheduled castes. status of the scheduled castes.

Why does the system persist?

Today, the caste system continues Today, the caste system continues to be the main form of government to be the main form of government in villages throughout India. In large in villages throughout India. In large part, its continuity depends on two part, its continuity depends on two central Hindu concepts: caste central Hindu concepts: caste dharma and karma. In Hindu society, dharma and karma. In Hindu society, caste dharma is considered to be a caste dharma is considered to be a divine law. In the words of Mahatma divine law. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, caste dharma is "the duty Gandhi, caste dharma is "the duty one has to perform" and "the law of one has to perform" and "the law of one's being." Many Hindus believe one's being." Many Hindus believe that this obligation tends to enhance that this obligation tends to enhance the spiritual development of the the spiritual development of the individual. Because of it, each individual. Because of it, each person learns from an early age to person learns from an early age to overcome selfish desires and instead overcome selfish desires and instead focus on group goals and idealsfocus 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