Caste System in India

Caste is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese word “casta,” which meaning “race, ancestry, or breed.” Portuguese used casta in its contemporary connotation when they applied it to hereditary social groups in India known as jati. ‘Jati’ is derived from the root word ‘Jana,’ which signifies birth. Therefore, caste is tied to birth.

According to Anderson and Parker, caste is an extreme form of social class organisation in which birth and descent define a person’s position in the status ladder.

Caste System in India: Diverse Hypotheses

Traditional, racial, political, occupational theories, among others, attempt to explain the caste structure in India.

1. Traditional Theories

According to this theory, the genesis of the caste system is divine. It is stated that the caste system is an extension of the varna system, with the four varnas deriving from Bramha’s body.

Brahmins, who were mostly teachers and thinkers and descended from Brahma’s head, occupied the highest position in the social structure. Kshatriyas, or warriors and kings, originated from his arms. The traders, or Vaishyas, were created from his thighs. At the bottom were the Shudras, who originated from the foot of Brahma. The mouth represents its use for preaching, learning, etc., the arms represent defence, the thighs represent cultivation or commerce, and the feet represent the body’s support, therefore the Shudras’ mission is to serve everyone else. Due to intermarrying amongst the four varnas, subcastes formed later.

The proponents of this view use Purushasukta of the Rigveda, Manusmriti, and other texts to bolster their position.

2. Racial Theories

The word for caste in Sanskrit is varna, which means colour. The chaturvarna system gave rise to the caste stratification of Indian society: Brahmins, Kashtriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. D.N. Majumdar, an Indian sociologist, claims in his book “Races and Culture in India” that the caste system originated with the arrival of Aryans in India.

The Rig Vedic literature emphasises the contrasts between the Arya and non-Aryans (Dasa) in terms of not only skin tone, but also language, religious customs, and physical characteristics.

During the Vedic period, the Varna system was primarily centred on the division of labour and occupation. In the Rig Veda, the three classes Brahma, Kshatra, and Vis are constantly referenced. Brahma and Kshatra stood for the poet-priest and the warrior-chief, respectively. Vis included all regular people. In the Rig Veda, the name of the fourth caste, ‘Sudra,’ appears only once. The Sudra class consisted of domestic workers.

3. Political Theories

According to this belief, the caste system was devised by the Brahmins in order to elevate themselves to the top of the social hierarchy.

Dr. Ghurye asserts, “Caste is a Brahminic offspring of Indo-Aryan civilization that was born in the Ganges region and subsequently transplanted to other regions of India.”

In order to gain the favour of the ruler of the land, the Brahmins also introduced the concept of the spiritual merit of the king via the priest or purohit.

4. Occupational Theories

The caste order is based on occupation. Those whose occupations were seen as excellent and respectable were deemed superior to those whose occupations were deemed filthy.

According to Newfield, the origin of the caste system in India is solely the result of function. With functional difference came occupational differentiation and a multitude of sub-castes, such as Lohar (blacksmith), Chamar (tanner), and Teli (fisherman) (oil-pressers).

Principal characteristics of India’s caste system

• Society is divided into castes. Birth determines membership in each of these castes.

• Castes teach hierarchy, according to Louis Dumont. The untouchable caste is at the bottom of this system. Middle-ranking intermediate castes exist.

• Endogamy defines caste, meaning people must marry within their own caste or sub-caste. Endogamy violations result in social isolation and caste loss. Hypergamy (women marrying someone wealthier, of a higher caste, or of a higher social position) and hypogamy (marriage with a lower social status) were also frequent. Each caste preserves gotra exogamy. Every caste is subdivided by gotra. Marriage within a gotra is forbidden since its members are supposed to be descended from a single ancestor.

• Hereditary profession: Megasthenes, a Greek traveller to India, describes hereditary occupation and endogamy as caste characteristics.

• Dietary restrictions: Due to contamination fears, a caste won’t eat cooked food from a lower caste. Food taboos abound. The cooking taboo specifies who can cook. The lunchtime taboo to be respected. The food-sharing taboo. The final taboo is vessel material (either earthenware, copper, or brass). In North India, Brahmins only ate pakka from lesser castes. No one would eat lower-caste kachcha (water-cooked) food. Brahmins dominate the hotel industry because their food is well accepted. Only harijans could eat meat.

• Pureness and pollution: Higher castes said they maintained ceremonial, spiritual, and racial purity by excluding lower castes. According to defilement, a lower-caste man’s touch defiles a higher-caste man. Even his shadow taints higher-ranking men.

• Jati Panchayat protects each caste’s status through caste law and tradition. Jati Panchayat enforces this through the community. Panchayats in different regions and castes have unique names, including Kuldriya in Madhya Pradesh and Jokhila in southern Rajasthan.

Functions of the caste system

• It maintained the ancient social structure of India.

• It has accommodated several communities by granting each one a monopoly on a certain source of income.

• Individuals were provided with social security and social recognition. It is the individual’s caste that determines his choice in marriage and serves as his state club, orphanage, and welfare organisation. In addition, it offers him health insurance advantages. It even covers his funeral expenses.

• The transmission of the knowledge and abilities of a caste’s inherited occupation from one generation to the next has contributed to the preservation of culture and ensured productivity.

• Caste plays a significant role in the process of socialisation by instructing individuals in their society’s culture, customs, values, and standards.

• Through jajmani ties, it has also led to interdependent interaction amongst different castes. Caste served as a labour union, protecting its members from exploitation.

• The caste system promoted political stability by protecting Kshatriyas from political competition, strife, and violence.

• Preserved racial purity via endogamy.

• Specialization contributed to the manufacture of high-quality commodities, which fostered economic growth. Numerous Indian handicrafts achieved international fame as a result.

Conclusion

India’s economic and political interactions remain unchanged despite caste system changes. Despite the fact that caste brings order, the lowest socioeconomic class nevertheless has inequities. 1955 constitution outlawed “Untouchability” in India. This deed was started by an untouchable. Indians’ (if any) class. Leadership is difficult. K Ramaswamy is a Supreme Court justice. He spoke up for others. True leaders aren’t motivated by fame or money. Justice-seeker Ramaswamy. He spoke for people with little birth-class voice. He was a remarkable leader who secured rights for nameless untouchables via hard labour.