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With rapid urbanization and education of India's largely rural, agrarian population, the significance of caste is slowly being diminished. The caste system and its attendant practises have been outlawed and declared punishable offences, but these laws are difficult to implement. There are occasional violations of human rights of ]s (outcastes - also called untouchables) by orthodox elements among the higher castes{{fact}}, including forcing Dalits into their traditional professions despite merits to the contrary. Dalits have often been victimized by orthodox Brahmins and middle castes in rural areas and live in poverty. The government of India provides reservations for government jobs and of university seats in programs of higher education (undergraduate and above) for people hailing from ]s, ]s and ]; see ] . It has been argued by Dalits that upper caste{{fact}} Hindus are trying to scuttle these efforts. Upper caste Hindus and several secular elements counter-argue that unmeritorious Dalits are exploiting affirmative action to their advantage and meritorious candidates are being sidelined.In addition, some have argued that the caste system, rather than being eradicated, is reversing itself , with Dalits frequently touting ] hate-speech and ethnically cleansing upper castes from places like ] and ]{{fact}}. Some Dalits who have converted to other religions such as Buddhism and Christianity have been incited against Hindus of several Castes. They have been known to attack Hindu temples and vandalized Deities .They have tried to justify their actions by claiming that the temples are "of no use" and allegedly symbolize Casteism . The site ] (presently taken down), once banned by the ]n government, is an example of ] and ] rhetoric. With rapid urbanization and education of India's largely rural, agrarian population, the significance of caste is slowly being diminished. The caste system and its attendant practises have been outlawed and declared punishable offences, but these laws are difficult to implement. There are occasional violations of human rights of ]s (outcastes - also called untouchables) by orthodox elements among the higher castes{{fact}}, including forcing Dalits into their traditional professions despite merits to the contrary. Dalits have often been victimized by orthodox Brahmins and middle castes in rural areas and live in poverty. The government of India provides reservations for government jobs and of university seats in programs of higher education (undergraduate and above) for people hailing from ]s, ]s and ]; see ] . It has been argued by Dalits that upper caste{{fact}} Hindus are trying to scuttle these efforts. Upper caste Hindus and several secular elements counter-argue that unmeritorious Dalits are exploiting affirmative action to their advantage and meritorious candidates are being sidelined.In addition, some have argued that the caste system, rather than being eradicated, is reversing itself , with Dalits frequently touting ] hate-speech and targetting upper castes from places like ] and ]{{fact}}. In an incident some Dalits wanting to convert to Buddhism attacked Hindu temples and vandalized Deities .They have tried to justify their actions by claiming that the temples are "of no use" and allegedly symbolize Casteism . The site ] (presently taken down), once banned by the ]n government, is an example of ] and ] rhetoric.


==Nepalese caste system== ==Nepalese caste system==

Revision as of 08:13, 31 August 2006

Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system. The word caste is derived from the Portuguese word casta, meaning "lineage".

Definitions

Anthropologists use the term more generally, to refer to a social group that is endogamous and occupationally specialized; such groups are common in highly stratified societies with a very low degree of social mobility. In its broadest sense, examples of caste-based societies include colonial Latin America under Spanish and Portuguese rule (see Casta), apart from India prior to 1947.

Indian caste system

Main article: Indian caste system

The Indian caste system exhibits fundamental differences from those of other countries. Elsewhere, the separation between one group and the other is usually along racial lines. Within India, that is not so. Nor is there any discernable dichotomy (white/black or high/low) because the caste system forms a continuum that defies such ready definition. Lower-caste people live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage, forming the most impoverished segment of a very indigent country.

The concept of 'upper' and 'lower' caste is therefore a matter of social standing and ritual pollution rather than anything based on wealth or influence. Even in this age, some castes do not allow other caste members to touch them, and would have washed themselves or their possessions if they had been touched by someone from a "lower" caste. In some parts of India, there was the practice of defining the physical distance one should keep from persons of another caste. As a result of this, children who attended a school where children of lower castes were present had to bathe in running water before returning home. In some parts of the world and India, such caste discrimination still exists, though it is punishable by law.

Loss of caste could occur if individuals strayed from the norms of behavior expected of them; for instance, if one married a person belonging to another caste. Naturally, conversion (generally to Christianity or Islam) also had a similar result. Despite the marketing efforts of proselytizers, the fact is that converts rarely achieve emancipation from the caste system and gain an equal social standing with people of privilege. Even among converts, matrimony between members of different castes is rare, although it is not unknown.

The incidence can be said to be around the same as in Hindu society. A detailed analysis of the caste system, Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development in India was presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in his doctoral paper at the Columbia University.

Caste system among Indian Muslims

Main article: Caste System among Indian Muslims

There is also a caste system among Indian muslims . They are broadly divided into two castes, Ashraf and Ajlaf, or oonchi zaat (high caste) and niichi zaat (low caste).

Puranic legend on the origin of castes

Main article: Purusha sukta
It has been suggested that this article be merged with Indian caste system. (Discuss)

In the Puranas, it is said that the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, created some humans from his mouth — they became reciters of the Veda and became the Brahmins. Then he created other humans from his arms, they became the Kshatriyas, bearers of arms, the warrior and ruling class. Brahma then created some from his abdomen, who became the Vaishyas or merchants. Finally, Brahma created humans from his feet. They served the other castes even as the feet serve the man; they came to become the Sudras (manual labourers and artisans). Thus, the whole universe is held to be one organic entity, the body of the almighty.

Many scholars have the opinion that the caste system was not rigid in early vedic times. They aver that change of one's caste could be effected with relative ease, by changing ones vocation and gaining an education. Others however feel that caste began as a form of racism and interpret the meaning of the word 'sudra' to mean 'dark' or 'black'.

Jati

It has been suggested that this article be merged with Jati. (Discuss)

Major castes were subdivided into hundreds of sub-castes or Jatis. Castes were based on occupation. Endogamous marriage (including polyandry) and other association within caste was strongly enforced.

  • Sub-castes within a group of Jat ("birth" as opposed to Varna) were called Jati
  • Jati members were allowed to marry only with their Jati.
  • People were born into their Jati; this status couldn't be changed, unless through marriage or under rare circumstances.
  • Each Jati was part of a locally based system of interdependence with other groups, involving occupational specialization, and was linked in complex ways with networks that stretched across regions.

For example, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, states of South India, castes based on occupation would include: Asari (carpenters), Thattar (goldsmiths), Muusaari (coppersmiths), Karuvar (ironsmiths), Ambattar (clothes-washers), Parayar (cobblers) and so on.

Modern developments

It has been suggested that this article be merged with Indian caste system. (Discuss)
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With rapid urbanization and education of India's largely rural, agrarian population, the significance of caste is slowly being diminished. The caste system and its attendant practises have been outlawed and declared punishable offences, but these laws are difficult to implement. There are occasional violations of human rights of Dalits (outcastes - also called untouchables) by orthodox elements among the higher castes, including forcing Dalits into their traditional professions despite merits to the contrary. Dalits have often been victimized by orthodox Brahmins and middle castes in rural areas and live in poverty. The government of India provides reservations for government jobs and of university seats in programs of higher education (undergraduate and above) for people hailing from Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes and Other Backward Castes; see Reservation in India . It has been argued by Dalits that upper caste Hindus are trying to scuttle these efforts. Upper caste Hindus and several secular elements counter-argue that unmeritorious Dalits are exploiting affirmative action to their advantage and meritorious candidates are being sidelined.In addition, some have argued that the caste system, rather than being eradicated, is reversing itself , with Dalits frequently touting anti-Brahman hate-speech and targetting upper castes from places like Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu. In an incident some Dalits wanting to convert to Buddhism attacked Hindu temples and vandalized Deities .They have tried to justify their actions by claiming that the temples are "of no use" and allegedly symbolize Casteism . The site Dalitstan (presently taken down), once banned by the Indian government, is an example of anti-Brahmin and anti-Hindu rhetoric.

Nepalese caste system

Main article: Nepalese caste system

Nepalese caste system resembles that of the Indian Jati system with numerous Jati divisions with a Varna system superimposed.

Sri Lankan caste system

Main article: Caste in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan system resembles that of the South Indian Jati system with numerous Jati divisions without a Varna system superimposition.

Balinese caste system

Main article: Balinese caste system

Balinese caste system resembles in the Indian system with a four fold division of society. Shudras make up 97% of the society.

Yemen caste system

Main article: Caste system in Yemen

In Yemen there exists a caste like system that keeps Al-Akhdam social group as the perennial manual workers for the society through violence.

Pseudo-Castes in ancient Israel

Main article: Caste system in Israel

Castes in Africa

Main article: Caste system in Africa

See also

Notes

  1. "Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development in India". Retrieved 2006-07-31.

References

  • Spectres of Agrarian Territory by David Ludden December 11, 2001
  • Early Evidence for Caste in South India, p. 467-492 in Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum, Edited by Paul Hockings and Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, 1987.

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