Caste system of India

• The word 'Caste' has a Portuguese origin that comes from the word 'caste,' which means race.
• Caste is a hereditary and endogamous group with a common name, traditional occupation, culture, and relatively rigid mobility, forming a single homogenous community.
• Its roots are ancient India, but the system was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, such as the Mughal Empire and the British Raj.
• India's caste system is one of the world's oldest surviving forms of social stratification.
• The caste system has two distinct concepts - varna and jati - which can be considered as different levels of analysis within this system.

Caste System through Ages

1. Ancient Age: The caste system in India has its roots in ancient times. The Rigveda, which is one of the oldest Hindu scriptures, mentions the four main varnas or castes - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Each caste had a specific occupation, and inter-caste marriage was not allowed. The caste system was based on the idea of dharma, karma, and reincarnation. The Brahmins were at the top of the social hierarchy, followed by the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
2. Colonial Times: The colonial period in India began in the 16th century when the Portuguese arrived in India. The British colonizers further institutionalized the caste system in India. The British introduced the census in 1871, which classified people based on their caste. The British also created laws that reinforced the caste system, such as the Criminal Tribes Act, which labeled certain communities as criminal tribes based on their caste.
3. Post-Colonial Times: After India gained independence in 1947, the Indian Constitution abolished caste-based discrimination and introduced affirmative action policies to uplift disadvantaged castes. The Indian government implemented reservation policies that reserved seats in education, jobs, and politics for lower-caste communities. However, the caste system continues to be a major social issue in modern-day India, with instances of caste-based discrimination, violence, and inequality still prevalent in some parts of the country.

Characteristics of Caste System

1. Hereditary: Caste is a hereditary system, meaning that a person's social status is determined by the caste they are born into. There is little or no social mobility between castes.

1. Endogamous: Caste is also an endogamous system, meaning that people are expected to marry within their own caste. Inter-caste marriages are often frowned upon and can result in social ostracism.
2. Occupation-based: Each caste is associated with a specific occupation, and individuals are expected to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. This has resulted in occupational segregation, with certain castes being associated with specific professions.
3. Rigid Hierarchy: The caste system is characterized by a rigid hierarchy, with Brahmins (priests) at the top and Shudras (labourers) at the bottom. Each caste has its own status and privileges, and there is little or no social interaction between different castes.
4. Discrimination: The caste system is also characterized by discrimination against lower castes. Members of lower castes often face social and economic exclusion, and are denied access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.
5. Ritual purity: The caste system is also based on the concept of ritual purity, with each caste being assigned a particular level of purity or impurity. This has resulted in various forms of social segregation, with members of higher castes refusing to eat, drink or socialize with members of lower castes.
6. Civil and religious limitations: Restrictions on contact, dress, speech, and rituals are imposed on every caste group in the form of civil and religious disabilities. These limitations were enforced to maintain the purity of specific caste groups. For example, individuals belonging to lower-caste groups were not allowed to access wells, and they were prohibited from entering temples.
7. Manual scavenging: Manual scavenging, which involves the removal of untreated human excreta from bucket toilets or pit latrines, became a caste-based profession. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 has officially abolished it.
8. Caste-based violence in India: The rise in caste-based violence is linked to incidents of inter-caste marriage and the Dalit community's assertion of fundamental rights, such as land rights, freedom of expression, access to justice, and access to education.
9. Caste-based reservation policy: The caste-based reservation system in India is a collection of affirmative action measures that reserve access to seats in various legislative bodies, government jobs, and enrollment in higher education institutions. For instance, Scheduled Caste groups are given 15% reservation in government services and educational institutions.

Alteration in Caste System

The caste system in India has undergone several changes over the years, including

• Constitutional reforms: The Indian Constitution provides for the abolition of untouchability and prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste. The Constitution also provides for affirmative action measures, such as reservations, for historically disadvantaged communities.
• Education and economic development: With increased access to education and economic opportunities, individuals from lower castes have been able to improve their social and economic status. This has led to a reduction in the importance of caste in certain aspects of life.
• Social and cultural changes: There has been a gradual shift in attitudes towards caste, with younger generations being more open-minded and accepting of inter-caste marriages and relationships. Social and cultural changes have also led to the breakdown of some traditional caste-based occupations and practices.
• Legal interventions: The government has introduced several laws to protect the rights of individuals from lower castes and prevent discrimination on the basis of caste. This has led to greater awareness and enforcement of anti-caste discrimination laws.

Factors affecting changes in the caste system

The caste system in India has undergone significant changes over time, and several factors have contributed to these changes. Here are some factors that have affected the changes in the caste system:

1. Sanskritisation: This refers to the process by which lower castes emulate the customs and traditions of higher castes in an attempt to improve their social status. For instance, lower castes may adopt the dress, language, and religious practices of higher castes to elevate their position in society.
2. Modernisation: The introduction of modern education, technology, and social ideas has led to a decline in the influence of traditional caste norms. The spread of modern education has provided opportunities for individuals from lower castes to improve their economic and social status.
3. Westernisation: The impact of Western ideas and culture has also led to changes in the caste system. The Western concept of individualism, equality, and democracy has challenged the traditional hierarchical structure of the caste system.
4. Industrialisation and urbanisation: The growth of industries and cities has created new opportunities for employment, trade, and commerce, leading to the emergence of a new urban middle class. This has led to a decline in the influence of traditional caste-based occupations and increased social mobility.
5. Democratic decentralisation: The decentralisation of power to local governments has provided opportunities for individuals from lower castes to participate in the political process and exercise their democratic rights. This has led to greater representation and empowerment of lower castes in decision-making processes at the local level.

Difference between Class and Caste