CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA

ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED

TO

FACULTY OF LAW, JMI

BY

AMAN HASAN

B.A.LLB. (HONS)

SELF-FINANCE (2022-2027)

SUPERVISED BY

MR. RASHEED CA

(LECTURER - SOCIOLOGY)

(FACULTY OF LAW, JMI)

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 INDEX

- Acknowledgement

- Certificate

- Declaration

- Introduction

- Vivid Definition of Caste

- How did Caste System originate in India various theories

- Characteristics of caste

- Merits of the caste system

-Demerits of the caste system

-Is the caste system unique to India?

-Is the caste system unique to Hinduism?

-Conclusion

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

With immense pleasure and a profound sense of gratitude. I take this opportunity to express my
deep sense of gratitude to my teacher, Mr. Rasheed CA, Asst. Prof. - SOCIOLOGY. Faculty of
Law, JMI. His initial inspiration, constant encouraging attitude and sound guidance through
every stage of the entire work has boosted me to complete the present study successfully.

I am fortunate and feel proud of having worked under his supervision.

I must also acknowledge with thanks the help and cooperation extended to me by the different
internet websites.

I express my deep sense of regard and special indebtedness to my mother who have always been
a sense of inspiration for me and have provided me with all the bits of help whenever needed.

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CERTIFICATE

This is to clarify that AMAN HASAN carried out the project work entitled “CASTE SYSTEM
IN INDIA” in partial fulfilment of the requirement for Sociology assignment work under my
guidance and supervision, it is completed in the same to my satisfaction. The material in this
project is slightly original

Supervisor (Mr. Rasheed CA)

(Asst. Prof. - Sociology)

(Faculty of law, JMI)

Date:__________

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DECLARATION

I, AMAN HASAN solemnly declare that this project entitled “CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA” is
submitted in partial fulfillment for Sociology assignment work. It is the result of my original
work. Due to acknowledgement, it has been made wherever anything has been borrowed from
other sources

AMAN HASAN
B.A.LL.B (Hons.) (Self Financed)
(2022-27)

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Introduction and Overview
The term 'caste' is derived from the Spanish (also Portuguese) word 'caste' meaning 'breed' or
'lineage'. The Portuguese used the term 'caste' first to denote the divisions in the Indian caste
system. The word 'caste' also signifies 'race' or 'kind'. The Sanskrit word for caste is 'Varna'
which means 'colour'. Races and colour seem to be the bases of Indian caste in addition to the
division of labour and occupation. The popular equivalent of caste is 'Jati'. It originates from the
root word ‘Jana’ which implies taking birth. Thus, caste is concerned with birth. The caste
system, the joint family system and the village system of life are often regarded as the three
basic pillars of the Indian social system. The caste system as a form of social stratification is
peculiar to India. The caste is in inseparable aspect of the Indian society. It is peculiarly Indian in
origin and development. Caste is closely connected with the Hindu philosophy and religion,
custom and tradition, marriage and family, morals and manners, food and dress habits,
occupations and hobbies. The caste system is believed to have had a divine origin and sanction.
It is endlessly supported by rituals and ceremonies. It is a deep-rooted and a long lasting social
institution of India . India is a classical land of the caste. It is here, in India, we find more than
2800 castes and sub-castes with all their peculiarities. Of these, the major caste (previously
known as varnas) such as Brahmins, Kshatriyas , Vaishyas and Shudras (or depressed caste) are
found in almost all the states. But none of these castes is numerically dominant in any of the
states of India.

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Vivid Definition Of Caste
'Caste' is so complex a phenomenon which is difficult to define. Writers and thinkers are not
unanimous in their opinion regarding caste, its definition and characteristics. Hence caste has
been defined variously.

➢ Sir Herbert Risely : Caste is a "collection of families, bearing a common name, claiming
a common descent, from a-mythical ancestor, human and divine, professing to follow the
same hereditary calling and regarded by those who are competent to give an opinion as
forming a single homogeneous community."
➢ Maclver and Page: "When status is wholly predetermined so that men are born to their
lot without any hope of changing it, then the class takes the extreme form of caste”
➢ C.H. Cooley: "When a class is somewhat strictly hereditary, we may call it a caste. "
➢ W. Green: "Caste is a system of stratification in which mobility up and down the status
Ladder at least ideally may not occur".
➢ Ketkar: "A caste is a group having two characteristics; (i) membership is confined to
those Who are born of members and includes all persons so born, {ii) the members are
forbidden by an inexorable social law to marry outside the group."
➢ D.N. Majumdar and T.N. Madan have said that caste is a closed group.
➢ Anderson and Parker “Caste is that extreme form of social class organization in which
the position of individuals in the status hierarchy is determined by descent and birth.”

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How did Caste System originate in India: Various Theories
There are many theories like traditional, political etc which try to explain the caste system in
India.

➢ Traditional Theory
According to this theory, the caste system is of divine origin. It says the caste system is
an extension of the varna system, where the 4 varnas originated from the body of
Bramha. At the top of the hierarchy were the Brahmins who were mainly teachers and
intellectuals and came from Brahma’s head. Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, came
from his arms. Vaishyas, or the traders, were created from his thighs. At the bottom were
the Shudras, who came from Brahma’s feet. The mouth signifies its use for preaching,
learning etc, the arms – protections, thighs – to cultivate or business, feet – helps the
whole body, so the duty of the Shudras is to serve all the others. The sub-castes emerged
later due to intermarriages between the 4 varnas. The proponents of this theory cite
Purushasukta of Rigveda, Manusmriti etc to support their stand.
➢ Racial Theory
The Sanskrit word for caste is varna which means colour. The caste stratification of the
Indian society had its origin in the chaturvarna system – Brahmins, Kashtriyas, Vaishyas
and Shudras. Indian sociologist D.N. Majumdar writes in his book, “Races and Culture in
India”, the caste system took its birth after the arrival of Aryans in India. Rig Vedic
literature stresses very significantly the differences between the Arya and non-Aryans
(Dasa), not only in their complexion but also in their speech, religious practices, and
physical features1. The Varna system prevalent during the Vedic period was mainly based
on division of labour and occupation. The three classes, Brahma, Kshatra and Vis are
frequently mentioned in the Rig Veda. Brahma and Kshatra represented the poet-priest
and the warrior-chief. Vis comprised all the common people. The name of the fourth
class, the ‘Sudra’, occurs only once in the Rig Veda. The Sudra class represented
domestic servants.

1
https://www.sociologydiscussion.com/caste/7-major-theories-regarding-the-origin-of-caste-system-in-
india/2354#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20main%20theories,caste%20system%20cannot%20be%20traced. (Last
visited on October 02, 2022)

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 ➢ Political Theory
According to this theory, the caste system is a clever device invented by the Brahmins in
order to place themselves on the highest ladder of social hierarchy. Dr. Ghurye states,
“Caste is a Brahminic child of Indo-Aryan culture cradled in the land of the Ganges and
then transferred to other parts of India.” The Brahmins even added the concept of
spiritual merit of the king, through the priest or purohit in order to get the support of the
ruler of the land.
➢ Occupational Theory
Caste hierarchy is according to the occupation. Those professions which were regarded as
better and respectable made the persons who performed them superior to those who were
engaged in dirty professions2. According to Newfield, “Function and function alone is
responsible for the origin of caste structure in India.” With functional differentiation there
came in occupational differentiation and numerous sub-castes such as Lohar(blacksmith),
, Teli (oil-pressers).
➢ Evolution Theory
According to this theory, the caste system did not come into existence all of a sudden or
at a particular date. It is the result of a long process of social evolution.
• Hereditary occupations;
• The desire of the Brahmins to keep themselves pure;
• The lack of rigid unitary control of the state;
• The unwillingness of rulers to enforce a uniform standard of law and custom
• The ‘Karma’ and ‘Dharma’ doctrines also explain the origin of caste system. Whereas the
Karma doctrine holds the view that a man is born in a particular caste because of the
result of his action in the previous incarnation, the doctrine of Dharma explains that a
man who accepts the caste system and the principles of the caste to which he belongs, is
living according to Dharma. Confirmation to one’s own dharma also remits on one’s birth
in the rich high caste and violation gives a birth in a lower and poor caste.
• Ideas of exclusive family, ancestor worship, and the sacramental meal;
• Clash of antagonistic cultures particularly of the patriarchal and the matriarchal systems;
• Clash of races, colour prejudices and conquest;
2
https://www.clearias.com/caste-system-in-india/ (Last visited on October 02, 2022)

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 Characteristics of caste
➢ Segmental Division of Society: The society is divided into various small social groups
called castes. Each of these castes is a well developed social group, the membership of
which is determined by the consideration of birth.
➢ Hierarchy: According to Louis Dumont, castes teach us a fundamental social principle
of hierarchy. At the top of this hierarchy is the Brahmin caste and at the bottom is the
untouchable caste. In between are the intermediate castes, the relative positions of which
are not always clear.
➢ Restriction on Food and Drink: Usually a caste would not accept cooked food from any
other caste that stands lower than itself in the social scale, due to the notion of getting
polluted. There were also variously associated taboos related to food. The cooking taboo,
which defines the persons who may cook the food. The eating taboo which may lay down
the ritual to be followed at meals.3 The commensal taboo which is concerned with the
person with whom one may take food. Finally, the taboo which has to do with the nature
of the vessel (whether made of earth, copper or brass) that one may use for drinking or
cooking. For eg: In North India Brahmin would accept pakka food (cooked in ghee) only
from some castes lower than his own. However, no individual would accept
kachcha(cooked in water) food prepared by an inferior caste. Food prepared by Brahmin
is acceptable to all, the reason for which domination of Brahmins in the hotel industry for
a long time. The beef was not allowed by any castes, except harijans.
➢ A Particular Name: Every caste has a particular name though which we can identify it.
Sometimes, an occupation is also associated with a particular caste.
➢ The Concept of Purity and Pollution: The higher castes claimed to have ritual, spiritual
and racial purity which they maintained by keeping the lower castes away through the
notion of pollution. The idea of pollution means a touch of lower caste man would pollute
or defile a man of higher caste. Even his shadow is considered enough to pollute a higher
caste man.
➢ Jati Panchayat: The status of each caste is carefully protected, not only by caste laws but
also by the conventions. These are openly enforced by the community through a body

3
https://agriinfo.in/characteristics-of-caste-system-in-india-585/ ( Last visited on October 02, 2022)

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 Merits of the caste system

• Caste system focuses on a harmonious division of society into groups based mainly on
division of labour and occupation.
• Caste promotes the spirit of cooperation, fellow-feeling and brotherhood at least within
its range. It helps the needy, poor and strengthens group sentiment and beliefs.
• Caste is a source of social stability. It has given strength to the society to face the
"shocks of politics and the catastrophe of nature".
• Caste functions as the constitution of the hindu society.4 It transfer most important
services in the past and continues to sustain the social order and its solidarity.
• Caste preserves the racial purify by prohibiting Inter-marriages and by imposing
endogamy on its members.
• It has accustom multiple groups by providing each of them a monopoly of a specific
means of livelihood.
• Provided social security and social recognition to individuals. Besides, it also provides
him with health insurance benefits. It even provides for his funeral.
• It has handed over the knowledge and skills of the traditional occupation of a caste from
one generation to another, which has helped the preservation of culture, practices and
ensured production.
• It has also led to interaction between different castes, through jajmani relationships. Caste
acted as a trade union and protected its members from the exploitation and deceit.
• Specialization led to quality in the production of goods and thus promoted economic
development. For eg: Many handicraft goods of India gained international recognition
due to this.

4
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/society/merits-and-demerits-of-indian-caste-system-essay/4096 ( Last
visited on October 02, 2022)

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 Demerits of the caste system

• The caste system has unjustifiably divided the Hindu society into hostile and conflicting
groups and sub groups. It has given scope to the inhuman practice of untouchability. It
has cut across the social solidarity.
• As Gandhi ji has said, untouchability is "the hate fullest expression of the caste."
• It has hindered the growth of a strong national unity .The spirit of 'caste-patriotism',
endangers the development of national consciousness.
• The Excessive caste loyality has brought political disunity. It has wrecked the successful
Working of the multi-party system.
• It has prevented the proper growth of democracy. Strictly speaking, democracy and caste
cannot go together. The caste promotes inequality while democracy assures equality.
• It has retarded progress. The caste is more conservative, reactionary and orthodox. It is
for the status quo.
• It has hindered mobility; it. has made our society more static then dynamic.
• It has reduced the status of women. In a caste-ridden society women have only a
subordinate role to play.
• Due to caste system there is a increase in religious conversions. The lower caste people
are getting converted into Islam and Christianity due to the tyranny of the upper castes.
• It decreases the efficiency of labour and prohibits perfect mobility of labour, capital and
productive effort.
• It immortalize the exploitation of the economically weaker and socially inferior castes,
especially the untouchables.
• It has imposed untold hardships on women through its constant practices like child-
marriage, prohibition of widow-remarriage, seclusion of women etc.
• It opposes real democracy by giving monopoly to Kshatriyas in the past and working as a
vote bank in the present political scenario. There are political parties which solely
represent on caste. eg: BSP was formed by Kanshi Ram in 1984 mainly to represent SC,
ST and OBC caste groups.

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Is the caste system unique to India?
The caste system is also found in other countries like Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Caste-like
systems are also found in countries like Indonesia, China, Korea, Yemen and certain countries in
Africa, Europe as well. But what makes Indian caste system different from the rest is the core
theme of purity and pollution in people or group of people, which is either outside or negligible
in other similar systems of the world. In Yemen, there exists a hereditary caste, Al-Akhdam who
are kept as constant manual workers. Burakumin 5(Japan’s hidden caste of untouchables) in
Japan, originally members of outside communities in the Japanese feudal era, includes those with
occupations considered impure or tainted by death.

However, India is unique in some aspects.

• India has had a cultural continuity that no other civilization has had. The ancient systems,
religions, cultures of other civilizations have been mostly gone or vanished but in India
history is present and even the external rulers and empires mostly adopted the system
rather than changing them.
• The caste has been merged into a modern religion, making it very difficult to remove.
• India has integrated multiple systems more easily. What is known as “caste” in
Portuguese/English is actually made of three distinct components – jati, jana, varna. Jati
is an occupational identification. Jana is an ethnic identification. Varna is a philosophical
identification. These have been more tightly merged over the centuries.
• In the world’s most transformative period – of the past three centuries, India spent most
of it under the rule of European colonialism. Thus, India lost a lot of time developing.
Most of the big changes to the caste system came only after 1950 when India gain its
independence.

5
https://www.clearias.com/caste-system-in-india/ (Last visited on October 02, 2022 )

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Is the caste system unique to Hinduism?
Caste-based differences are also practised in other religions like Nepalese Buddhism,
Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. But the main difference is – caste system in Hinduism
is mentioned in its scriptures and texts while other religions adopted caste as a part of
socialization or religious conversions. In other words, the caste system in Hinduism is a religious
institution while it is social in others religions.

As a general rule, higher castes converts became higher castes in other religions while lower
caste converts acquired lower caste positions.

• Islam – Some upper caste Hindus converted to Islam and became part of the governing
group of Sultanates and Mughal Empire in the past, who along with Arabs, Persians and
Afghans came to be known as Ashrafs6. Below them are the middle caste Muslims which
are known as Ajlafs.
• Christianity – In Goa, Hindu converts became Christian Bamonns while
Kshatriya and Vaishya became Christian noblemen known as Chardos. Those Vaishya who
could not get admitted into the Chardo caste became Gauddos, and Shudras became Sudirs.
Dalits who converted to Christianity became Mahars.
• Buddhism – various forms of the caste system are also practised in several Buddhist
countries, like in Sri Lanka, Tibet, and Japan where butchers, leather and blacksmiths and
janitors are sometimes regarded as being impure.
• Jainism – There are Jain castes wherein all the members of a particular caste are Jains. At
the same time, there have been Jain divisions of several Hindu castes.
• Sikhism – Sikh literature mention Varna as Varan, and Jati as Zat. Eleanor Nesbitt, a
professor of Religion, states that the Varan is described as a class system, while Zat has
some caste system features in Sikh literature. All Gurus of Sikhs married within their Zat,
and they did not condemn or break with the convention of endogamous marriage.

6
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/attitudes-about-
caste/#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20social%20hierarchy,caste%2C%20regardless%20of%20their%20religion. (Last
visited on October 02, 2022)

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Conclusion

The caste system in India is undergoing changes due to progress in education, technology,
modernization and changes in general social outlook. In spite of the general improvement in
conditions of the lower castes, India has still a long way to go, to root out the evils of the caste
system from the society. Caste system in India is still prevalent; however, today the impact of
caste has diminished subsequently due to education and modernization of the society. People of
different castes live side-by-side and inter-caste marriages are encouraged and have become a
norm. Still it is necessary that caste system in India is fully abolished in papers and in the minds
of people to truly realize and experience democracy in the country. This is possible only when
the educated members of the society join hands in denouncing orthodox beliefs that have been
passed down from generation to generation and take measures against the caste system in India.

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Bibliography

Books Referred

• Sociology: An Introductory by Daniel Nehring, Ken Plumme

Website Referred

• https://www.britannica.com
• https://sociology.case.edu
• https://www.clearias.com/caste-system-in-india/

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