CASTE SYSTEM

Published on 30 Jan 2025

Caste is by definition a closed social system whose membership is acquired by birth. Rules of endogamy and restrictions on social intercourse between castes help to maintain the insularity of such groups. The caste system is a deeply ingrained social structure in India, with a history spanning thousands of years. It is a complex and intricate system that defines social hierarchies, roles, and identities.

Features of the caste system

✔     Segmental division of society: Various castes have a well-developed lifestyle of their own.

●      Example: The membership of a caste is determined by birth and is hereditary.

✔     Hierarchy: It indicates various castes according to their purity and impurity of occupations, are ranked from higher to lower positions.

●      Example: Brahmins hold the ‘top’ hierarchy due to their role in performing rituals, while Sweepers, engaged in cleaning and scavenging, occupy the ‘bottom’.

✔     Restrictions on food, drink and smoking: Usually different castes do not exchange food and drink.

●      Example: In Uttar Pradesh, among Kanyakubị Brahmins, there are many sub-divisions. Each sub-division does not take food from other sub-division.

✔     Endogamy: It indicates members of the caste have to marry within their caste only.

●      Example: Inter-caste marriages are prohibited in many communities in India

✔     Purity and pollution: Purity and pollution are judged in terms of deeds, occupation, language, dress patterns, as well as food habits.

●      Example: liquor consumption, consuming non-vegetarian food, eating left-over food of the high castes, working in occupations like leather craft, lifting dead animals, and sweeping are considered menial.

✔     Occupational association: Each caste has a specific occupation and cannot change the occupation.

●      Example: Brahmins do priesthood and teaching, and Kayasthas maintain revenue records and writing.

✔     Social and religious disabilities and privileges of a few sections: The lower caste is debarred from doing many things.

●      Example: They are not permitted to enter the temple, do not use literary language and can not use gold ornaments.

The caste system is a complex and deeply entrenched social framework in India. Its key features include a hierarchical organization of castes, the role of jatis, and the socio-economic implications associated with these divisions.

Changes in the caste system

The caste system, a long-standing social framework in India, has not remained static over time. It has evolved in response to various historical, political, and socio-economic factors.

✔     Occupation: In various industries, government offices and other occupational institutions, the efficiency of the people is given more priority than birth.

●      Example: Candidates selected in Indian Administrative Service based on merit in competitive exams.

✔     Disappearance of caste rigidities: The member of different castes sits and eat together.

●      Example: The sense of purity-pollution is gradually disappearing among them.

✔     Inter-caste marriage: Due to the spread of western education, cultural changes and female education have declined all restrictions of marriage.

●      Example: The Indian Parliament also encourages inter-caste marriage by implementing many Acts like the Special Marriage Act.

✔     Change in caste identity: They are identified according to achieved status.

●      Example: Educational qualification, occupational position, income etc. are the bases of identification of the individual.

✔     Change in commensality: Caste barriers breaking at the workplace but also in areas of living.

●      Example: People belonging to all castes work, live and eat together

In conclusion, the caste system, a deeply rooted social structure in India, has not remained static. It has evolved, leading to significant changes in social mobility, modernization, the influence of reservations, and ongoing struggles for social equality.

Factors influencing changes in the caste system

The caste system, an ancient social structure in India, has experienced notable changes over time. These transformations are not isolated but influenced by a myriad of factors.

✔     Westernisation: The influence of media and globalization has exposed people to diverse cultures and perspectives leading to a more inclusive outlook.

●      Example: Western education encouraged the sentiment of equality leading to a social and political awakening in the country.

✔     Legal tools: Legal interventions, including affirmative action policies and anti-discrimination laws, have aimed to address caste-based inequalities.

●      Example: Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA} Act

✔     Constitutional measures: Safeguards through constitutional bodies designed to uplift scheduled castes uphold the welfare of marginalized communities.

●      Example: National Commission Scheduled Caste's role in the abolition of untouchability.

✔     Urbanisation and Industrialisation: Urbanization brings people from different castes into closer proximity, fostering social interactions and reducing the significance of caste-based occupations.

●      Example: As more people, regardless of their caste, gain education and migrate to cities, traditional caste-based boundaries have started to weaken in metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru.

✔     Affirmative actions: Affirmative actions aimed at the upliftment of historically marginalized and underprivileged castes ensure increased access and opportunities.

●      Example: Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are provided with reservations in educational institutions, ranging from primary schools to higher education.

✔     Modernisation: Played a major role in eradicating or minimizing certain social evils like untouchability, and negative effects of the caste system, promoted women's education, and overall improved standard of living.

●      Example: Forces of modernization like Globalization, Westernization, and Urbanization have ensured a paradigm shift in the traditions, cultures, and practices

✔     Sanskritisation: It is a process by which castes or tribes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek 'upward' mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the dominant castes or upper castes.

●      Example: emulation of the practice of "twice-born castes" such as vegetarianism by those so-called "lower castes".

The caste system in India has undergone significant changes, influenced by a complex interplay of factors including legislative measures, socio-economic shifts, political movements, and evolving cultural attitudes. These influencing factors have shaped the dynamic nature of the caste system and its adaptation to the evolving Indian society.

Evidence of caste system in modern times

The caste system, deeply rooted in India's history, continues to manifest itself in various ways in modern times. While significant strides have been made towards social equality, caste-based discrimination and disparities persist.

✔     Caste-based politics: A political system exists in which political parties and candidates use caste identities as a significant factor in mobilizing support, campaigning, and determining electoral strategies

●      Example: Caste-based political mobilizations carried out by parties like Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

✔     Caste endogamy: Couples, especially those where one partner is from a marginalized caste, may experience opposition from families and communities, sometimes leading to social ostracization.

●      Example: Restriction of marrying outside one's caste has undermined the efforts for eliminating caste-based discrimination which has resulted in Honour killing.

✔     Occupation based on caste system: Certain occupations and professions are still associated with specific castes resulting in the prevalence of restrictions on social mobility.

●      Example: The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has now said that only 508 districts out of the total 766 districts in the country have declared themselves manual-scavenging free.

✔     Violence against lower castes: Cases of violence against individuals from lower castes, especially Dalits, are still prevalent. Physical assaults and atrocities based on caste identity occur in various parts of the country.

●      Example: ‘Crime in India 2021' published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in August 2022 reveals that crimes against Dalits and tribal people increased by 1.2 and 6.4 per cent in 2021.

✔     Discrimination in Educational Institutions: Dalit students face discrimination, bullying, and sometimes violence from students of higher castes, teachers, or even administrative staff.

●      Example: Right from Rohit Vemula to the recent suicide of Darshan Solanki, several incidents of students committing suicide have been linked to caste discrimination

 

The caste system's enduring presence in modern India is evident through its influence on education, employment, politics, and social interactions. Acknowledging these realities is the first step towards addressing and mitigating the persistent inequalities and discrimination associated with the caste system in contemporary society.

Tags:
Society

Keywords:
Caste Varna Westernisation Sanskritisation Affirmative action

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Indian Society