UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION

ID NUMEBR: 10834984
NAME: ASOMAH BENEDICTA NESTER
SREL 312 (ORIENTAL RELIGION)

QUESTION
A narrative of the caste system of India
Caste is the term that describes the complex system of social divisions that pervades the lives
of the individuals. The caste system is a framework for grouping people into classes (social
stratification). The history of this concept is related to one of the prominent religions of India,
i.e. Hinduism where the people of India are generally differentiated on the basis of factors,
such as, class, religion, region, tribe, gender and language.

According to legend, castes sprang from the primal person or God. In India, there are four
different caste groups: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. The Brahmins are at the
apex of the caste hierarchy. They are the priests and teachers. Their main responsibility is to
spread knowledge about rules, values, religious doctrines, and other ideas that are essential to
fostering people's well-being and goodwill. The kings, soldiers, political leaders, and
landowners are Kshatriyas. As they oversaw their kingdoms, the Brahmins provided them
with advice and support. Traders, artisans, and craftspeople make up the Vaishya community.
They had enough knowledge of the techniques and procedures to participate in the production
operations. They are primarily intended to boost profitability and productivity.

The Shudras are the lowest class in the caste system. The workers, peasants, and servants are
known as Shudras. They lacked a variety of specialized skills and abilities. Their primary
responsibilities were providing services to the upper castes. They carried out tasks that are
considered inferior in society, such cleaning and sweeping. In light of their respective
activities, the castes are so clearly understood.

It is crucial to develop a full awareness of the traits of the caste system. The inherent caste
system, the endogamous caste system, the hierarchical social structure, the stability of
occupation, the segmented nature of society, purity and pollution, social and religious
limitations, conflict resolution strategies, dietary and nutritional differences, and variations in
custom, dress, and speech are among these.

The caste system is said to be the primary form of government in rural areas at the moment.
The caste dharma and karma are two key ideas that are necessary for the caste system to
continue existing. The caste system is regarded as the divine law in Hindu civilization. It is
both the law of one's being and a duty that must be fulfilled. The existence of the caste
system has benefited people, communities, and the nation as a whole. The emphasis should
be on ensuring that the caste system is reinforced once people have a clear knowledge of its
benefits. These include racial and ethnic purity, cooperation, economic security, cultural
spread, and national integration. People from higher castes are expected to use the services of
people from lower castes in society.

Additionally, the Brahmins were invited to the holy rites when they were to be held. In
exchange for the Brahmins' blessings, hospitality services were offered to them. The people
went to the Vaishyas for assistance when they needed to purchase anything, including
artwork, handicrafts, clothing, or jewelry. In light of this, it can be concluded that the castes
cooperated effectively to maintain their living standards. They had to collaborate and work
together as well.

The fact that the lowest castes frequently face discrimination is one of the caste system's
biggest drawbacks. Additionally, many privileges and opportunities were taken away from
the lowest castes. Their success was significantly hampered by the frequency of
discriminatory treatment. There were also a number of other drawbacks to the caste system.
These include the mobility of labor, different sorts of vocations, barriers to national unity,
lack of opportunities, untouchability, and casteism promotion. These drawbacks are seen as
obstacles to advancement for individuals, communities, and the country as a whole.

Additionally, the caste system forced the people to live in impoverished and backwards
conditions. Untouchables or dalits were the names given to the lowest classes. They are
rejected by society and forced to live in miserable circumstances. Therefore, it can be said
that the identification of the depressed conditions of lowest castes allows for a clear
observation of the negative effects of the caste system.

Gleaning from the foregoing, the ensuing narrative takes a cursory look at the four social
classification of the caste system in India.

Firstly, Brahmins are the superior castes in the hierarchy of the caste system. They are
engaged in tasks and activities that are focused on promoting well-being and goodwill of
other individuals. Factors highlighting the characteristics of Brahmins include focusing on
up-gradation of their living conditions, putting emphasis on religion and inculcating morality
and ethics. Brahmins' job duties and functions have been focused on promoting well-being of
the individuals, communities and nation as a whole. Measures implemented by Brahmins are,
implementing ways to lead to effective growth and development of others and depicting the
traits of honesty and truthfulness.
The Kshatriyas are the second top-most castes in the caste system after the Brahmins. In
ancient India, they were focused upon honing their archery skills. They possessed the
viewpoint that in the battlefield, these skills would enable them to achieve victory. The
implementation of decision-making processes is regarded as an integral part of the
functioning of the kingdoms. Kshatriyas are required to be moral and ethical in their conduct.
They need to ensure; they provide solutions to various types of dilemmas in a satisfactory
manner. In modern India, Kshatriyas are putting into operation all the methods and
approaches to bring about improvements in their overall quality of lives. They have
recognized the meaning and significance of education. Getting engaged in employment
opportunities to generate a source of income is one of the indispensable goals.

In both urban and rural communities throughout the country, there is existence of vaishyas.
They are artisans, craftsmen, traders, merchants, and businessmen. In the present existence,
they are utilizing modern, scientific and innovative methods to lead to an increase in
productivity. In the caste system, vaishyas are the third varnas. They have the primary
objective of generating a source of income to sustain their living conditions in an effective
manner.

Finally, the main goal of shudras was to generate a source of income to sustain their living
conditions. They were made to sit on separate chairs and food and drink was served in
separate utensils. The advancement of the shudra is essential for the development of the
country as a whole.
REFERENCES

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13, 2022 from mapsofindia.com

Ning, A. (2022). The Caste System in India. Retrieved August 13, 2022 from

asiahighlights.com

Samaddar, S. (2021). Role of Caste in Indian Politics. Retrieved March 14, 2022 from

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Sehgal, D.R. (2020). Caste Politics: An Imprecation of Democracy. Retrieved March 14,

2022 from blog.ipleaders.in

Schwimmer, B. (2003). Caste Endogamy. Department of Anthropology. University of

Manitoba. Retrieved March 03, 2022 from umanitoba.ca