CASTE
ORIGIN OF THE WORD "CASTE"
•The views of S.V. Ketkar seem to be authentic regarding the origin of word 'caste’.
•To . Ketkar the word Caste is of Spanish and Portuguese origin . •It has emerged from the
Spanish word 'Casta' which means 'lineage' or'race’.
•The word 'Casta' is derived from the Latin word 'Castus' which means'pure’.
•The Spaniards were the first to used it, but its Indian application is form the Portuguese
DEFINITIONS OF CASTE SYSTEM
•Caste is so complex a phenomena which is difficult to define.
•S.C. Dube:"It is better to use the term Jati to denotes the endogamous unitywith a more or less
defined ritual status and some occupation traditionally linked to it."
•D.N. Majumder & T.N. Madan:"The caste is a'closed group."
•C.H. Cooley:"When a class is somewhat strictly hereditary, we may call it a caste."
•A.W. Green:"Caste is a system of stratification in which mobility up and down the status ladder, at
leastideally may not occur."
Principal Features of Caste System in India 6 types of traditional characteristics of caste system
given by G.S. Ghurye-
1.Segmental Division of Society.
2.Hierarchy.
3.Restriction on feeding and social intercourse.
4.Civil and religious disabilities and privileges.
5.Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation.
6.Restriction on marriage.
6 types of traditional characteristics of caste system given by N.K. Dutta
1.Caste is endogamous.
2.Every caste maintains some restrictions and rules regarding the food habits.
3.In many of the castes the occupations are hereditary.
4.There is a hierarchy in the caste system.
5.Membership of the caste is by birth.
6.Caste system is based on the prestige of Brahmins.
GENERAL FEATURES OF CASTE SYSTEM
•Caste- As a Segmental Division of Society
•Caste- As a Hierarchical Division of Society
•Caste is Innate and by Birth.
•Caste is Rigid and Immovable.
•Occupations of caste are Fixed.
•Restriction on Feeding and Social Intercourse.
•Civil and Religious Disabilities and Privileges of Different sections
•The Concept of Purity and Pollution
FACTORS THAT FACILITATED THE GROWTH OF
CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA
❖The geographical isolation of the Indian peninsula for along time made the people to
foster old customs, mores, traditions and superstitious beliefs which in turn encouraged the
caste system to grow.
❖The influence of religion is one of the main factors that caused the continuation of the
caste system.
❖The existence of many races in the country led to the formulation of many strict laws
concerning discrimination since each race endeavoured to maintain its purity.
❖The rural social structure has its own impacts on caste.
❖ Lack of education.
❖Hereditary occupation.
❖The desire of the Brahmins to keep themselves pure.
❖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
Various Theories of origin of Caste System in India Origin of caste system is one of the most complex issues innsociological discussions. In spite of the controversies
prevailing over the issue of the origin of the caste system, some of the scholars have established their own theories regarding it.
These are :
1.Traditional Theory
2.Occupational Theory
3.Racial Theory
4.Political Theory
5.Evolution Theory
6.Religious Theory
7.Theory of Primitive Culture and Mana and
8.Multiple Factor Theory
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'sfeet.
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 of Rigveda,
Manusmriti etc to support their stand.
In the picture there is Brahma
on the left, the Hindu god of
creation, whose body parts are upper body-Kshatryas lower body-Vaishyas
Head- Brahmins (priests);
connected to a part of the (warriors); (merchants);
colorful triangle in the middle
of the picture:
Dalits-Caste communities that
For self-determination and
Under the triangle there are were forced by Caste
political/cultural autonomy,
two other categories apartheid into slave and
feet-Shudras (peasants). they fights against the stripping
explained: Adivasis- Indigenous bonded agricultural labour, and
of their ancestral land and its
people of South Asia. undignified sanitation work like
natural resources.
manual scavenging.
On the right side, and arrow
Branded untouchable for jobs
from up (high) to down
considered spiritually polluting,
(low)indicates the level of
they struggle against extreme
access/ownership to resources
violence and discrimination.
and opportunities.
ACTIVITY
• How caste based discrimination impacts your social interaction and self identity.
REFERENCES
• https://phirenamenca.eu/cast-system-in-india-today/
• Mishra, A. (2019) Hinduism : Ritual, Reason and Beyond – A Journey Through the Evolution of 5000 Year Old Traditions. StoryMirror Infotech, Mumbai
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616
• “What is India’s caste system?” BBC News, June 19, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616
• https://medium.com/thehinduhub/what-is-varna-system-%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5
%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE-a34e37a88b1
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93nqnG_n9Ag
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93nqnG_n9Ag
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz8lwLOGECc&t=1480s
