Caste System
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CASTE SYSTEM AND IT’S MERITS
WHAT IS A CASTE SYSTEM?
A caste system is a type of social structure which divides people on the basis of inherited social status. Within a caste system, people are rigidly expected to marry and interact with people of the same social class.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTE SYSTEM
The tendency toward endogamy, meaning that people marry within the same caste exclusively. Rare caste mobility. Higher castes traditionally hold all of the political power, and the castes may be divided further through language, culture, and economics.
Within a caste system, each member generally knows his or her place, and your social status is usually apparent to others as well.
HISTORY OF CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA
The division of the society was on the basis of different jobs assigned to different people. According to the ancient Hindu scriptures, there are four “ varnas”. Manusmriti and some other shastras mention four varnas: the Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests), the Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), the Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups).
Brahman-Priest
Vaishya-merchants
Kshatriya-ruler, warrior, landowner
Shudra-artisans
Within each of these categories are the actual "castes" or jatis within which people are born, marry, and die. They all have their own place among each other and accept that it is the way to keep society from disintegrating to chaos.
BRAHMAN -PRIEST
Brahman is the class of educators, scholars and preachers. It occupies the highest position among the four varnas of Brahminical Hinduism.
Kshatriya-ruler, warrior, landowner
Right below the Brahmans. Important to the community because they have main role in administration and production.
VAISHYA-MERCHANTS
Shopkeeper and Businessmen. Mainly contribute to the economical section of the society.
SHUDRA - ARTISANS, AGRICULTURALISTS
Within the caste of Shudra there are many different groups. Each one of these groups performs a service.
HARIJAN-"OUTSIDE" THE CASTE SYSTEM
Part of what used to be known as the untouchables. Their jobs involve doing most of the cleaning, or what we might call "dirty work."
BRITISH RULE AND CASTE SYSTEM
With the arrival of Britishers the fluidity of the caste system constitute a rigid description of the occupation or the social status of a group. British policies of divide and rule took the help from existing caste system and made the discrimination more prominant.
They saw caste as an indicator of occupation, social standing, and intellectual ability. The British attempted to equate the Indian caste system with their class system.
MERITS OF CASTE SYSTEM
A well-defined system of mutual interdependence through a division of labour created security within a community. The division of labour on the basis of ethnicity allowed immigrants and foreigners to quickly integrate into their own caste niches.
Allowed manufacturers to achieve narrow specialisation. Would instill in its members a sense of group accomplishment and cultural pride. Such sentiments are routinely expressed by the Marathas , Rajputs, Iyers and Jats for instance.
Equality existed within the caste. The caste system played an influential role in shaping economic activities. The caste system prevailing in the society led to the professional legacy, this led to refined quality of work as vocational education began at a very early stage.
The presence of different caste is what gives India the treasure of diverse cultures and traditions. This has led to the variety in all aspects of life be it religious beliefs, languages, eating habits or habits of recreation we see great diversity.
Easier to maintain law and order because it was based on religious belief and people were God fearing. Since the Indian society was governed by the caste system, there was no racial discrimination. It is the way to keep society from disintegrating into chaos.
The caste system served as an important instrument of order in a society where mutual consent rather than compulsion ruled.
WHAT IS A CASTE SYSTEM?
A caste system is a type of social structure which divides people on the basis of inherited social status. Within a caste system, people are rigidly expected to marry and interact with people of the same social class.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CASTE SYSTEM
The tendency toward endogamy, meaning that people marry within the same caste exclusively. Rare caste mobility. Higher castes traditionally hold all of the political power, and the castes may be divided further through language, culture, and economics.
Within a caste system, each member generally knows his or her place, and your social status is usually apparent to others as well.
HISTORY OF CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA
The division of the society was on the basis of different jobs assigned to different people. According to the ancient Hindu scriptures, there are four “ varnas”. Manusmriti and some other shastras mention four varnas: the Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests), the Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), the Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups).
Brahman-Priest
Vaishya-merchants
Kshatriya-ruler, warrior, landowner
Shudra-artisans
Within each of these categories are the actual "castes" or jatis within which people are born, marry, and die. They all have their own place among each other and accept that it is the way to keep society from disintegrating to chaos.
BRAHMAN -PRIEST
Brahman is the class of educators, scholars and preachers. It occupies the highest position among the four varnas of Brahminical Hinduism.
Kshatriya-ruler, warrior, landowner
Right below the Brahmans. Important to the community because they have main role in administration and production.
VAISHYA-MERCHANTS
Shopkeeper and Businessmen. Mainly contribute to the economical section of the society.
SHUDRA - ARTISANS, AGRICULTURALISTS
Within the caste of Shudra there are many different groups. Each one of these groups performs a service.
HARIJAN-"OUTSIDE" THE CASTE SYSTEM
Part of what used to be known as the untouchables. Their jobs involve doing most of the cleaning, or what we might call "dirty work."
BRITISH RULE AND CASTE SYSTEM
With the arrival of Britishers the fluidity of the caste system constitute a rigid description of the occupation or the social status of a group. British policies of divide and rule took the help from existing caste system and made the discrimination more prominant.
They saw caste as an indicator of occupation, social standing, and intellectual ability. The British attempted to equate the Indian caste system with their class system.
MERITS OF CASTE SYSTEM
A well-defined system of mutual interdependence through a division of labour created security within a community. The division of labour on the basis of ethnicity allowed immigrants and foreigners to quickly integrate into their own caste niches.
Allowed manufacturers to achieve narrow specialisation. Would instill in its members a sense of group accomplishment and cultural pride. Such sentiments are routinely expressed by the Marathas , Rajputs, Iyers and Jats for instance.
Equality existed within the caste. The caste system played an influential role in shaping economic activities. The caste system prevailing in the society led to the professional legacy, this led to refined quality of work as vocational education began at a very early stage.
The presence of different caste is what gives India the treasure of diverse cultures and traditions. This has led to the variety in all aspects of life be it religious beliefs, languages, eating habits or habits of recreation we see great diversity.
Easier to maintain law and order because it was based on religious belief and people were God fearing. Since the Indian society was governed by the caste system, there was no racial discrimination. It is the way to keep society from disintegrating into chaos.
The caste system served as an important instrument of order in a society where mutual consent rather than compulsion ruled.
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