Potted History (Jul 07) - Caste System
Archive |
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|---|---|
| Current | The Indus Valley Civilisation |
| Jul 07 | The Caste System |
| Jun 07 | Shah Jahan |
| May 07 | Deleted |
| Apr 07 | Pondicherry |
As with our Current Topics pages, here we take a brief monthly look at Indian history. We will try not to cover the best known event or try to be too obscure and welcome suggestions (or corrections)
THE CASTE SYSTEM
The caste system in India is seen by some as a system of social control that takes the social stratification, that the west has striven to irradicate, to its ultimate limit. This is misleading and misguided, even if the divisions within the society are most definitely evident.
The Rig Veda are sacred texts that date back to oral traditions of more than 3,000 years ago. Brahma created the first man from clay and from this body sprang four ranked varna groups; each with a function within society.
- Brahmins or priests support the spiritual needs of the community and were created from the mouth - speak and direct.
- Kshatriyas are the protectors, formed from the arms. These are the warriors and soldiers who bear arms.
- Vaishyas are landowners and merchants who care for the economy, commerce and agriculture. They originate from the thighs that support the weight.
- Shudras are the artisans and servants. Thery perform all manual labour and are made from the feet.
A fifth cast, the backward castes are subdivided between tribes that live away from the main society and the 'untouchables' or dalits - meaning unclean.
- Scheduled Tribes (ST) are those that live in the forests and mountains
- Scheduled Castes (SC) are those at the bottom of society
- Other Backwards Castes (OBC) sweeps up the rest of the poor and illiterate.
Mahatma Ganhi called the Dalits, Harijan or children of God in an attempt to bring greater acceptance after independance. At present estimates range from 16% to 54% of the population remaining in the fifth tier of society.
The castes are sub-divided many times into sub-caste, tribes etc and movement between castes is not possible: unless marrying below ones self which can lead to outcasting and settling into the spouses lower caste. This system is less practiced in India now; particularly in the cities where money talks and, after a generation or two, origins are difficult to either prove or disprove. There remains an ingrained level of conciousness regarding the caste system and ones place within it. Brahmans may, for instance, still talk with pride of their origin and others will be expected to behave in certain ways based on caste (or surname which is the easiest rule of thumb. I have yet to meet anyone with the surname Jain who is not a vegetarian, patient and often quite laid back). There is also a level of positive discrimination in favour of the scheduled castes. It is not as strong as that in Malaysia but is nover the less controversial.
The caste system has existed for many centuries but did not become a rigid structure until medeival times. The Hindu faith is based on re-incarnation and karma from a previous life determines ones place in this. It comes across as defeatist without an understanding of the spiritual basis. It is also clear that if Karma works, many wealthy and powerful caste members are set to come down a peg or two in their next life! The caste system is now highly politicised, if not impacting the daily lives of the upper and middle classes unless they are chasing university places or a civil service position. Blame for much of this politicisation must lay at the feet of the European invaders, notably the Portuguese and in particular the British, although it is difficult to excuse the actions of some powerful figures in India today.
The word caste comes from the Portuguese word casta, meaning race, breed or kind. There is much literature available on the British influence but it is clear that there was an opinion that whites were superior and, with the popularity of phrenology and eugenics, the caste system made perfect sense. People are criminals because they are born to it - their skull shape makes it a certainty! This is an over-simplification but must have been attractive to someone from a stratified Victorian society. The British census' around the turn of the 20th century included questions on race, caste and religion; issues in far more detail than was required to understand who was available to be taxed and what services are required to include likelihood of uprising, who would side with whom and so on. This 'registering' of societal position had an impact in reinforcing the caste rigidity even as the British were seeing lower classes clamber up the hierarchy as Britain industrialised.
As mentioned earlier, the caste system is less clear in urban areas where immaculately dressed school children emerge in blue and white from the slums and shanty towns and a good proportion will see a better life than their parents. In 1950 the constitution set aside 15% of educational and civil service jobs for the scheduled castes. In 1980 the Mandal Commission (named after chair BP Mandal and set up in 1978 by PM Morarji Desai) recommended 27%. The Mandal Commission recomendations were implimented in 1989 by the VP Singh administration and led to widespread protests and several self immolations; including Rajiv Goswami, a student and Congress (I) activist. India is a very diverse society and the rich/poor divide is enormous. The tertiary education sector is under pressure and it is tough to accept that 27% should be of a lower standard of education than other students, particularly with the competition for places. Indeed the Dalits themselves have protested about reserved places.
The USA is supposedly a free society and yet 'trailer trash' and the Ivy League fraternity and sorority houses could not be much further seperated in social background. Many from the under-belly of US society would like a better chance but few would opt to attend Yale or Harvard without the qualifications - it would just not be a worthwhile exercise. What these people and the Dalits of India require is a decent primary and secondary education that would allow them to compete fairly for a place. The same goes for the Indian Civil Service. It's size is shrinking, many highly qualified people do not get jobs and how can an illiterate person manage a budget that exceeds comprehension. How can an illiterate educate anyone? This attitude has led to incredibly high qualification requirements to exclude Dalits and if that fails a candidate can be found wanting in an interview for language, attitude or even hygiene. Arguments around reservations will continue and could be abolished or even rise to 50%. In the meantime the upper castes are protecting themselves, Brahmin teachers don't turn up to teach Dalits because no-one checks and the cycle goes on.
The caste system in not uniquely Hindu (see communism, feudal Europe, parts of tribal Africa, appartied South Africa etc.) but is alone in the openness of the system, its scale and the fact that is is so current. Reservations have been described as anti-hindu (Karma requires self improvement and a requirement for all to help imrove the lot of others), anti-secular (India is outwardly proud of its secular status but in Hindstan, Muslims are not always popular and other religious minotities suffer from caste by religion as well as societal rank) and too weak (in comparision with Malaysia's positive discrimination of tribal groups). It would be very satisfying to see India haul it's entie society up. It cannot create enough jobs unless it educates its masses but this is an economic and political issue. From a societal view, we are a tribal species - ignore race and walk about any modern city and watch the odd Goth, Punk, Gangsta Rapper, Hip Hop Skater, Chav, Skier or Biker mingle with the even bigger tribe of the suited and booted. Some dress by style alone, others more influenced by their upbringing and the priveliges or deprivations it brings. The caste system is similar but freedom to choose is the difference.
Links for additional reading:
India Child - Caste System
Adaniel's info site - Caste System
Britishempire.co.uk - Caste System
Impressions of India - Berclo.net
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