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AMBEDKAR
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(America)
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ROAD, JULLUNDUR
INDIA
(PUNJAB)
Dr. B. R.
AMBEDKAR
OPEN UNIVERSITY
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Call No.
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Title
marked below.
da
i intend to handle.
Subtler minds and abler pens
than mine have been brought to the task of unravelling the
Subject
mysteries of Castes
the
domain of
understood/'
but unfortunately
remains in
still
it
the
am
it
can bo known.
The
caste
problem
practically.
is
vast
Practically,
it
much wider
one,
is
an
It is
mischief,
for
in
caste
would become
defied
a great
selves, as a
the case,
world problem.
many
scholars
Theoretically,
who have
it
has
attcmpi
support a point in
my
To proceed with
thesis.
the subject.
According to well-known
is a mixture of Aryans,
in
a tribal
They
culture
all in
that superseded
their
distinctive
cultures.
Jk
may
and
to
the
boundaries of India
is
the
unity
Ethnically
all
of culture that
a deeper and a
all
unity-thc
10
end.
the
matter
to advise
their definition of
1.
it
authority, defi.ies
a caste
as
"a
close
corporation,
in
any rate
at
theory
bound together
by common
more
relate
occupations, which
food and to
particularly to marriage and to
of
and
ceremonial
questions
pollution,
ruling its
members by the exercise of jurisdiction, the extent
of which varies, but which succeds in making the
the
authority of the community more felt by
sanction of certain penalties and, above all, by final
irrevocable exclusion from the group."
2.
Mr. Nesfield
a caste as
defines
"a
class
of the
own
community.**
3.
is
common
human or
descent
from
mythical
to follow
ancestor,
divine, professing
the same professional, callings and are regarded
by those who are competent to give an opinion
4.
two
characteristics
(*")
membership
is
confined to
group."
To
our purpose.
definitions
missed
of great
importance for
individually the
none
little:
is
It will
the
is
complete or correct by
point in the
central
itself
much
and
mechanism of
or too
all
have
the Caste
an
and not as a group within, and with
Yet
definite relations to, the system of caste as a whole.
collectively all of them are complementary to one another,
Their mistake
system.
isolated unit by
lies
in trying to define
caste as
itself,
one
definitions
To
start
He draws
attention to the
to this point
it
may
in
purity.
we know
therefore
that
priest
conclude
the
"idea of
We may
pollution"
is
characteristic of Caste
Mr. Nesfield
flavour.
teristics.
unit
Members
within
it.
is not
Consequently this absence of messing with outsiders
due to positive prohibition, but is a natural result of Caste,
exclusiveness.
i. e.
No
doubt
this
due
nally
to
exclusiveness,
only
brought a
critical
are
in
its
relation
or derivative in character.
all
With
must, however, be
of thought, lucid and clear as otherwise it is. He speaks
of Prohibition of Intermarriage and Membership by
Autogeny as the two characteristics of Caste. I submit
that these are
limit
the
medal.
This
critical
can
be
undertsood.
called
But
the
some
essence
may
of Caste when
deny
on
this
rightly
abstract
view.
support of this
But we must not confuse matters, for in India the situation
illustarations
appropriate
is
different.
As pointed
in
out
peoples of India
various races of India
before,
The
the
have more or
definite
territories
off the
Endogamy
is
the
only
characteristic
that
is
peculiar
to
8
caste,
tained,
the
and
we
if
we succeed
in
shall practically
mechanism of Caste.
may
survivals
is
and its tribal code,
essentially primitive
of
the
advance
of
time
and
civilization,
inspite
operates in
all its pristine vigour even to-day,
one of these primitive
its
religion
survivals,
attention
is
wish
to
v/hich
the
CUSTOM OF EXOGAMY.
to draw your
The prevalence
too well known
particularly
Indian
are
though
from the
law
principle
of
(blood-kins)
.S
still
society
there
A GOT R AS
savours
no clans
of
of
and
matrimony which
for
exogamy,
cannot marry, but
(of
the clan
this
the
it is
same
system, even
not that
round
the
SAPINDAS
sacrilege.
have
organization. It
people of India
for violating
is
with exogamy
the rule
see that
will, therefore, readily
You
endogamy.
the
consequently in
final analysis creation of castes, so for as India is concerned,
means the superposition of endogamy on exogamy. However,
out
in an originally exogamous
population an easy working
Caste)
of
of endogamy (which is equivalent to the creation
consideration of the
in the
is
is a grave problem, audit
of
means utilized for the preservation
endogamy against
means
fusion.
that
exogamy
we may hope
to
find
of our
solution
the
problem.
means
Let us take an
affair.
make
itself
against
avail,
make
to
this
is
itself
intermarriage
exogamy had
imaginary
it
self
endogamous.
endogamous
with outside
If a
it
to
\\ill
group
a formal injunction
will be of no
groups
if
tendency
Again, there is
contact with one another to assimilate and
an easy
desires
of endogamy,
prior to the introduction
been the rule in all matrimonial relations.
in all groups lying in close
a
especially
tendency
not
that
group
into a Caste and analyse what means
But
into
to be strongly
Caste formation,
it
amalgamate,
a
absolutely necessary to circumscribe
10
le
to prevent
marriages
Nevertheless, this
encircling
11 without creates problems from within which are not
solution.
.t
break
it.
one of repairing the disparity between the marriageunits of the two sexes within it. Left to nature, the
11
whom
side the
surplus
man and
he caste
the
of, for
enough parts to go round) very likely they will transthe boundary, marry outside and import offspring that
>e just
;ress
SURPLUS
is
likely to
do with
We
will
WOMAN.
She can
the case of the SURPLUS
of
to
in
so
as
two
different
preserve the
disposed
ways
ndogamy of the caste.
irsttake
up
>e
First
funeral
pyre
of her deceased
some
cases
it
may
work,
in
others
WOMAN
WOMAN
mains
in the
nger.
a menace
if
in
any
case,
12
jest of her
is
burning
Burning the
widow
WOMAN
PLUS
no
creates
eliminates
is
fraught with.
paratively
of
problem
to burning because
humane
all
it
inside
either
it is
SUR-
remarriage
is
superior
more
woman
enforcing widowhood.
it fails
compulsory
is
widowhood
the
able
she
is
increased.
But
by no insuperin which
this is
difficulty.
is
SURPLUS WOMEN
into a Caste.
with
figure
woman
From
prestige.
man
He
hand.
upper
time immemorial
With
this
than
traditional
that
desires to
two
of treatment to a
woman
in Caste.
compared
of
or
itself
a dominant
sexes has
superiority
of the
make
as
is
much
is
(widower)
difficult
group that
in every
woman
in a
MAN
greater
man ovei
Woman,
all
kinds of
economic.
Bat
surplus
man
as
13
soul
is
to
lost
the Caste.
say
Important as he
for the
rest
difficult, for
of his
life.
This solution
own
But, given
hardly be expected to be realized.
very likely to be the case, if the
joys
not altogether
are so disposed
or even to take a further
human nature
is
some
as
On
it
and
its
this solution
can
the world
is,
as is
MAN
SURPLUS
remains
group as an active participator in group activities,
he is a danger to the morals of the group. Looked at from
different point of view celibacy, though easy in cases where
it
succeeds, is not so advantageous even then to the
in the
vigorous
communal
numerical strength.
14
is
celibacy
the
same as trying
to
cure
atrophy
by
bleeding.
technical
term.
But the
tie
him down
is
certainly
now be
erical
two sexes
is
(2)
(3)
on the widower
tained (1)
Imposing celibacy
(4)
Wedding him
then
girl
is
the
15
create
They
endogamy, according to our analysis of the various definitions of caste, are one and the same thing.
Thus the existence of these means
is
these means.
This, in
in
my
their
mechanism.
many
This
is
in
pitfalls
in
now
Let us
to the castes in
generalities
mechanism of a caste
turn from these high
Hindu Society and inquire into
the general
is
opinion,
a system of castes.
of those
India to be sure
especially
true
is
who
try to unfold
the
where there
exist
no authentic
world
an
is
illusion.
may
tory.
a folly
for the
is
But institutions do
like
fossils
that
their
own
true,
hisif
we
scrutinize
the solution
Complex though
it
the
be in
(0
customs, namely
its
Hindu
widow on
is
not allow-
ed to remarry.
(in)
Girl marriage.
hankering after
16
So
this-
far
of these customs
plenty of philosophy to
oured, but nothing to
us
tell
why
A.K. Coomaraswamy,
Woman
existence.
Sati
tell
in the British
Socio-
is
well
and
expressed by
Umawhen
woman's honour,
is
it is
her
touching human cry, "I desire not paradise itself if thou are
not satisfied with me !" Why compulsory widowhood is
honoured
know
of it, though there are a great many who adin honour of girl marriage is reported
Dr.
Ketkar
be
"A really faithful man or
to
as follows
by
woman ought not to feel affection for a woman or a man
sang
in praise
here to
it.
The eology
other than
purity
is
the
one with
whom he
or she
is
united.
Such
fore marriage,
for that
is
the
No
known
to
whom
does so,
it is
a sin
she
is
any man at
So
it
is
all
before marriage.
If she
know whom
been
awakened
in in her.
*Hence
girl
marriage.
My
own
interpretation
is
why
why
that they
one
that
is
my
remark. At
most important
and
all
times,
it
is
the philosophies
the
movement
grow around
it
their prevalence.
T
pill,
as
we might
But
of means
is
necessary and in
was
per-
character
that of a
means
but
it
You may
a means an end.
just as
you can
call
~"~
18
endogamy
Having
of Caste
preservation
in
India,
Some
do not
feel
viz. 'origins
of caste."
As
for myself I
have established before, endogamy is the only characteristic of Caste and when I say ORIGIN OF CASTE I mean
in a Society
so
is
fact.
Their basis
may
a member of a
class.
differ.
This
19
would be very much facilitated, for we have only to determine what was the class that first made into caste, for class
and
A CASTE
IS
it
only a
AN ENCLOSED
CLASS.
The study of
not within
is
said just
my power.
To be
of
their prevalence.
can answer
it
only
in question
true to facts
it
is
connotes universality
These customs in
all
their
strictness
Hindu
society
castes
is
and as
their prevalence
in
is
Non-Brahman
neither strict nor
complete.
is
class
ent
superiority arrogated by the priestly class in all anciare sufficient to prove that they were the
civilizations
20
originators of this
founded
"unnatural institution"
and
now come
my
man
of the castes
all
The question of
the spread
me,
separated. This is because of the common belief among scholars that the caste system has either been imposed upon the
docile population of India by a
it
I first
country
(avatar)
Manu,
must be a
humanity quite
acquainted with.
was Given.
It
is
that
accepted
different
from
his
dispensation
ths one
we
are
is
could not have outlived his law, for what is that class
status of
submit to be
that can
degraded to the
brutes by the pen of a man, and suffer him to raise
another class to the pinnacle ? Unless he was a tyrant who
21
the
all
in
it
cannot
population
subjection
be imagined that he could have been allowed to dispense
his patronage in this grossly
unjust manner, as may be
easily seen by a mere glance at his "Institutes". I may
seem hard for Mann, but I am sure my force is not strong
held
enough to
spirit and
One
long.
his
kill
is
He
ghost.
appealed
to,
lives,
and
like
a disembodied
afraid will
yet live
thing I
He was an
and
am
upholder of it
but
it,
certainly he did
the present order of Hindu
about
therefore philosphised
not ordain
work
His
ended with the codification of existig caste
Society.
rules and the preaching of Caste dhanna.
The spread and
growth of the Caste system is too gigantic, a task to be
achieved by the power or cunning of an individual or of
class. Similar in
in
incorrect
beyond
own
own
their
pattern
How
glorious
very
for.
There
is
its
How
hard
One can
take
far.
unnecessary
confines.
seem to be
but
22
the
it
it is
make
is
to
who
show the
falsity
it.
it
unmake
it.
My aim
Thus
in solving the
probably not
the rise of
(3)
(2)
new
belief
(4)
cross-breeding and
(5)
migration.
in
these nuclei
do not
peculair to
India.
If they are not peculair to India, but are common to
the world, why is it that that did not "form" caste on other
mistaken ?
am afraid
Inspite of the
high
is
the truth.
by the
based on one
23
examination
close
was the
"function and function only
foundation upon which the whole system of Caste in Irdia
was built up." But he may rightly be reminded that he
does not very much advance our thought by making the
Nesfield says that
practically
amounts
to saying
that
castes in India
very poor
had
it
the
fact
that
Mr. Nesfield's
is
typical one.
Without
explain
the
occuring
in
stopping
to
caste
criticize
as
those
natural
system
obedience to the law of
theories
that
phenomenon
disintegration,
as
organism" to employ the phraseology of orthodox apologists, or as early attempt to test the laws of eugenics-as all
belonging to the same class of fallacy which regards the
caste system as inevitable,
24
subject.
We
the
shall
Hindu
be well advised to
common
society, in
of classes
and
composed
(1) Brahmans or the
the military class
and
(4) the
or
Sudra,
the
in
was
are the
the Kshatriya, or
(2)
artisan
to be paid to
system,
known
earliest
the Vaisya,
(3)
class
other societies,
priestly class:
the
recall at
with
and
menial
which
individuals,
class.
was
when
itself
from the
subject
differentiation,
some
into large,
minute
of to day.
easily lend
class
As
itself to very
could
have
differentiated
into
soldiers
and
administrators.
have lost the open door character of the class system and
have become self-enclosed units called castes. The question
were they compelled to close their doors and become
endogamous or did they close them of their own accord ?
is
is
OTHER FOUND
IT
SOME
CLOSED
25
AGAINST THEM.
The one
a psychological interpretation
and the other is mechanistic, but they are complementary
and both are necessary to explain the phenomena of caste-
formation in
will
is
its entirety.
first
take
up
the psychological
to answer
in
this
classes, if
interpretation.
connection
you
please,
is
Why
industrial
religious, or otherwise,
.Society,
and as
it
mous
tion
castes.
It is
castes.
The propensity to
need
imitate is a deep-seated one in the human mind and
formation
the
for
not be deemed an inadequate explanation
of the various castes in India. It'isj so deep seated that
of
Walter Bagehot argues that we must not think
imitation as voluntary, or even conscious.
it
has
its
seat
mainly
whose notions, so
are hardly
felt
far
in
On
the contrary
to exist, so far
is
our
belief,
us to believe that
disposing us to believe this or disinclining
nature. But as to the
are among the obscurest parts of our
can be
imitative nature of credulity there
*
1915 p. 60
Physics and Politics
no doubt." *
This
26
propensity to imitate hasjbeen
study by Gabriel
Tarde,
One of his
imitation.
three laws
is
scientific
laws of
from
imitation varies
inversely in proportion to distance, or in his
own words "the thing that is most imitated is the most
superior one of those that are nearest. In
fact, the influence of
the model's
example
as well as directly to
is
its
superiority.
Distance
is
DISTANCE
understood
here in its
However distant in space
sociological meaning.
a stranger may be, he is close
by, from this point of view, if
by
higher
ranks."*
In order to prove my thesis-which
really needs no proofthat some castes were formed
by imitation, the best way, it
seems to me, is to find out whether or not the vital
condition
for the formation
Society.
The conditions
234
imitation,
according to this
relations'
of Imitation, Tr.
ibid. p.
for
among members of
ed. p. 21
group.
27
in
India there
is
little
a demi-god.
prestige
unquestionable and
is
Can such
and good.
being,
is
by Scriptures and
idolised
but at
worthy of more than mere imitation,
enclosure,
least of imitation; and if he lives in an endogamous
Be
should not the rest follow his example ? Frail humanity
a creature
is
it
embodied
it
succumbs.
invention
cannot be otherwise.
Imitation
house-maid,
is
easy and
is difficult.
of history,
it
became
its
little
and those
furthest
,28
This
This phenomenon
process
imitation
I
is
a complete illustration
no
doubt
in
India
that
the whole
process of
is
turn
will
My
After what
was derivative.
have
amsng th^m
exist
there
as derivatives
and,
if
of
God
This
It
I call the
is
mechanistic
mechanistic because
inevitable.
That
System of Caste.
this line
The
result of this
oversight or lack of
29
sight has been very detrimental to the proper understanding
of the subject matter and therefore its correct explanation.
I will proceed to offer my own explanation by making one
remark which
It is this
I will
There
is
T will clear
in they closed others out.
my point by
taking another illustration. Take India as a whole with its
various communities designated by the various creeds to
selves
wit,
the
Parsis.
if
the
Hindus,
Now,
barring the
non-caste communi-
first
closed out,
group A
themselves,
Muham-
Again,
Symbolically
if
Now apply the same logic to the Hindu Society and you
have another explanation of the 'fissiparious' character of
caste, as a consequence of the virtue of self-duplication that
is
inherent
the ethical,
it.
Any
religious
and
30
nice distinctions between kinds of offence.
Innovation
may
called
The penalty
the code.
a new
caste.
It
is
is
is
that
from
it.
On
the contrary,
very
quite willing to be humble members of some caste (higher by
But
preference) if they could be admitted within its fold.
and
cumstance
that
is
merciless,
and
The
it
is
it
excommunicated to make
logic
is
find
in
of this obdurate
obedience to
its
cir-
force
obnoxious to
the
caste
rules)
to
in
a bewildering
the process of
Now to
it
to
31
from the
in the
Caste problem.
correct when he
whether they belonged to (he socalled Aryan race, or the so-called Dravidian race, were
Aryas." Whether a"tribe or a family was racially Aryan or
farther
truth,
is
are tremendous.
Caste
relies
on
belief,
It
is
true that
itself
needs to be
classes
munication.
Peculiar interest attaches to the problem of Caste in India
today ; as persistent attempts are being made to do away
with this unnatural institution. Such attempts at reform,
32
of a
who
thought
its
human
in the
ing
problem
Apart fiom
and
interest
aroused
moved me
in
is
me
an
all
absorb-
regarding
to put before
its
you some
may be
supported.
am
not,
how-
subject.
in
It
seems to
me
on
wrong lines, and the primary object of the paper is to indicate what I regard to be the right path of investigation, with
a view to arrive at a serviceable truth.
We
must, however,
own
idealogy,
as
in
which, notwithstanding
many
learned disquisitions
To
is
conclude, while
likely
I
am
can be shown
it
up.
English
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