CASTE SYSTEM AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN INDIA1

“I have no colour prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is
that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.”

INTRODUCTION:-

The Castes are hereditary endogamous group with fixed traditional occupations, observing
commensal prohibition and social restrictions on interaction. It is believed that there are about
3,000 castes in the country. These castes are grouped as upper castes (like Brahmins, Rajputs,
Baniyas,Kayasthas,etc.), intermediate castes (like Ahir,Sunar,Kurmi, etc.) and lower caste
(like Dhobi, Nai, etc.). The castes are linked with the four varnas (Brahmins,
Kshatriyas,Vaisya, and Sudra) for determining the status in ritual hierarchy.

The Indian caste system describes the system of social stratification and social restrictions in
the Indian subcontinent in which social classes are defined by thousands
of endogamous hereditary groups, often termed jātis or castes. Within a jāti, there
exist exogamous groups known as gotras, the lineage or clan of an individual. In a handful of
sub-castes such as Shakadvipi, endogamy within a gotra is permitted and alternative
mechanisms of restricting endogamy are used (e.g. banning endogamy within a surname).

CASTE SYSTEM IN INDIA:

History of caste system in India or Vedic period: The development of the caste system in
India never seems to be having any universally accepted history as such. Though there is a
general speculative faith that the earliest settlers to this land, the Indo-Aryans might have
actually established the caste system, gradually placing them in the higher ladder of the
society. There is a whole lot of controversy regarding the theory of the Indo-Aryan migration.
The Hindu scriptures can also be taken into consideration in this regard, which has some
passages that can be interpreted to sanction the caste system. This also indicates that the caste
system is not an essential part of the Hindu religion. The Vedas or the most ancient `shruti`
texts emphasis very less on the caste system, same is maintained in a hymn from the Rig
Veda. Later scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Manu Smriti propounds four Varnas, to be
God`s creation. There is a general idea believed by scholars that may be in the initial phases
the caste system was a bit flexible. Migration from one caste to the other was possible by
switching jobs. Various passages from Manu Smriti and other scriptures emphasise that the

1
Rahul Tiwari, III Year Student B.A.LL.B (Hons.),Hidayatullah National Law University,Raipur.

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caste system in India was originally non-hereditary. Therefore, through these facts one gets
an impression how the caste system developed in the later stages into a firm intricate
structure from a bendable one in the earlier Vedic age.

 Colonial India: The castes did not constitute a rigid description of occupation or the
social status but the Britisher’s attempted to equate the Indian Caste System to their
own colonial caste system since the British society was divided by class. Britisher’s
further codified the caste system in India and made it more rigid. A section of
sociologists agree that the caste system initially had several advantages too. It served
as an important tool of social order where mutual consent rather than competition
ruled. The caste system played an important role in shaping economic activities in
Indian society. The fluidity of caste system was affected by the arrival of British
policy of divide and rule. Rigid categorization of population also contributed towards
the hardening of caste identities.

 Post -independence: In semi rural areas and small towns the caste system is still very
rigid. Caste is also a very important factor in the politics of India. After independence,
the government has officially documented castes and sub-castes, primarily to
determine reservation in education and jobs through census. The Indian
reservation system relies entirely on quotas for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and
other backward castes. This system has been fairly successful in bringing the
backward castes into the mainstream. However, the caste based
reservations in India has also led to widespread protests due to reverse discrimination
against the upper caste. Also the caste based politics in India has created various
undue tensions amongst the social forces. With a passage of six-decades after
independence the caste based discrimination in our country has been addressed to
some extent but there is still enough scope to bridge the inter-caste gaps in the society.
The economic and social equality, globalization, extensive education, youth
empowerment and social organizations have contributed a great deal in mellowing
down the deeply rooted caste based discrimination in our country. In these situations,
it is the responsibility and greater role of the politicians to reform the society instead
of concentrating on caste-based politics, appeasement and discrimination, which is
unhealthy for the Indian Society.

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2067936

Relevance of caste system in India: Although India is a political democracy, the
hierarchical caste system is deeply rooted into the society, whether it is North or South,
Hindu’s or Muslim’s and cities or villages. This system of discrimination, between the high
and lowcastes exists, almost in every community. The caste system was evolved when India’s
ancient civilizations, absorbed the nomadic Aryan population who crossed central Asia to
enter northern India. The four castes developed out of necessity of its own social order and
moral and ritual quotes. The word caste comes from Portuguese word ‘Casta’ (breed or race).
The Sanskrit word that applied to the groupings was ‘Varna’, which is often interpreted as
colour. However as per ‘Mahabharata’, if different colors indicate different castes the all
castes are mixed castes. The Hindus also believed that the ‘Varna’ of a man is determined by
his profession and deeds rather than his birth. Traditionally, the political power rested with
kshatriyas and Brahmins were custodian of dharma. The Vaishyas were the traders and
running the economy whereas, Shudras were service providers.
Functions of caste system:-The caste system is credited to ensure the continuity of the
traditional social organization of India. It has accommodated multiple communities including
invading tribes in the Indian society. The knowledge and skills of the occupations have
passed down from one generation to the next. Through subsystems like Jajmani system, the
caste system promoted interdependent interaction between various castes and communities
with in a village. The rituals and traditions promoted cooperation and unity between members
of the different castes.

The Dysfunctions: Caste system promoted untouchability and discrimination against certain
members of the society. It hindered both horizontal and vertical social mobility forcing an
individual to carry on the traditional occupation against his or her will and capacity. The
status of women was affected and they were relegated to the background. The caste system
divided the society into mutually hostile and conflicting groups and subgroups.

Caste system: An impediment to growth

If there is one thing that is a characteristic of an Indian, irrespective of his region, his
language and even his religion, then it is his or her caste. India has a long history of a society
divided in different castes and Jaats, that goes beyond 2500 years. There are mentions of a
society based on varnas ( class) that are decided by the occupation or interests of a person, in
the Vedas, that are the oldest written books of Hindu religion.
Over a period of time, these classes better known as castes, became a hereditary
phenomenon, making castes permanent. The caste system are not restricted to Hindus only, as
there are different castes among Muslims and also at some places in India, among Christians.
But the most rigid, prevalent and universal caste system exist among Hindus that constitute
80 percent of the population.
To understand caste system, it is important to understand its history and evolution in Indian
context. Initially, the society was divided among 4 major castes or classes, that were
Brahmans, Kshatriyas ,Vaisyas and Shudras. The caste of a person was decided by his or her
occupation. People who were knowledgeable, had intellectual bent of mind and were either a
scholar, a teacher or a learned man were the Brahmans. Kshatriyas were the people in the
occupation of warfare, kings and other warriors. Vaisyas were the businessman, shopkeepers,
and traders etc. And the last castes were the group of people who performed daily day-to-day
life duties, like cleaner, gardener, laborer etc.
But with time this system has deteriorated to a large extent. Today there are more than 2500
different castes and sub-castes in India. It is decided by the birth of the person and not by
one’s interests, that to which caste will one belongs. And also the castes are hierarchical in
order. The Brahmans are the upper class and the Shudras , the lower class. From more than
1000 years, Shudras, are seen with disrespect, with no dignity of labor, and are even
humiliated for the caste they belong to. Some of the lower castes are also termed as
Untouchables, making them an outcast among the general public.
Today, caste system is one of the biggest impediments in the path of India’s success as a
country. This system makes the power and resources of country divided. Also, the existence
of hierarchical caste system causes disharmony and gives rise to hatred among common
people.
Political leaders have actually deteriorated the condition by playing their dirty games of
making the caste an issue of elections. It is an open secret that in many places across the
country, the votes are cast , keeping in mind the caste of the candidate, rather than his or her
work in the direction of development. The intermingling of caste and politics has played a
havoc with the progress of the nation.
Another major consequence of the disease called caste system is Reservations. The backward
castes, which are SC(Scheduled castes), ST(Scheduled Tribes) and the OBC( other backward
castes), are provided reservations in all government schools, colleges and in public sector
jobs of 22.5 percent for SC, ST and 27 percent for OBC, apart from many other benefits like
education concessions and financial assistance etc. This in my opinion, is disastrous and in
reality, just a way to woo the votes of these castes. As these reservations, lead to a set of
students and employees who are selected not on the basis of their merit, but on the basis of
their caste. This is nothing less than a caste system with the reversed hierarchical order and
not actually a solution to it. Also this reduces the overall quality of employees and future
engineers, doctors etc and render many meritorious students jobless. I believe reservation, if
provided, should be on economical basis. As the current reservations are more of a political
stunt then an actual step in the direction of doing away with Caste system.
The problem lies in the mindset of the country on the whole and hence require more
humanitarian steps rather than political gimmicks of caste-games and reservations. It requires
a genuine youth-oriented government aided drive across the nation by the help of electronic
and print media apart from a personal awareness campaign to make people understand the
principle of equality. There can be no drastic change such as the abolition of caste system, but
at least its retrogressions can be removed slowly. There must be dignity of labor to streamline
these classes into the general public.
These and many other such initiations can one bright day bring together the different classes
of people and give them a general name, a name that should and must be the only caste they
belong to, that is INDIAN!!

The Caste System and Social Stratification :

The caste system as a concept stemmed out of Hinduism where in each member of society
was divided into four categories namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Each
caste held a position or status according to the role it played for the overall benefit of society.
The Brahmins were the teachers. They were the keepers of knowledge and wisdom. They
were peace loving and righteous. They held the highest status in society.
The Kshatriyas were the protectors of society. It was their duty to protect people and fight
with courage for their country. They were noble and heroic and were second in terms of
status in society.
Next came the Vaishyas who engaged in trade, agriculture and rearing of cattle.
The lowest in the caste in the society was that of the Shudras whose work was that of service
and entertainment to society
Now in the original caste system (before it got distorted) it did not matter which caste one
was born in. A Shudra could become a Brahmin if he/she obtained knowledge and wisdom
and vice versa. So it was the skills, knowledge and the benefits that an individual gave to
society that decided his caste.
After Independence the Indian constitution outlawed caste based discrimination but sadly
new castes evolved which was based on birth and one can see many examples of it in our
own lives. In most cases the child of a businessman becomes a businessman, the child of a
doctor becomes a doctor and the child of an actor becomes an actor and so on and so forth.
So it is quite clear that whether or not we like it the caste system existed earlier and it exists
today as well just in a different form. What is however interesting to notice is that the table
has turned upside down.
The Shudras who were the entertainers and are the actors, sportsman and the likes of today
are celebrities and enjoy the highest status in society and earn the maximum amount of
money. Businessman, traders are second in the status table and also earn large amounts of
money. The soldiers and the protectors of our country still have respect but their financial
condition is dismal. The last in the status table are the teachers who earn peanuts.
Can you notice the imbalance that has got created? The value of knowledge has diminished
and the value of entertainment has increased. Knowledge provides long term benefits to
society while entertainment provides only momentary satisfaction. In a way we are not
investing in our future.
Today every child wants to be an actor or a sportsman or a businessman. Very few want to
become teachers or want to join the armed forces. So the two most important sections of
society are receiving fewer and lower quality of people.
If one looks at other countries then you will find that although the status of actors and
businessman have increased the status and value of teachers and people in the armed forces
has not gone down. Teaching and research professions not only pay well but are also sought
after.
So in hindsight the caste system was good. I am sure everyone would agree that a teacher
gives far more valuable service to society than an actor. Maybe as a society we should go
back to our roots and imbibe those practices cause if one removes the untouchability and
caste by birth concept I think the caste system was a brilliant way or maintaining the right
balance in society.
 CONCLUSION

I am of the opinion that the caste system in Hinduism has been unduly highlighted by the
media and state that one way to discredit any system is to highlight its excesses, and this only
adds to the sense of inferiority that many Indians feel about their own culture. Caste system is
often portrayed as the ultimate horror, in the media; However there is no organized
discrimination in other societies as Hinduism has in its society. The slight bright hope is that
the discrimination has slightly reduced now while untouchability has been drastically reduced
if not fully eliminated and raises its ugly head in some form or other. The Indian Government
has catered for various reservations in Government jobs, educational Institutions,
Professional colleges such as medicine, Engineering, Architecture, pharmacy and Dental
Courses. Reservations have also been laid down in various parliamentary constituencies and
legislatures of States apart from various local and municipal bodies. Some States and political
parties vie with each other in extending more and more reservations based on the castes to
become popular and gain vote banks. These gimmicks have resulted in serious unrest among
youth and agitations that have resulted in further cleavages between various castes and sects
in the society.
Thus it is seen that caste system although was not sanctioned by Vedas made inroads into the
society and got entrenched. With Government policies, further irreparable damage has been
done to the society and it would be impossible to eradicate the evil. Vested interests have
developed due to various reservations where merit is thrown to winds.

Thus Caste system is going to stay permanently in India and all slogans denouncing
the system is a pure and mere eye wash. Although Caste system is outwardly shown as the
biggest villain in Indian social and political scene, it is encouraged more and more at every
level and is being institutionalized, regularized and being promoted. There is no element of
doubt that Hinduism has to live by this system outwardly called evil and internally is being
strongly promoted by virtue of vested interests. Although caste was not originally intended to
be acquired by birth, it has become hereditary in character and Hindu society has to reconcile
to it. The society is facing serious challenges and conflicts on account of this system, yet
people have to live by the system. In the meantime, Indian society is slowly inching towards
caste war that could prove catastrophic to the Indian nation and also could lead to its own
destruction. If at all India is to be destroyed, it will not be out of any enemy action, and it
would be out of the caste war that could spell doom to the nation perpetuated by its own
selfish leaders.