Caste and Reformers

Castes: contents

Untouchables

Shudhras

Vaishyas

Kshatriyas

Brahmins
Untouchables
 Untouchability
Shudras
Untouchability is prompted by the spirit of social aggression and the belief in
purity and pollution that characterises casteism.

It is generally taken for granted that Dalits are considered polluted people at
the lowest end of the caste order.

The jobs considered polluting and impure are reserved for Dalits, and in many
cases, Dalits are prevented from engaging in any other work.
 Untouchability
Shudras
Kachro (filth), Melo (dirty), Dhudiyo (dusty), Gandy (mad), Ghelo
(stupid), Punjo (waste) are just some of the names given to Dalits

The 1950 national constitution of India legally abolishes the practice

of “untouchability,” and there are constitutional reservations in
both educational institutions and public services for Dalits.

Article 17 of the Indian Constitution, which bans Untouchability,

confines its definition to individual discrimination against certain
classes of persons not easily identifiable.
Shudhras
Shudhras

Largest caste

Higher castes believed that they should not be educated

Peasants and artisans

Giver of grain

By the sickle and ears of corn

• The word Shudra appears in the Rig Veda and it is found in other Hindu texts such as the
Manusmriti, Arthashastra, Dharmashastras and Jyotishshastra.

• The ancient Hindu text Arthashastra states,that Aryas were free men and could not be subject
to slavery under any circumstances.The text contrasts Aryas with Shudra, but neither as a
hereditary slave nor as an economically closed social stratum in a manner that the term Shudra
later was interpreted.

• The Manusmriti discusses the code of conduct for the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. The text
mentions Shudras, as well as Vaishyas, but this part is its shortest section. Sections–of the
Manusmriti state eight rules for Vaishyas and two for Shudras.

• The Apastamba Grhysutra excludes the Shudra students from hearing or learning the Vedas.
Yajnavalkya Smriti in contrast mentions Shudra students, and the Mahabharata states that all
four varnas including the Shudras may hear the Vedas.

• Outside of the conflicting stances within the Hindu texts, non-Hindu texts present a different
picture about the Shudras. A Buddhist text, states patton "refers to Shudras who know the
Vaishyas
 vaishyas
The Vaishyas were the third highest ritual class. They were
mostly merchants and peasant classes (which means they were
had significant jobs) others of this class were farmers,
businessmen and herders who have the same exceptions like
tending cattle, offer sacrifices, study the Vedas, trading lend
money and cultivated the land.

Like the Brahmin's, the Vaishyas had the right to perform in

some of the vedic rituals. Although, they were not allowed to
marry someone from any higher class than theirs. This rule
was expected from all classes, not just the Vaishyas.
 vaishyas

They are the farmers, herders, merchants, and businesspeople

who produce and distribute food and other needed goods to
society. The Bhagavad Gita assigned the Vaisyas the duties of
farming, protecting the cows of India, and conducting
business.

Their way of life demands on study, sacrifice and giving money

and food to the poor.
Kshatriyas
 KSHATRIYAS

Kshatriya means roof, umbrella, dominion , power government

Known as the warriors and kings

The kshatriya’s originated as the top of the pyramid. They were said
to be from the hands of the Hindu god, Brahma. However when the
kshatriya’s were out fighting , the Brahmins took over with their
religious ways.
 KSHATRIYAS

Now on the 2nd from the top of the pyramid

Task is to preserve the caste bible ‘Manusmriti’.
In modern day, they work in government and politics
There status symbol is two crossed swords in a shield.
Brahmins
 BRAHMINS
In Vedic- and post-Vedic Indian subcontinent, Brahmins were designated as the priestly class as they served as priests (
purohit, pandit, or pujari) and spiritual teachers (guru or acharya). The other three varnas are the Kshatriya, Vaishya,
and Shudra
VEDIC SOURCES
- Purusha Sukta
- Shrauta Sutras

-In Hinduism, human life is believed to comprise four stages. These are called "ashramas" and every person should ideally
go through each of these stages:

•The First Ashrama: "Brahmacharya" or the Student Stage

•The Second Ashrama: "Grihastha" or the Householder Stage
•The Third Ashrama: "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage
•The Fourth Ashrama: "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage
Bhakti Movement
Percentage of Brahmins in each
state. Data is from recent caste
- Many 18th and 19th century Brahmins are credited with censuses.
religious movements that criticised Idolatory. For example, 16-20%
the Brahmins Raja Ram Mohan Roy led Brahmo 12-16%
Samaj and Dayanand Saraswati led the Arya Samaj 9-12%
4-8%
1-4%
0-1%
Modern demographics
According to 2007 reports, Brahmins in India are about five percent of its total population. The Himalayan states of
Uttarkhand (20%) and Himachal Pradesh (14%) have the highest percentage of Brahmin population relative to
respective state's total Hindus
 • Gandhi

Reformers: • Ambedkar
• Ram Mohan Roy
Contents • Swami Vivekananda
• Tagore
Gandhi
MAHATMA GANDHI
• Biography
- Early life and background.
- Three years in London.
- Europeans , Indians and Africans.
• Struggle for Indian independence(1915-1947)
- Gandhi joined the Indian National Congress and was introduced to Indian
issues, politics and the Indian people primarily by Gokhale. Gokhale was a key
leader of the Congress Party best known for his restraint and moderation, and
his insistence on working inside the system. Gandhi took Gokhale's liberal
approach based on British Whiggish traditions and transformed it to make it
look Indian.
Role in World War I (1914-1918)
• Champaran agitations
• Khilafat movement
• Non-co-operation
- In February 1919, Gandhi cautioned the Viceroy of
India with a cable communication that if the British
were to pass the Rowlatt Act, he would appeal to
Indians to start civil disobedience.
- On 13 April 1919, people including women with
children gathered in an Amritsar park, and
British Indian Army officer Reginald Dyer surrounded
them and ordered troops under his command to fire on
them.
- The resulting Jallianwala Bagh massacre (or Amritsar
massacre) of hundreds of Sikh and Hindu civilians
enraged the subcontinent, but was supported by some
Britons and parts of the British media as a necessary
response.
 Salt Satyagraha (Salt March)

- World War II and Quit India movement

• Non violence movement

• Truth and Satyagraha

-Death
At 5:17 pm on 30 January 1948, Gandhi was with his grandnieces in the garden of Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti), on his way to address
a prayer meeting, when Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist, fired three bullets into his chest from a pistol at close range. According to
some accounts, Gandhi died instantly.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru addressed his countrymen over the All-India Radio saying

“Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or
how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that; nevertheless,
we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these many years, we will not run to him for advice or seek solace from him, and that is a
terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this country.’’

Funeral and memorials

The Birla House site where Gandhi was assassinated is now a memorial called Gandhi Smriti. The place near Yamuna river where he was
cremated is the Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi. A black marble platform, it bears the epigraph "Hē Rāma" (Devanagari: हे ! राम or, Hey
Raam). These are widely believed to be Gandhi's last words after he was shot.
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
• Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Baba Saheb Ambedkar, was born on April
14, 1891, in Madhya Pradesh, India.
• His father was Ramji Makoji Sakpal, who was an army officer in the British India
army.
• Bhimabai Sakpal was his mother
• He was a good student earning doctorates from both London University and
Columbia University of London.
• He gained a reputation as a scholar for his research in law, economics, and political
science.
• in his early carrier, he was an editor, economist, professor, and activist who was
against the discrimination Dalits faced because of caste. Dr. B.R.Ambedkar's later
career included participating in political activities.
• Dr. B. R.Ambedtkar was born as a Dalit and he was treated as an untouchable. He was
subjected to regular social and economic discrimination.

• Although Ambedkar attended school, he and other Dalit students were treated as
untouchables.

• They were separated from another group of students from other caste and were not given
attention by the teachers. They were even not allowed to sit with other students for their own
drinking water.

• So, he was a leading social reformer and an activist who dedicated his entire life to the
betterment of the Dalits and other socially backward classes of India.

• Ambedkar continuously fought for the eradication of caste discrimination that had spread
like a disease in Indian society.

• He entered politics entirely, aiming to fight for the rights of the backward classes and against
the inequality practiced in society. After India became independent, he went on to become
the first law minister of free India and the chief architect of the 'Constitution of India
Raja Ram
Mohan Roy
• Indian reformer; 22 may 1772-27 september 1833

• Founder of Brahmo Sabha in 1828

• Herald of new age,Father of Indian Renaissance

• Social and religious reformer,Brahmin,Prince,Author

• Founder of Atmiya Sabha and Unitarian community to fight social evils

• Middle Brahmo period(1820-1830)

• Beliefs were derived from a combination of monastic elements of

Hinduism, Islam, eighteenth-century Deism, Unitarianism, and the ideas of
the Freemasons
• Born to a prosperous Brahman family, he traveled widely in his youth, exposing himself to various
cultures and developing unorthodox views of Hinduism.

• In 1803 he composed a tract denouncing India’s religious divisions and superstitions and advocating
a monotheistic Hinduism that would worship one supreme God.

• He provided modern translations of the Vedas and Upanishads to provide a philosophical basis for
his beliefs, advocated freedom of speech and of religion, and denounced the caste system.

• In 1826 he founded the Vedanta College, and in 1828 he formed the Brahmo Samaj.

• The Brahmo Samaj did not accept the authority of the Vedas, had no faith in avatar and did not
insist belief in karma or samsara. It discarded Hindu rituals and adopted some Christian practices
in its worship.

• Whereas Ram Mohun Roy wanted to reform Hinduism from within, his successor, Debendranath
Tagore, broke away in 1850 by repudiating Vedic authority and making reason and intuition the
basis of Brahmanism. He tried, however, to retain some of the traditional Hindu customs, and a
radical group led by Keshab Chunder Sen seceded and organized the Brahmo Samaj of India in
Rabindranath
Tagore
• 7 May 1861- 7 August 1941

• Tagore wrote poetry as an eight year old

• At age sixteen, he released his first substantial poems under the

pseudonym Bhanushingo [ Sun Lion]

• Parents – Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi

• His father wanted him to become a barrister and he was sent to

England for this reason.
• On 9th December,1883, he married Mrinalini Devi

• In 1890 his collection of poems ‘Manasi’ was released

• In 1901 , he moved to Shantiniketan where he composed

‘Naivedya’, published in 1901 and ‘Kheya’ published in 1906.

• He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

• In 1915, he was also granted knighthood by the British Crown ,
which he renounced after the 1919 Jalianwala Bagh massacre.

• From May 1916 to April 1917, he stayed in Japan and the U.S.
where he delivered lectures on ‘Nationalism’ and on Personality’.

• In 1920s and 1930s he travelled extensively around the world; he

earned a cult following and endless admirers.
Swami
Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
• Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
Vivekananda played a key role in the introduction of Indian yoga and Vedanta
philosophy in the West. He witnessed extreme poverty and suffering of the people
and felt deep sympathy for his fellow beings. He later traveled to the West starting
on 1st May 1893. Visiting Japan, China, Canada and reaching Chicago. He made a
strong impression at the inaugural World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, 1893 –
giving a powerful speech on the underlying unity of world religions.

• His grandfather was a Sanskrit and Persian Scholar, his father was an attorney in
the high court and his mother was a homemaker and had a religious temperament.
Swami Vivekananda grew up in an upper-middle-class-family. His personality and
attitude were shaped by both his parents progressive, rational as well as religious
approaches in life.
 On caste…
• Swami Vivekananda opined that the ancient strict caste system is “useless” in our
society.

• He told— Caste is a social organization and not a religious one. It was the outcome
of the natural evolution of our society. It was found necessary and convenient at
one time. It has served its purpose.

• The process of demonizing Hindu Dharma began in the colonial times. British
colonialists ridiculed Hindu “natives” for ritualism, idol worship, and superstition,
and casteism.

• Caste was the most frequently used weapon for belittling Hindu Dharma. Even
today, western “thinkers” and Bharatiya commentators afflicted by the colonial
hangover continue to use caste fault-lines for bashing Hindu Dharma.
The End