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Caste

Uploaded by Raja Sanmanbir Singh on Oct 01, 2013

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The term ‘caste’ is derived from the Portuguese word ‘caste’ meaning ‘breed’ or ‘lineage’. ThePortuguese used the
term ‘caste’ to denote the divisions in the Indian caste system. The word ‘case’ alsosignifies ‘race’ or ‘kind’. The
Sanskrit word for ‘caste’ is ‘varna’, which means
colour. Races and colourseem to be the basis of Indian caste in addition to the division of labour and
occupation. The popular
equivalent of caste is ‘jati’.
 The caste stratification of the Indian society has had its origin in
the ‘Chaturvarna’ system. According to
the Chaturvarna doctrine, the Hindu society was divided into four main varnas namely: the
Brahmins,the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras. The Varna system which was prevalent
during the Vedicperiod was mainly based on the division of labour and occupation. The case system
owes its origin to theVarna system. The present caste system can be said to be the degenerated
form of the original Varnasystem. Varnas which were four in number and castes which are found in
hundreds and thousands arenot one and the same.
Definition of Caste

 
MacIver & Page :
When status is wholly predetermined so that men are born to their lotwithout any hope of changing
it, then the class takes the extreme form of caste.
 

 
C.H. Cooley :
When as class is somewhat strictly hereditary, we may call it a caste.

 
Ketkar :
A caste is a group having two characteristics; (i) membership is confined to those whoare born of
members and includes all persons so born, (ii) the members are forbidden by aninexorable social law
to marry outside the group.
Features of Caste
 –
G.S. Ghurye
The caste system is highly complex in nature. As Dr. G.S. Ghurye says, any attempt to define caste
is
‘bound to fail because of the complexity of the phenomenon.’ He de
scribes the characteristics of caste
in his ‘Caste and Class in India –
1950-
1956’. The following have been the main traditional features of 
the caste system.
 1.
 
Caste as a hierarchical division of society:
The Hindu society is a gradational one. It is dividedinto several small groups called castes and sub-
castes. A sense of ‘highness’ and ‘lowness’ or‘superiority’ and ‘inferiority is associated with this gradation or
ranking. The Brahmins areplaced at the top of the hierarchy and are regarded as ‘pure’, su
preme or superior. The
degraded caste or the so called ‘untouchables’ have occupied the other end of the hierarchy. All
over India neither the supremacy of the Brahmins nor the degraded positions of the outcastes

 
have been questioned. It is taken for granted, but regarding the exact position of theintermediary
castes there are disputes on the part of the members.
2.
 
Caste as a segmental division of society:
The Hindu society is a caste-ridden society. It is
divided into a number of segments called ‘castes’.
It is not a homogeneous society. Castes aregroups with defined boundary of their own. The status
of an individual is determined by his birthand position of man. The membership of the caste is
hence unchangeable, unacquirable,inalienable, unattainable and non-transferable. Further, each
caste in a way has its own way of life. Each caste has its own customs, traditions, practices and
rituals. It has its own informal
rules, regulations and procedures. There were caste councils or ‘caste panchayats’ to regu
latethe conduct of members also. The caste used to help its members when they were found in
distress. Indeed, ‘the caste was its own ruler’.
 
3.
 
Restrictions on Food Habits:
The caste system has imposed certain restrictions on the foodhabits of its members. They differ
from caste to caste. Who should accept what kind of food andfrom whom, is often decided by
the caste. Generally, any kind of food that is prepared by theBrahmins is acceptable to all the
caste people. This factor explains as to why the Brahminsdominated the hotel industry for a long
time. Further, restrictions are also there still on the useof certain vegetables for certain castes.
Even today, some traditional Brahmins do not consumeonions, garlic, cabbage, carrot, beetroot etc.
Eating beef is not allowed except for the Harijans.
4.
 
Restrictions of Social Relations:
The caste system puts restrictions on the range of social
relations also. The idea of ‘pollution’ makes this point very clear. It means a touch of a lower
caste man would pollute or defile a man of higher caste. Even his shadow is considered enoughto
pollute a higher caste man. This has resulted in the practice of untouchability. This processhas
made the lower caste people to be segregated completely from the higher caste.
5.
 
Social and Religious disabilities of certain castes:
In the traditional caste society some lowercaste people suffered from certain civil or social and
religious disabilities. Generally, the impurecastes are made to live on the outskirts of the city
or the village. In South India, certain parts of the towns or the villages are not accessible to the
Harijans. Even today, in many places they arenot allowed to draw water from the public wells. During
the early days, public places like hotels,hostels, public lecture halls, schools, temples, theatres
were not kept open for the lower castepeople. Entrance to temples and other places of religious
importance was forbidden for them.Education facilities, legal rights and political representation
were denied to them for a long time.
6.
 
The Civil and Religious privileges of certain castes:
If the lower caste people suffer from certaindisabilities, some higher caste people like the
Brahmins enjoy certain privileges. Nowhere theBrahmins suffered from the disabilities cited above.
They are given more liberty, because theyare believed to be b
orn ‘pure’ and ‘superior’. The Brahmins never saluted others, but they
always had the privilege of being saluted by others. They never even bowed to the idols of thelower
caste people. Education and teaching were almost the monopoly of the higher caste

 
people. Chanting the Vedic Mantras was great privilege of the Brahmins. The upper caste peoplein
general, enjoyed social, political, legal and religious privileges.
7.
 
Restrictions on Occupational Choice:
In the caste-ridden society there is a gradation of occupations also. Some occupations are
considered to be superior and sacred while othersdegrading and inferior. For a long time,
occupations were very much associated with the castesystem. Each caste had its own specific
occupation. The caste members were expected tocontinue the same occupations. Occupations were
almost hereditary.
8.
 
Restrictions on Marriage:
The caste system imposes restrictions on marriage also. Case is anendogamous group. Endogamy is a
rule of marriage according to which an individual has tomarry within his or her group. Each caste is
sub-divided into several sub-castes, which are againendogamous. Inter-Caste marriages were
strictly forbidden then. Even at present, inter-castemarriages have not become popular.
Sapinda and Sagotra ExogamySapinda Exogamy
 
 –
 
In Hindu society marriage within the ‘Pinda’ is prohibited. Pinda means common
parentage. According to Brahaspathi, offspring from five maternal generations and seven paternal
generations are ‘Sapinda’ and they cannot intermarry.
Sagotra Exogamy
 –
 
Sagotra Exogamy, that is, marrying outside one’s own ‘gotra’ is very much prevalent
among the upper caste such as Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Marriage within the gotra is prohibited.
Thisrestriction has been imposed since people of one gotra are believed to have similar blood.

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