"The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic instance of social classification based on castes."
The study of social structures such as caste system, gender relations, familial structures, ethnicity, and power dynamics in South Asian societies.
History of South Asia: This includes the political, economic, and social developments of the region from ancient times to modern day.
Religion and Philosophy: The religious beliefs and practices of South Asia, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam, and their impact on society.
Languages and Literature: The different languages of South Asia, their significance and the role played by literature in shaping the culture.
Gender and Sexuality: The role of gender in shaping social structure and caste in South Asia and how sexuality is controlled in the region.
Ethnicity and Identity: The concept of ethnicity and identity in South Asia, and how it has influenced social structures and caste systems.
Politics and Governance: The political structures of South Asian countries and how social structures and caste systems affect governance.
Economic and Business Structures: The economic structures of South Asia and the role of social structures and caste systems in shaping them.
Immigration and Diaspora: The impact of immigration and diaspora on caste systems and social structures in South Asia and the diaspora communities.
Religion and Conflict: The role of religion in shaping conflicts in South Asia, including sectarian violence and ethnic conflicts.
Art and Culture: The art and culture of South Asia and the role it plays in shaping social structures and caste systems.
Varna system: This is one of the oldest and most well-known caste systems in South Asia. It divides society into four varnas, based on their occupation: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), and Shudras (servants).
Jati system: This is a sub-caste system that is based on regional and occupational distinctions, defining the status and duties of the particular group on the basis of their profession, lineage, and social standing. Each jati has its own set of customs, traditions, and beliefs.
Habshi system: This caste system is specific to the African Diaspora in South Asia, where the descendants of slaves and traders from Ethiopia and Sudan were assigned a low caste status, discriminated against, and excluded from mainstream society.
Zimmis system: This is a caste system mainly practiced by Muslim communities in South Asia, whereby non-Muslim communities are placed at a low caste status.
Burakumin system: This caste system is mainly practiced in Sri Lanka, where specific communities such as the "Barber community" are placed at a low caste status, resulting in social discrimination and exclusion.
Indigenous tribe structures: These systems are based on the social structures and cultural practices of the indigenous tribes unique to specific regions. They have their own set of social hierarchies, customs, and traditions.
Dalit system: This caste system is specific to India and Nepal, where marginalized and oppressed communities, known as Dalits, belong to the lowest caste status, resulting in social discrimination, exclusion, and atrocities.
Hijra system: This social structure is specific to the Hijra community, consisting of individuals who do not identify with binary gender categories. The Hijra community has its own distinct subcultural practices.
Pashtunwali system: This social structure is practiced among the Pashtun tribes in Pakistan and Afghanistan, comprising an intricate set of rules and customs, including hospitality, loyalty, revenge, and honor.
Marathwada system: This caste system is specific to the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, and is based on the power dynamics and political affiliations of different communities, resulting in social exclusion and marginalization.
"The caste system consists of two different concepts, varna and jati, which may be regarded as different levels of analysis of this system."
"The caste system as it exists today is thought to be the result of developments during the collapse of the Mughal era and the rise of the British colonial government in India."
"The British Raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organization a central mechanism of administration."
"Caste was no longer used by the colonial authority to functionally organize civil society. This reflected changes in administrative practices, understandings of expertise, and the rise of new European scholarly institutions."
"In 1948, negative discrimination on the basis of caste was banned by law and further enshrined in the Indian constitution in 1950."
"There are 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India, each related to a specific occupation."
"Caste-based differences have also been practiced in other regions and religions in the Indian subcontinent, like Nepalese Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism."
"It (the caste system) has been challenged by many reformist Hindu movements, Sikhism, Christianity, and present-day Indian Buddhism."
"With Indian influences, the caste system is also practiced in Bali."
"India after achieving independence in 1947 enacted many affirmative action policies for the upliftment of historically marginalized groups as enforced through its constitution."
"These policies included reserving a quota of places for these groups in higher education and government employment."
"It (the caste system) was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and the British Raj."
"Social unrest during the 1920s led to a change in this policy."
"Between 1860 and 1920, the British incorporated the Indian caste system into their system of governance, granting administrative jobs and senior appointments only to Christians and people belonging to certain castes."
"It (the caste system) is today the basis of affirmative action programs in India as enforced through its constitution."
"After the 1920s, the colonial administration began a policy of positive discrimination by reserving a certain percentage of government jobs for the lower castes."
"There are 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India, each related to a specific occupation."
"It (the caste system) was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and the British Raj."
"These policies included reserving a quota of places for these groups in higher education and government employment."