"The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic instance of social classification based on castes."
Explanation of Hindu caste system and its significance.
Hinduism: A religion that originated in ancient India and is characterized by its caste system.
Caste system: A hierarchical social system in Hindu society that divides people into different castes based on their birth and occupation.
Brahmins: The highest caste in the Hindu caste system, traditionally made up of priests and scholars.
Kshatriyas: The second-highest caste in the Hindu caste system, traditionally made up of warriors and rulers.
Vaishyas: The third-highest caste in the Hindu caste system, traditionally made up of merchants and traders.
Shudras: The lowest caste in the Hindu caste system, traditionally made up of laborers and farmers.
Dalits: People outside the caste system, previously referred to as "untouchables", and considered to be at the bottom of the socio-economic hierarchy in Hindu society.
Varna system: A term used to describe the traditional four-tiered caste system in Hindu society.
Jati system: Refers to the more localized sub-castes that exist within each of the four major caste groups.
Discrimination: The unfair treatment of people based on their caste or social status.
Privilege: The benefits and advantages that certain castes or social groups receive simply because of their birth or social status.
Caste-based violence and exploitation: The oppression and mistreatment of certain castes or social groups, often resulting in violence and exploitation.
Caste-based politics: The use of caste identities and interests in political campaigns and decision-making.
Caste-based quotas and affirmative action: Policies aimed at promoting equality by reserving government jobs and educational opportunities for lower-caste individuals.
Modern-day challenges and controversies related to the caste system: Include issues related to inter-caste marriages, caste discrimination in the workplace, and the ongoing struggle for caste equality and integration.
Intersectionality: The idea that people's experiences of oppression and privilege are shaped by multiple factors beyond their caste, such as gender, class, and religion.
Ways to dismantle the caste system: Exploring strategies and interventions to create a more just and equal society, including education, affirmative action policies, and increased awareness and engagement on issues related to caste.
Brahmins: The highest varna, consisting of priests, scholars, and intellectuals. They were responsible for conducting religious ceremonies and teaching the Vedas.
Kshatriyas: The warrior class, responsible for defending society and administering justice. Kings, politicians, and soldiers were part of this varna.
Vaishyas: The merchant class, including traders, farmers, and businesspeople. They were responsible for commerce and agriculture.
Shudras: The laboring class, including artisans, laborers, and servants. They provided manual labor for the other castes.
"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."