Is the Caste in the Past?

An Informative Report by Dhruv A. and Joe H.

A2

History of the Caste System:

The caste system in India was started by the Aryans who placed the Kshatriya at the top of the caste system.  Over time, the major caste system that came into power in India evolved.  At first there wasn't much discrimination between those in the caste system, it was more of an economic structure rather then a rigid social sturcture.  The more rigid version of the caste system came into being when the Arayns came into conflict with the Dravidians (local nomads, native indians).  After a while, the Brhamans (religious leaders who read the vedic texts) became the top class followed by the Khastryias.  The Khastryia consisted of kings, nobles, and warriors.  The Vishaya were a level below the Khastriya, these people were the merchants and buisness men.  The next lowest in the caste systen were the Sudras, also known as the servants. The "Untouchables" were never mentioned originaly in the Vedas texts, but were well known.  They were the lowser part of the caste and had horrible jobs.  It was considered a sin for those of higher classes to talk to them.  The Untouchables however were made up mostly of the locals and contained the largest population of any of the castes. This is still true today, and is one of the reasons the caste system has been legally done away with.  We chose this topic because we are interested in the effects that the Hindu caste system still has on India.

 These higher caste children are dressed in clothes that                  The Hindus of a lower caste in this picture are snake charmers, not the best

show their nobility.  They also had to perform rituals ,

in order to prove their rank in society                                                                            of jobs.  Their clothes reflect their low social status.

  Both these men would have been in different social classes under the caste system, but make the

     same amount of money in modern India.

Mock Dialogue:

Bhupen is a high-caste man from the old ages, while Ved is a young man from modern India, who though born to the lowest (untouchables) caste has, with the help of affirmative action, received an education and is now one of the most succesful young businessmen in India.

Buhpen- Arreh, I demand that you young man, shouldn't be in my presence as you are an untouchable

Ved-I'm sorry sir, but those days are long gone,I'm now one of the most succesfull businessmen in India.  Times have changed. Now there are laws in place prohibiting class discrimination. My kind, which  known as the schedule caste, now have the same oppurtunities as those of the higher castes.

Buhpen-How can this be ?

Ved-Well for one, there are many more of my caste then there are of yours ,and now that India is a democracy that wouldn't play out to well for the politicans would it? At the same time members of the higher caste have also realized that this system no longer works.

Buhpen-Is that so? Who could though that people could challengeand change centuries of Hindu heritage?

Ved-Yes in fact Gandhi ,was one of the protesters against the caste system.When he worked and had few followers he did all the jobs,whthere they were ment for untochables,brhamins ,whatever and he was from a high caste.He not only was able to overlook the caste system ,but those around him were able to overlook it too.

Buhpen-What is this blashphemy ? What has happened to the world?

Ved-India is now the largest democracy in the world.The people have freedom,and cannot be oppressed by the caste system.Only after we rid our selves of the caste system ,have we truly been able to been able to rise from poverty and become one of the fastest  growing economies in the world.The times have changed old man.

In your day ,I couldn't get an education ,but now thanks to equal opportunites for all ,I was able too recive a scholorship to Oxford Buisnesse School in London ,Wngland one of the best schools in the world,and now I have an immensley succesfull job .

Buphen-I'm sure some indians still cling to the old ways

Ved-It still exists ,however due to globalization especially in the work place,people are now judged  on merit ,rather than caste.There is also an increasing amount of marriage between boys and girls of different castes.Over time their children will no longer be able to identify themselves with a specific caste.

Buhpen-Maybe their is something to what you,say and it is time for a change.

Ved-Let us walk together and you can see what the removal of the caste system has done for India.

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