The Caste System Today-

By Kiren G. and Adam J.

A2

The Anceint Caste System

In India, there used to be a social hierarchy that separated the people of India according to their duty to society. This system which was called the saste system, made indian society have many conflicts. The higher classes would discriminate against the lower castes and violence was sometimes the result of this discrimination. These castes, or jatis, were ordered from the most respected  to the least. They were:

Brahmin – Priests:

This was the highest caste in India. They were the educated, the rich, and the powerful.

Kshatriya—Ruler, warrior, landowner

This was the second highest caste in India, second only to the Brahmin. They were also very high in society, only below the Brahmin.

Vaishya—merchants

This caste is responsible for selling goods.

Shudra---Artisans, Argriculturists

The Shudra were similar to the Vaishya. However, their duty was to sell services, not goods. They include barbers, potters, and herdsmen.

Harijan—Untouchables

This caste was the lowest caste in India, that they didn’t even consider them to be within the caste system. They were called “Untouchables” because they were deemed to be too dirty to be touched by higher class. They were given the worst jobs, such as cleaning up dead animals and skinning them, executioner, and musicians.

The castes were respected throughout India. An untouchable was not allowed to speak to a higher class unless spoken to first. When the classes ate together in a formal dinner, they were always separated by caste. The lower castes (mainly the untouchables) were not allowed to go to the schools, and enter the temples. They also slept during the day and worked during the night, so that they could avoid contact with the higher castes.

Today the the caste system is not used in India. It has been taken out of indian society and it is illegal to discriminate someone because of their caste, if they know what caste they are. In city areas where many people are mixed together there is very little discrimination against lower castes if any at all. Yet eventhough it is illegal, people that live in rural areas still somewhat practice the caste system. But for the most part the ancient caste system does not affect indian life.

Dialog:

(Between a current day India citizen  and a citizen of ancient India.)

Current: Hello!

Ancient: How dare you talk to me?!?! I am a Brahmin, and you are a mere untouchable. You are too unclean to speak to me!

Current: My good sir, I have done you no wrong.

Ancient: I don't know what mannerisms you are used to, but in my country, one of such low social status may not speak to me.

Current: I am sorry if I offended you, but I am not accustomed to such practices. In my country, there are little to no social hierarchies that you seem to be used to.

Ancient: Get out of my site, scum!

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