Question

Essay on caste system in india . Fast fast fast fast plzpzlzpzlzpzlpzlzlzpzpzpzlzp

Answer 1

Indian Caste System

Introduction: The Indian society is characterized by the caste system, agrarian class structure, urbanization, multiplicity of religions, a variety of regional cultures, joint family system (with increasing trend towards nuclear families in urban setting), spiritual outlook and superstition, and resistance to change in tradition.

India is a country of Unity in Diversity. However, modernization is evident and social transformation has brought in its wake, problems and conflicts – features of the present day Indian society.

Origin: The origin of caste system in India is attributed to the functional division of labor. The population was divided into classes on the basis of functions or occupations of particular families and groups. However, in course of time, these divisions between various sections of the society became very rigid.

Former times: It seems that, in the former times, caste system gave scope for specialization and distributed the work in way that promoted professional skill and expertise. It helped the various art and industries to flourish. Even a least talented person had the opportunity earn his living.

Modern times: In modern society, there is no place for a rigid caste system that hinders adaptability or that restricts a member of the civilized society to choose a particular profession. No one should be forced to adopt or remain in a particular profession for any reason.

Social stratification and four fold division

Social stratification in Indian society and culture  is complex because there are factors of class as well as caste involved.

The caste system, basically a fourfold division of society into :

Brahmins,Kshatriya,Vaishya andSudra.

It was well entrenched by the end of the Rig Vedic period. The Vedic Caste System that was divided into four divisions is still prevalent in Indian Society.

The four Varnas (implying colour) of India developed out of very early Aryan class divisions. The stratification grew more rigid when a situation arose with a dominant “fair” minority striving to maintain its purity and its supremacy over a darker minority. Tribal class divisions hardened and the dark-skinned aboriginal found a place only in the basement of Aryan social structure. Even in the earliest hymns we read of ksatra, the nobility and the vis, the ordinary tribesmen. But the four classes — Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra were crystallizing throughout the Rig Vedic period.

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The main features of the caste system are:

1. Endogamy and Heredity: A person born in a caste remains in it for life; dies in it, and his children also remain in it. This provides caste system with rigidity in structure. A caste has divisions, based on endogamy within a sub-group and is called sub-castes.

2. Social and Religious Hierarchy: In the system of social stratification different ‘castes’ are assigned superiority or inferiority over others. Brahmins are con­sidered to be at the top of this subordination order. Then came Kshatriyas, then Vaishya and finally in the lowest position the Sudras.

3. Hereditary occupations: Every caste claims monopoly over some occupation and tries to restrict entry of others in their field. But now the case is changing with technological advancement. Many new occupations are there in which people from all castes are engaged. But in historical perspective influence of occupation on the development of caste cannot be denied. Many groups were named after the occupation they held, e.g. teli (oilman), chamars (leather workers), lohars (blacksmiths), etc.

4. Taboos: Another element of caste is the complex of taboos by which the superior castes try to preserve their ceremonial purity and all in general try to avoid occurrence of evils, believed to exist in every person.

5. Untouchables: Beyond the four classes, came the “untouchables”, “out-castes”, or what later came to be designated “depressed classes” and “scheduled castes”. By the times of Gupta Empire, chandalas had become so strictly outside the social that they were forced to strike a wooden clapper on entering the town. The lot of the untouchables has been a cruel and shameful blot on our cultural heritage.

Answer 2

Answer:

           Indian caste system

During the time of the Rigveda, there were two varnas: arya varna and dasa varna. The distinction originally arose from tribal divisions. The Vedic tribes regarded themselves as arya (the noble ones) and the rival tribes were called dasa, dasyu and pani. The dasas were frequent allies of the Aryan tribes, and they were probably assimilated into the Aryan society, giving rise to a class distinction. Many dasas were however in a servile position, giving rise to the eventual meaning of dasa as servant or slave

India’s caste system is a social structure that divides different groups into ranked categories. Members of “higher” castes have a greater social status than individuals of a “lower” caste. Indian law prohibits discrimination by caste, although caste identities remain of great significance at the local level, especially in relation to marriage. A survey in 2005 found that only 11 per cent of women had married a man of different caste.

1) Brahmins

2) Kshatriyas

3) vaishyas

4) shudras

5) Dalits

The caste system is the bane for the Indian society. It divides the Indian society into sectarian groups and classes. Even today, it plays a predominant role in our society despite the growth of culture and civilisation.

The people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, referred to as ‘untouchables’ form one-sixth of India’s population or 160 million; they endure discrimination and segregation

Article 15 of the Constitution of India prohibits discrimination based on caste and Article 17 declared the practice of untouchability to be illegal. In 1955, India enacted the Untouchability (Offences) Act (renamed in 1976, as the Protection of Civil Rights Act). It extended the reach of law, from intent to mandatory enforcement. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was passed in India in 1989

A caste system is a way of dividing a society into differently ranked tiers of people. Lower castes were denied access to basic healthcare and education and often shunned entirely from society, left to do jobs considered 'unclean' such as waste disposal, toilet cleaning and cremation: