The Caste SystemThe Caste System

Of IndiaOf India

About 1500BC, powerful About 1500BC, powerful nomadic warriors known as nomadic warriors known as

Aryans appeared in northern Aryans appeared in northern India. India.

The warriors were from Central The warriors were from Central Asia, but managed to overcome Asia, but managed to overcome the Himalayas by finding lower the Himalayas by finding lower passes in the mountains, such as passes in the mountains, such as

the Khyber Pass in Pakistan. the Khyber Pass in Pakistan.

The Aryans conquered the The Aryans conquered the Dravidians of Central India and Dravidians of Central India and

imposed their social structure imposed their social structure upon them.upon them.

Craft workers, laborers

Vaisyas

Sudras

The Aryans divided their society into The Aryans divided their society into separate castes. separate castes.

Brahman

Kshatriya

Judges, Priests, Teachers

Warriors

Merchants, Farmers

Group LivingGroup Living

Castes were unchanging groups. A Castes were unchanging groups. A person born into one caste never person born into one caste never changed castes or mixed with changed castes or mixed with members of other castes. Caste members of other castes. Caste members lived, ate, married, and members lived, ate, married, and worked with their own.worked with their own.

The only way to get into The only way to get into another caste was to die and another caste was to die and hope your Karma was good hope your Karma was good

enough to make it.enough to make it.

BrahmanBrahman

Smallest groupSmallest group the priests, teachers, the priests, teachers,

and judges and judges

(KUH SHAT REE (KUH SHAT REE YUHZ), YUHZ),

the warrior caste.the warrior caste.

Kshatriya Kshatriya

VaisyasVaisyas

(VEEZ YUHZ) the (VEEZ YUHZ) the farmers and merchantsfarmers and merchants

Craft workers and Craft workers and laborers. laborers.

SudrasSudras

UNTOUCHABLES UNTOUCHABLES

AlsoAlso known as Pariah known as Pariah Also known as Harijan Also known as Harijan

The untouchables were the outcastes, or people The untouchables were the outcastes, or people beyond the caste system. Their jobs or habits beyond the caste system. Their jobs or habits involved “polluting activities” including:involved “polluting activities” including:

• Any job that involved ending a life, such as fishing.• Any job that involved ending a life, such as fishing.

• Killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with • Killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides.their hides.

• Any contact with human emissions such as sweat, • Any contact with human emissions such as sweat, urine, or feces. This included occupational groups urine, or feces. This included occupational groups such as sweepers and washermen.such as sweepers and washermen.

• People who ate meat. This category included most • People who ate meat. This category included most of the primitive Indian hill tribes. of the primitive Indian hill tribes.

Untouchables were often forbidden to enter Untouchables were often forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells where higher castes temples, schools and wells where higher castes drew water. drew water.

In some parts of southern India, even the sight In some parts of southern India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting. of untouchables was thought to be polluting.

The untouchables forced to sleep during the The untouchables forced to sleep during the day and work at night. day and work at night.

Many untouchables left their rigid social Many untouchables left their rigid social structure by converting to Islam, Buddhism, or structure by converting to Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity. Christianity.

Caste System by law no longer Caste System by law no longer exists!exists!

The Caste System has been illegal in India for The Caste System has been illegal in India for more than fifty years, but it continues to shape more than fifty years, but it continues to shape people’s lives. The Indian government has people’s lives. The Indian government has provided the Harijan a term now popularly provided the Harijan a term now popularly used in place of untouchable, with specific used in place of untouchable, with specific employment privileges, and granted them employment privileges, and granted them special representation in the Indian parliament. special representation in the Indian parliament.

Despite such measures, the Despite such measures, the Harijan continue to have fewer Harijan continue to have fewer educational and employment educational and employment opportunities than Indians from opportunities than Indians from higher castes.higher castes.