Caste system in India

The Indian caste system ( or ) describes the system of social stratification and social restrictions in the Indian subcontinent in which social classes are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups, often termed jātis or castes . Within a jāti, there exist exogamous groups known as gotras , the lineage or clan of an individual. In a handful of sub-castes such as Shakadvipi , endogamy within a gotra is permitted and alternative mechanisms of restricting endogamy are used (e.g. banning endogamy within a surname). Although generally identified with Hinduism , the caste system was also observed among followers of other religions in the Indian subcontinent, including some groups of Muslims and Christians . Caste barriers have mostly broken down in large cities, though they persist in rural areas of the country, where 72% of India's population resides. None of the Hindu scriptures endorses caste-based discrimination, and the Indian Constitution has outlawed caste-based discrimination, in keeping with the secular , democratic principles that founded the nation. Nevertheless, the caste system, in various forms, continues to survive in modern India because of a combination of political factors and social perceptions and behavior. Economic and Political Weekly .

Gandhi visiting Madras (now Chennai) in 1933 on an India-wide tour for Harijan causes. His speeches during such tours and writings discussed the discriminated-against castes of India. The caste system in India is a system of social stratification which has pre-modern origins, was transformed by the British Raj, and is today the basis of reservation in India. It consists of two different concepts, varna and jāti , which may be regarded as different levels of analysis of this system. Varna may be translated as "class," and refers to the four social classes which existed in the Vedic society , namely Brahmins , Kshatriyas , Vaishyas and Shudras . Certain groups, now known as Dalits , were historically excluded from the varna system altogether, and are still ostracised as untouchables . Jāti may be translated as caste , and refers to birth ; that is, the caste into which one is born. The names of jātis are usually derived from occupations, and considered to be hereditary and endogamous , but this may not always have been the case. The jātis developed in post-Vedic times, possibly from crystallisation of guilds during its feudal era. The jātis are often thought of as belonging to one of the four varnas . Although the varnas and jatis have pre-modern origins, the caste system as it exists today is the result of developments during the post- Mughal period and the British colonial regime . After the Mughal period kings, who associated their rule with priests and ascetics, became the epicentre for a caste ideal which focused on martial and regal forms. The British Raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organisation a central mechanism of administration. Between 1860 and 1920, the British segregated Indians by caste, granting administrative jobs and senior appointments only to the upper castes. Social unrest during 1920s led to a change in this policy. From then on, the colonial administration began a policy of positive discrimination by reserving a certain percentage of government jobs for the lower castes. New developments took place after India achieved independence, when the policy of caste-based reservation of jobs was formalised with lists of Scheduled Castes ( Dalit ) and Scheduled Tribes ( Adivasi ). Since 1950, the country has enacted many laws and social initiatives to protect and improve the socioeconomic conditions of its lower caste population. These caste classifications for college admission quotas, job reservations and other affirmative action initiatives, according to the Supreme Court of India , are based on heredity and are not changeable. Discrimination against lower castes is illegal in India under Article 15 of its constitution, and India tracks violence against Dalits nationwide. Though caste is considered as dominant feature of Hinduism, in Indian context, it has influenced other religions too like Christianity , Islam , Judaism and Sikhism in the Indian subcontinent. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Caste system in India This article is about socio-political stratification in Indian society. Gandhi visiting Madras (now Chennai) in 1933 on an India-wide tour for Dalit (he used Harijan) causes. His speeches during such tours and writings discussed the discriminated-against castes of India. The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic example of caste . It has origins in ancient India , and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, especially the Mughal Empire and the British Raj . It is today the basis of afirmative action programmes in India. 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 regime in India. The collapse of the Mughal era saw the rise of powerful men who associated themselves with kings, priests and ascetics, affirming the regal and martial form of the caste ideal, and it also reshaped many apparently casteless social groups into differentiated caste communities. The British Raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organisation a central mechanism of administration. Between 1860 and 1920, the British segregated Indians by caste, granting administrative jobs and senior appointments only to Christians and people belonging to certain castes. Social unrest during the 1920s led to a change in this policy. From then on, the colonial administration began a policy of divisive as well as positive discrimination by reserving a certain percentage of government jobs for the lower castes. In 1948, negative discrimination on the basis of caste was banned by law and further enshrined in the Indian constitution; however, the system continues to be practiced in India with devastating social effects. Caste-based differences have also been practised in other regions and religions in the Indian subcontinent like Nepalese Buddhism, Christianity , Islam , Judaism and Sikhism . It has been challenged by many reformist Hindu movements, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, and also by present-day Indian Buddhism . New developments took place after India achieved independence, when the policy of caste-based reservation of jobs was formalised with lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes . Since 1950, the country has enacted many laws and social initiatives to protect and improve the socioeconomic conditions of its lower caste population. de Zwart (2000) . Independent India's constitution banned discrimination on the basis of caste, and, in an attempt to correct historical injustices and provide a level playing field to the traditionally disadvantaged, the authorities announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for scheduled castes and tribes, the lowest in the caste hierarchy, in 1950. In this period, both kings and the priests and ascetics with whom men of power were able to associate their rule became a growing focus for the affirmation of a martial and regal form of caste ideal. (...) The other key feature of this period was the reshaping of many apparently casteless forms of devotional faith in a direction which further affirmed these differentiations of rank and community. The discovery of India . Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste .

Social classification practiced in India This article is about socio-political stratification in Indian society. Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, and the chief architect of India's Constitution , widely regarded as one of the most prominent anti-caste voices in modern Indian history. He fought relentlessly for the eradication of the caste system. The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic instance of social classification based on castes . It has its origins in ancient India , and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval , early-modern, and modern India, especially in the aftermath of the collapse of the Mughal Empire and the establishment of the British Raj . Beginning in ancient India, the caste system was originally centered around varna , with Brahmins (priests) and, to a lesser extent, Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) serving as the elite classes, followed by Vaishyas (traders, merchants, and farmers) and finally Shudras (labourers). Outside of this system are the oppressed, marginalised, and persecuted Dalits (also known as " Untouchables ") and Adivasis (tribals). Over time, the system became increasingly rigid, and the emergence of jati led to further entrenchment, introducing thousands of new castes and sub-castes. With the arrival of Islamic rule , caste-like distinctions formulated in certain Muslim communities . The British Raj furthered the system, through census classifications and preferential treatment to Christians and people belonging to certain castes. Social unrest during the 1920s led to a change in this policy towards affirmative action. Today, there are around 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India. Caste-based differences have also been practised in other regions and religions in the Indian subcontinent , like Nepalese Buddhism , Christianity , Islam , Judaism and Sikhism . It has been challenged by many reformist Hindu movements, Buddhism , Sikhism, Christianity, and present-day Neo Buddhism . With Indian influences, the caste system is also practiced in Bali . After achieving independence in 1947, India banned discrimination on the basis of caste and enacted many affirmative action policies for the upliftment of historically marginalised groups , as enforced through its constitution. However, the system continues to be practiced in India and caste-based discrimination, segregation, violence, and inequality persist. de Zwart (2000) . In this period, both kings and the priests and ascetics with whom men of power were able to associate their rule became a growing focus for the affirmation of a martial and regal form of caste ideal. (...) The other key feature of this period was the reshaping of many apparently casteless forms of devotional faith in a direction which further affirmed these differentiations of rank and community. The discovery of India . Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste . Independent India's constitution banned discrimination on the basis of caste and, in an attempt to correct historical injustices and provide a level playing field to the traditionally disadvantaged, the authorities announced quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for scheduled castes and tribes, the lowest in the caste hierarchy, in 1950. " 'I would tell the other girls at school that I was Brahmin': The struggle to challenge India's caste system" .