THE CASTE SYSTEMA hierarchy or form of social organization that sets forth certain rules for each member in Indian society.

• The caste system is a type of social

organization where a person’s occupation

and position in life is determined by the

circumstances of his/her birth.

• People are born into a particular caste and

remain a part of that caste all of their life.

• The government of India has attempted to

abolish the caste system, but long standing

traditions do not easily die.

• The caste system is less visible in cities but

remains in villages. Though there are

thousands of castes and sub castes, the five

major divisions are:

Priests/Teachers: (Brahmins)

Warriors

(Kshatriyas)

Merchants/Farmers (Vaisyas)

Laborers

(Sudras)

Untouchables/Achutas: (so low they are not really

considered a caste)

Hinduism is the religion of approximately 83

percent of the population of India. There are three

major points to remember about the Hindu

religion:

1. Hindus believe in reincarnation, which teaches that a

person is born, lives, dies, and is reborn again many times.

2. Hindus believe in karma, which states that a person’s

social position in the next life depends upon his/her

conduct in the present life.

3. Hindus believe in dharma, which provides a code of

behavior or set of moral and ethical rules governing the

conduct of each social class. An upper class Hindu and a

lower class Hindu have different sets of rules or dharma to

live by.

The Untouchables

Untouchables/Achutas perform jobs considered unfit for higher castes. Jobs

include tanning animal hides, unclogging sewers/toilets, cremating, and

removing road-kill from streets.

Killing and

disposing of

dead cattle and

working with

their hides are

also jobs for

untouchables.

Untouchables are also the only ones who can handle the

dead.

Though the caste system

is supposedly illegal, even

big cities still have the

certain areas where

untouchables are

indirectly expected to live.

These areas lack the

modern conveniences that

the rest of the city has,

which causes health risks

to thousands. One

symptom is the presence

of leprosy.

These ladies are members of the rat eaters caste

which basically means what it says

Busy all day,

these women

do not have

access to day

care, which

means

children learn

at a young

age what their

tasks will be

when they get

older.

This man fished in a

higher caste fishing

hole and was seen.

Later on he was

found and acid was

thrown on his face.

This is how an

untouchable can be

punished for trying

to live outside his

place in society.

PART 2. Discuss the following:

1. If you had lived during the Epic Age, how difficult do you think it would

have been to follow the strict rules of the caste system?

2. Do you think people questioned the system? Why or why not?

3. Why do you suppose the class distinctions were so harsh?

4. How is the class/caste system of Ancient India like the class system of the

U.S.? How is it different?

5. In our society do we treat people differently who are born into different

economic situations? Defend.

6. In the U.S. we are influenced strongly by Christian customs and teachings.

Are any of these customs like those of the Hindu? Explain.

7. In American society do we have different standards for members of

different groups? Do we apply laws the same to people in different

classes? Give examples.

8. How have the teachings of the Hindus influenced our society?

9. The Hindus believed in reincarnation. What is you opinion of this

concept? Is it conceivable that you could have lived a previous life,

perhaps as an animal?

10. How do the concepts of karma and dharma influence Hindu society?

How do you feel about those concepts?