Epistemology
of caste
How
caste system are originated in India
The
origin of caste
The
term caste comes from the Portuguese term 'casta' meaning breed or race, in
Indian term it is 'jati'. The person who
define by well known sociologist, S.V. Ketkar, a group of people having
two characteristics- (1) membership is confined by birth. (2) Cannot marry
outside the caste.
R.
Shamasastri, says "caste is social
exclusiveness with reference to diet, marriage, birth and Rituals".
G.S.
Ghuriya says "caste is a Brahmin child of Indian Aryan
culture."
Louis
Dumont says, caste system is an institution's denial of the
right of the people.
Four
main theories of caste system
1.
Traditional theory
Caste
system is not human product but divine product. The caste system comes from the
Varna system. It is based on creation story narrated in Rig Veda, Purusha Sukta
X:98:v.11_12. According to this creation story, four orders or varna of people
where originated from the sacrifice of primordial being called Purusha. From
that sacrifice, Brahmin were originated from the head of the primordial being,
Kshatriyas from arms, Vaishyas from the tigh, Shudras from the feet. The
society was order based on this story, so called hierarchical social order of
the community (status of the people).
2.
Occupation theory
This
theory was developed by John Collinson Nesfield. According to this,
caste group were originated from different occupation. According to him, people
were doing different occupation, later different occupation group came to be
known as different caste group.
Different in occupation leads to different status.
3.
Political theory
According
to this theory, caste is a device developed by Brahmin to control the society.
After
creation different job were assigned to different caste groups-
Brahmin
were Priestly responsibilities so they dedicated as Priestly class.
Ruling
of administrative works to Ksahtriyas and known as ruling class.
Business
of trade responsibilities is given to Vaishyas, so they came to be known as
Business class.
Manual
job or odd job were assign to Shudras so they were called as Working class or
Service class.
4.
Religious Theory
According
to this, the caste system developed in order to performed different duties and
obligation related to Hindu religion.
5.
Racial Theory
Developed
by anthropologist Herbert Risley which states that Aryans introduced
racial differences to place themselves as superior over the Indians or
indigenous group.
6.
Evolutionary Theory
Denzil
Ibbetson
The
society of people group were divided into different occupation group which is
later developed into the caste group as we see today. So, it is a gradual
evolution.
-Each
people group wants to maintain purity of blood.
-Devoted
occupation
-Theory
of Karma
-
colour
of prejudice
-
economic differences
Common
feature of caste system
1.
Hierarchical division of society.
Caste
system divide the indian society hierarchically as Brahmin, Ksahtriyas,
Vaishyas and Shudras. Then the Panchamas- Dalit and other backward clasess, so
B. R. Ambedkar called it a principle of graded inequality.
2.
Restriction on food, drinks and social intercourse.
Kaccha
food prepared by water; Pakka food by ghee
The
Brahmin should not drink water from Dalit. Social intercourse
3.
Civil and religious disabilities. Pollution by touch, by sight, by shadow (of
lower caste). Two methods of cleanliness from the by bath and reading vedas.
The OBC should come near to the Brahmin to the nearest 36ft.
4.
Restriction on occupation
All
the job is assign to them for their own class or community. No job should be
done outside their own community.
5.
Restriction on marriage
No
marriage should happen outside the caste, of it done so, ex-communicate or
identify will be lost.
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