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Understanding South Asia's Caste System: Heritage, Religion, and Diversity

Explore the complex social order of the caste system in South Asia, reflecting the fourfold hierarchy of Hindu society and the impacts of religious rivalries. Discover how globalization and diversity influence the caste dynamics and the major tenets of Hinduism that govern social conduct. Learn about the historical origins, regional variations, and recent reforms challenging traditional caste divisions.

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Understanding South Asia's Caste System: Heritage, Religion, and Diversity

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  1. It’s a hard caste life… for some. Chapter 12 South Asia Section 3 Cultural Coherence

  2. Cultural Coherence and Diversity: A Common Heritage Undermined by Religious Rivalries (cont.) • Origins of South Asian Civilizations (cont.) • The Caste System • Regional variations, religious differences in acceptance of caste system • Caste: complex social order • Varna: ancient fourfold social hierarchy of the Hindu world • Jati: refers to local hundreds of local endogamous groups or subcastes that reflect occupational groupings • Castes include Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Sudras • Scheduled castes or “untouchables” or dalits Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

  3. Caste Systems Benefits • Members of a caste rely on each other for support • You are born into your caste

  4. MAJOR TENETS OF HINDUISM • Four main ideas are important in understanding the Hindu religion and the caste system • Reincarnation • Karma • Dharma • Ahimsa Globalization & Diversity: Rowntree, Lewis, Price, Wyckoff

  5. Dharma Code of behavior or set of moral and ethical rules that govern the conduct of each social class. Each group has a different set of rules to live by. How One’s Caste is Determined

  6. The Four Castes • Brahmins – Priests, Teachers, Judges; usually don’t own land therefore need other castes to work the land and provide for them • Kshatriyas– Warriors and Rulers (landowners) • Vaisyas – Skilled Traders and Merchants

  7. The Four Castes • Sudras – Unskilled Workers—Laborers and Craft workers • Below these four castes are people who belong to no caste • Untouchables – Outcastes, Children of God • Concept of pollution…the most pure at the top (Brahmins) and the most polluted at the bottom (Untouchables)

  8. Where do you think the caste system is seen more?

  9. Caste system in India • After the emergence of Buddhism there have been attempts to abolish caste system. • In 1833 the British declared that no person on account of “his religion, place of birth, descent, color” would be disabled from holding any office or employment. • Great movement against caste system was started by Mahatma Ghandi.

  10. Caste system in India • The barriers between the sub-caste weakened in the twentieth century. • The Indian Constitution of 1950 proclaimed the principle of equality to all citizens irrespective of caste differences, and abolished the practice of untouchability.

  11. The Untouchables

  12. Untouchables - The Outcastes • Belong to no caste • Expected to do the “dirty” jobs • Come in contact with animal skins, dead bodies and human feces • Avoid contact with “caste” Indians for fear of “pollution”

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