(The Indian Specific has launched a brand new sequence of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and students on points and ideas spanning Historical past, Polity, Worldwide Relations, Artwork, Tradition and Heritage, Atmosphere, Geography, Science and Know-how, and so forth. Learn and replicate with topic consultants and increase your probability of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. Within the following article, Devdutt Pattanaik, a famend author who specialises in mythology and tradition, supplies a nuanced understanding of castes in India.)
The simplest strategy to perceive caste is to show our gaze upon Africa. An African has a tribal identification (Masai, Zulu), a non secular identification (Christian, Muslim), a nationwide identification (Rwanda, Uganda) and even a racial identification (Mediterranean, Sub-Saharan, European). Of those, the tribal identification is natural and indigenous. Intellectuals typically blame tribalism for ethnic strife and lack of progress in African nations. At one degree, caste in India could be very very similar to a tribe in Africa. Like a tribe, each caste has its personal distinctive customs and beliefs, that it could or could not share with different castes.
Nonetheless, caste can also be very totally different from tribe. Castes exist in a superstructure, which has many regional variations. It was comparatively dynamic earlier than being fastened by the British colonial administration. You will need to keep in mind that the phrase ‘caste’ is a European invention; the standard Indian phrase is jati. There are over 2,000 jatis in India and these are categorised into 4 varnas of the Rig Veda. However the actuality is way extra dynamic and sophisticated.
Caste and the doctrine of purity
The caste construction has inside it financial and political hierarchies, and so could be confused with class programs. However what makes caste distinctive is the doctrine of purity. For a minimum of 1,500 years, if not longer, what has remained constant is the existence of the 2 excessive ends of the superstructure – the pure and impure castes.
The Brahmin varieties the best cluster and continues to dominate India’s politics, forms, judiciary and even the company world. On the different finish of the spectrum are communities deemed impure, largely concerned in vocations similar to cremation, meat processing, leatherwork and sanitation.
They have been deemed ‘untouchable’ and thus dehumanised, denied entry to widespread services just like the village effectively and the village sq.. Their sight, their shadow and their contact was shunned. They lived invisible lives on the periphery of the village, coming in to do their caste-based jobs solely when others have been indoors.
‘Annihilation of caste’
Hindu social reformers largely got here from elite teams. They didn’t problem the caste superstructure head on within the spirit of pragmatism. For instance, Mahatma Gandhi, educated as a lawyer in London, used the time period Harijan (God’s individuals) to uplift these communities. This time period was deserted over time, because it was thought of to be reasonably patronising.
The time period chosen by the group itself for self-identification is Dalit (downtrodden), a reminder of centuries of oppression. In latest instances, many have drawn a parallel to the plight of the Dalit in Indian villages and the African slaves in American colonies. So many individuals see casteism by way of the lens of racism, demanding structural modifications.
It took a lawyer named BR Ambedkar, himself a Dalit, to introduce the unconventional concept of ‘annihilation of caste’ to realize true equality. Ambedkar headed the committee that drafted India’s Structure and formed many insurance policies which have guided the Republic of India since independence. The Indian Authorities at this time refers to Dalit communities as Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), and grants them constructive discrimination by way of the reservation of instructional and job alternatives.
Caste and Hinduism
However is caste an integral part of Hinduism itself? Sure, say the Dalits. No, say the privileged elite. Is there Hinduism exterior of caste? No, say the Dalits. Sure, say the privileged elite. If one accepts the Dalit line, then anti-caste actions turn into basically anti-Hindu actions. All non secular missionaries assist anti-caste actions.
Whereas these religions argue that their religion is egalitarian, the bottom actuality in India is that caste is rarely eradicated regardless of conversion. In Goa, for instance, yow will discover proud Brahmin Catholics who won’t ever marry Dalit Christians. In Pakistan, satisfaction is taken within the Muslim Rajput identification and Dalits who convert to Christianity are topic to caste violence that’s masked as non secular violence. In North-east India what appears to be Hindu-Christian clashes seems to be nothing however outdated tribal rivalries.
Caste and tribe are primal identities, powerful to wipe out as a result of whereas caste permits discrimination, it additionally permits identification and satisfaction in communities. Each caste celebrates its heroes and historical past within the identify of cultural satisfaction. That is on the root of vote financial institution politics.
Publish Learn Questions
Caste and tribe are thought of primal identities which are tough to eradicate. Remark.
How is the idea of caste in India much like the thought of tribes in Africa when it comes to customs and beliefs?
How does caste superstructure form Indian society, and the way does it fluctuate regionally? Focus on with examples.
In what methods does BR Ambedkar’s concept of “annihilation of caste” affect present debates about caste-based affirmative motion and social justice in India?
How do the views of Dalits and the privileged elite differ on the connection between caste and Hinduism?
(Devdutt Pattanaik is a famend mythologist who writes on artwork, tradition and heritage.)
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