Question

Describe the Indian Caste system and the effects this system had on the people of India.

Answer 1

The Indian Caste system divides Hindus into four categories- Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Sudras. Brahmins were at the top of this caste system who were mainly teachers and intellectuals, are known to have come from the God Brahma's head. Next is the Kshatriyas, the warriors and rulers, and have emerged from his arms. The third category is Vaishyas, who were mainly traders and believed to be emerged from Brahma's thighs. The last one is Sudras who came from Brahma's feet and worked like a servant. There were the Dalits or the untouchables outside the Hindu caste system.

The effects:

According to the caste system, the upper castes enjoy all types of privileges compared to lower castes. Inter-caste marriages were not allowed and in villages people belong to different castes lived separately and didn't share some facilities, like wells.

The caste system was given high priority under the British Rule, where only upper-caste Hindus were provided senior positions and administrative jobs. After independence, laws were introduced to make discrimination against lower castes illegal and to improve their socioeconomic positions. Quotas were introduced for college admissions and jobs. This gave some kind of freedom to Dalits and access to many leading positions. Inspite of all these measures inequalities are still there in modern India.