An alternative look at the ‘caste-system’
By Raju Patel
This article puts another perspective on a phenomenon that no-one usually dares to mention without putting on a grimace of horror and uttering shrieks of indignation: Chaturvarna, usually mistranslated as the caste system.
Let me state from the outset that I am a firm believer in the Vedic verse “All men are brothers; no one is big, no one is small. All are equal” (Rig Veda 5.60.5). The four categories of society (varnas) were not originally intended to be hereditary categories. If we look at the matter carefully, they are in fact natural functional groups that exist in all societies. The varnas were originally fluid categories that allowed for mobility between groups.
May 18th, 2006 at 12:28 am
Raju
Your articles are very balanced and well thought and presented. The article on Caste is an excellent example of somone thinking from first principles and coming to a rational conclusion.
regards
dilipbhai
May 18th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Hi,
I would like to add that even the Manu Smrithi, the document that is the target of attack from most political parties, does not advocate hereditary lineage of the caste system. A Brahmin does not become a “Brahmin” automatically by being born in a brahmin family. As a child of 5 years, he must enroll himself at a Gurukul run by a learned teacher and master at least one Veda and should undergo twelve to fourteen years of rigorous training in the Shastras, before he attains the qualification of being called a “Brahmin”. Similar rules are prescribed for Kshatriyas and Vaishyas too. The hereditary lineage was a distortion that was introduced perhaps a thousand years back. Let us not misinterpret Manu Smrithi. Instead, let us implement what it prescribes. Treat everyone with respect - all professions are important for the welfare of the society.
May 18th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Raju Patel: Your short article clearly distinguishes four natural divisions of labor. Such divisions exist in all societies. The social divisions became rigid in the declining curve of the Indian civilization.
Caste encompasses not only the four varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaish and Shurdrs) but innumerable Jatis or sub-castes. Minority religions such as Parsees, Christians, Jews are treated as separate Jatis. Jatis are comparable to ethnic groups in modern western societies such as the United States. The U.S. boasts as being multi-cultural. Many ethnic or nationality groups are found within the US–Italians, Irish, Polish, Native American, Chinese, Japanese, Hindus, and so forth. Many of the nationality groups have preserved their culture. Many follow their own peculiar marriage and family customs. These groups function like Jatis in India. Unfortunately, the term caste is negative. To redeem the Hindu sub-caste or Jati system, we need to emphasize its value as a multi-cultural social system.
May 18th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Good article. I just think you should have cited some examples of social mobility in ancient times, e.g. Veda Vyasa himself was the son of a sage and low caste fisherwoman.
May 20th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Dear Sir,I have read so many explanation for and against the cast system in hiduism.Please now we have to focus our energy to abolish once for all this cancer of our great religion.Actually today’s hinduism is nothing but a brahaminism to keep one cast superior to all others. Thanks.
May 21st, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Raju,
A very good article indeed. It shows the true nature of varna as originally conceived, and as necessary for all civilizations to advance for the good of all. As you might or might not know, Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj or ‘Society of Nobles’, took up the fight for a reform of the caste-system towards merit and away from heredity more than 100 years ago. In his Satyarth Prakash, he says:
“The Class and Order (varna) of an individual should be determined by his merits alone.” - Satyarth Prakash pg. 728
Sadly, the teachings of this great soul for humanity have been, for the most part, ignored. However, with good and sound articles like yours, we may hope that, one day, the message may reach open ears and minds. Thank you.
-Shishya
May 21st, 2006 at 3:59 pm
Ramesh Gutpa, “MD”
Funny that here we have a person claiming that
“today’s hinduism is nothing but a brahaminism to keep one cast superior to all others”
and yet feels the need for an “MD” (what a mayjor d#@k).
June 4th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Thanks for the positive comments on the article, folks.
Ramesh Gupta - I just want to point out that “destruction of the caste system” is a very vague thing to say. You do not refer to exactly what you want to destroy. I definately would like to see all forms of hereditary discrimination done away with. Also, I don’t think it matters one bit whether a person marries in caste or out of caste.
But as for people who want to maintain communities, like “Lohana” or “Oshwal” or “Kumbhar” etc, it doesn’t necessarily do harm. In fact sometimes it provides a social and cultural support network at hard times in life. It doesn’t necessarily cause any harm.
What can cure the hereditary discrimination that exists in some parts of our society is by emphasising the right parts of Hinduism to all young Hindus, namely the teaching that all people have the divine in them. If this point is emphasised, discrimination will dissappear fast.
September 3rd, 2006 at 10:03 pm
The so called caste system should not be called caste system, because that is a social thing. In the authoritive Vedas, it was goverend by your quailifications ( a spiritual injunction)
Spiritual class = the Head
warroirs = the arms
Business= stomach
working class =the legs.
So the Head(spiritual class) give guidance to the warriors (arms). warroirs protect the business class, the business class gives work the the legs (sudra) ( building temples which gives them devotional work etc)
That is the protocol! A Brahim may have child who is a Sudra or a warrior, or a business quality child etc. BUT in India today, the Brahims automatically think their child is a Brahim.like wise a warrior class thinks his child is naturally a warrior and so on.
That system will have no quality after some time. The Vedas speak according to qaulification, not from birth status
Harbol
September 5th, 2006 at 6:04 am
In the Vedas and Upanisads, and particularly in the Bhagwat Gita, the ideal of equality both social, economic and gender are fundamental. Following these classical texts of Hindu religion, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism subsequently have considered equality as the essential part of their religious doctrines. The Islam or Christianity did not introduce the concept of equality to India, as Jawaharlal Nehru falsely wrote in his book ‘A Discovery of India’.
In Hinduism and the related religious systems of Jainism, Buddhistism and Sikhism in India ‘Enlightenment’, unity with the absolute or the realization of the Brahman (The God) is accessible to all irrespective of their origin, gender, economic or social status.
In Rig Veda, it is written, “Brahman of glory is he to whom both the Aryans and the Dasas belong” (Book VIII, Ch 8, verse 9). (Dasas and Asuras are the people of ancient Iran.)
Sri Krishna in Bhagwat Gita said, “I look upon all creatures equally; none is less dear to me and none more dear” (Ch 9, verse 29). “All those who take refuge in me, whatever their birth, race, sex, or caste, will attain the supreme goal; this realization can be attained even by those whom society scorns. Kings and Sages, too seek this goal with devotion”(Ch 9, Verse 32,33).
September 5th, 2006 at 7:17 am
Totally agree with Hare Bol
May 19th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
where would the “Patels” be in the caste?
December 27th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Hinduism does not recognize caste. It recognize varnas. As a matter of fact the word caste is actually Portuguese from the word ‘Kasta’. The Portuguese and the British use this to attack Hinduism as a discriminating religion so that they could convert more and more Hindus into Christianity.
Born a Hindu…Die a Hindu…Hindu for Life !
December 28th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Here are some examples I have put together to show the difference of the Varana system of the old and Caste System of today.
Two totally different ides and values!!
EG 1 from Mahabharata
A fisherwoman Satyavati marries King Shantanu!
If caste was prevalent can you truly imagine a fisherwoman becoming
the queen of India? The people of Bharat did not object to this
marriage.
Can you imagine a fisherwoman getting married to Prince Charles of England today –the possible future King of England?
Can you imagine the next Queen of England being a fisherwoman?
So you can see how advanced the thinkers of those time were in comparison to today’s thinkers!
EG 2 from Mahabharata
Bhima marries Hidamba from a race of ‘cannibals’.
Cannibals are probably the equivalent to the untouchables of today.
Today’s caste system does not allow marriage to an untouchable.
What millionaire or royalty of today would allow such marriage in India?
Again we see how advanced a civilisation was during those olden eras!
They saw beyond race and religion.
EG3 from Mahabharata
A mere chariot driver Karna is crowned a King.
Not because Duryodhana saw in him his caste but saw in him his skill
and powers that could challenge Duryodhans enemies!
His skills were valued and not his caste.
Today applicants in India are asked for Caste first and skill secondary!!
EG4 from Ramayana
Valmiki was supposed to be an untouchable but was considered a sage after
acquiring sainthood. Today’s untouchables remain untouchable even if
they are millionaires or are intellects of the highest order!
Such is the difference then.
The movement from one status to another was clearly not a problem back then;
Unlike today.
EG5 from Mahabharata
King Bharata chooses his heir on the worthiness and intellect - who could rule his people wisely and not on hereditary. None of his children were capable of becoming rulers. We see the Birth of Democracy.
Today this is very difficult to apply since we are attached to our children.
But it does show how caste was never an issue in those days.
EG6 from Mahabharata
Dronacharya was a Brahmin teacher, but he became a Kshtriya – a warrior as he partook in the great war. No caste was a barrier to the protection from ones enemies.
If you can think of more examples please add them here.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Indian Government by legislation increased the caste system e.g., Schedule Class, Tribal Class, PIOs and NRIs etc. These were unknown before independence. Special preferences have been allocated to these classes. Brahmins now claim to belong to a Schedule Class for seeking opportunities.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Very well written article. All the views expressed till now support the idea that the caste system is not hereditary. But, following some old tradition it is still accepted and practised as hereditary. It is interesting that nobody as yet has come along quoting authoritative scriptures to justify the practice of hereditary caste system.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
During the Vedic era, Brahmins not only practised austerities & pursued scientific knowledge but also were warriors. Shri Parashuram, Dashanand Ravana, Rishi Matang, DronaAcharya etc are good examples of how flexible our varna system was. Not only were they great exponents of Shastras but also mighty warriors, hence Kshatriyas also. In short, a Hindu belongs to all the four varnas: 1. when he goes to school to attain knowledge 2. when he is urged to fight for Dharma 3. when he buys/sell anthing 4. when he cleans/ cooks etc.
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Very nice Raju Patel! This view is actually more traditional and not “alternative.” Like the so-called “alternative medicine” (which also misrepresents many religious practices like the Hindu Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda), these views are the more traditional in the larger context.
Of course, as others have pointed out, “caste” is not a Sankrit/Hindu word. In this regards, there is much that Hindus need to “clean-up,” and, importantly, they need to stop allowing others to define who they are and what they believe. Hindus need to stop using such words as “caste,” “God” “gods” and “Lord.” Hindus also need to reclaim their sacred Yoga teachings and practices.
Swami Param
Dharma Yoga Ashram (Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
From a specifically British Hindu perspective, it is interesting to note a story that was reported by the BBC on 21 Dec 2007, stating that a number of British Hindus are facing discrimination on the basis of their caste. An organisation called Voice of Dalit International has set up a Lottery-funded support group in Britain and is lobbying the government to get caste included in race discrimination legislation. The full BBC report is at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7156139.stm
February 1st, 2008 at 5:13 am
Personally, the whole Gandhian idea that caste can be useful is, in my mind, pure rubbish. The caste may have been good, it may have been bad, but whatever it was, it most certainly is not the same today.
The best way is be rid of it. If caste truly is fluid, there is no reason to use such terms other than words of description (he is a trader, he is a soldier, etc.)
Being of only one caste is also quite useless. In summation of Swami Vivekanandas ideas, he said that one should possess the qualities of ALL the castes - Brahman knowledge, Kshatriya willpower, Vaishya cunningness and Shudra egalitarianism. Without even one, it is impossible to follow Krishna’s example of a stithaprajna (a man of steady wisdom).
Note to Dipak Basu:
How are Asuras and Dasus correlated with Iranians? In Rig Vedic tiems, there was no Iran or Persia and current day Iranians are certainly not dark, which is how they are described.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Let me post a question in regard to this question.
As the scriptures of Hinduism state that a person’s Varna is determined by their actions, as the Gita refers to varnashram as a person’s innate nature, as the upanishads declare we are all Tat Sat. Then does hinduism bear the criticism of caste because we support rigid caste or simply as an external construct we have internalized?
Is not hinduism continually arguing a more subtle argument that certainly our material parts are not equal, that certainly our spiritual part is equivalent, and that karma (acting on will) is what defines a person. As such, hinduism is attempting to reform a socio-politico-economic force that is in human history of rigid birthline inheritance (blue blood nobility, marriage within family…). and rather than being considered a defender of human liberty it has been shackled with the idea that hinduism creates caste while other religions are far more discriminatory yet don’t share that image.
I understand that currently India is struggling with caste but then America and the so called developed world still fails to treat all as equals, the Islamic world doesn’t even pretend to do so, the communist world is perhaps the closest to this (except when you have an equal chance of being killed for the state), in latin america the elite remark their roots (blood line) to spain rather than the indigenous…So is caste an Indian problem, a human problem, a Hindu problem? And is it not fairer to see the hindu scriptures as reformists of this biological (likely evolutionary) urge in human history?
We need to be cautious and rigorous in this thinking since we don’t want to rationalize treating equals unequally nor simply justify our own ideas (like the mon0think religions).
hariaum
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
To answer your question, caste was never just an Indian problem. In Europe there were many castes like Gypsies who were branded as inferior, less intelligent and ony fit to do dirty work for the educated and rich. In France farm workers could only talk to landowners through middlemen. Even during Victorian times working class people like coal delivers, boiler menders, stable lads were not allowed to show their faces at the front doors.
This in a way caste system was broken by fast growing ‘industrialization’ when common produce and education became available to all. This process was denied to Indians due to Mogal and British invaders who only wanted to loot it. It is for good now happening in India as it gets ‘industrialized’ fast.
Varnas in Hindu scriptures were mentioned as state of facts applicable to human race. And they depended on individual intuitions, likings, aptitudes and innate nature acquired during individual previous incarnations. This is why lot of shopkeepers now a days are complaining about their sons do not want to charge of the tills. It is also a mistake parents pushing their sons and daughters to become doctors because it is a job for life and will not face redundancies. Three years ago I advised one mother not to push her son to become doctor because it looks prestegious. When I asked her son standing in front said, he enjoys fiddling with anything electrical, electronics. Mother admitted, at his age of 16, he was expert in mending radios, computers and anything electrical even without attending any college. So we find lot of people in every country more successful in the trades of their likings, choice because of their Varana inherited from previous incarnation and not ‘caste’. A personal friend of mine who I find polishing his giant Mercedes every Sunday morning, hates being a doctor. He was pushed by his doctor father to take over his practice. Geeta is perfect and uniform to all the humans on this Earth.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Indeed, even in America the so called the leader of the free world, I would argue that most of the real power - political, economic, and personal freedom lies in the hands of the few usually based on inheritance. Certainly a great deal of wealth has been generated in the last 20-30 years in Nouveau Riche but the real power remains in the gentried few.
nkv
March 4th, 2008 at 6:28 am
In this highly industrialized world the youngsters have a dilema and a big question. Should one conduct life and enlighten one’s soul by doing things or discharging duties appertaining to one’s family’s caste or to one’s likings, intuitions and aptitudes. We find many a students and professionals changing their careers in the pursuit of their happiness. Why?
The beuity of Hindu religon is it constantly reminds one to keep oneself on line towards uniting with the Creator. And Yoga is the process which makes one responsible for one’a actions. Bhakti Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Gyana Yoga and Karma Yoga is that process. This makes those who follow the Yoga equals in the eyes of our creator.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Moron, I had many of your experiences whenever I have visited India. NRIs used to living within strict legal framework, established over hundred years ago, get disgusted by the behaviour of the Indians and treatment they get. NRIs do not expect any special treatment but feel good if treated fairly. I was discriminated even in Hotel like Taj Mahal in Mumbai. It boils down to one thing every time; ‘White skin worshipping’.
There is a long history behind our behaviour. And I insist it is the systematic brainwashing by the British by instilling the theory of invasion of India by Aryans who were whites from the Caucasian mountains. That made all whites superior. After Indian independence Hindu intellectuals should have corrected this situation and asked Indians to be proud of defeating the British, breaking the Empire and smashing the white supremacy all over the world.
The second reason being all these years of the Empire, the British had kept the technology out of reach of the ordinary Indians by denying industrialization to India. Again Hindu intellectuals failed to explain effects industrialization and its necessity to make the country rich. And technological superiority of the whites in the minds of the Indians remained intact. Many researches now have shown the British, the West and Mideast acquired the basic knowledge of later sciences from Hindu scriptures and works of Hindu scholars from 3rd cent. BC onward. It is still not late to pump some pride in the minds of the Hindus and converts to other faiths who, I am pained to see, licking the shoes of the whites in India.