W.B.C.S Main-Anthropology Optional-2018-Question.

WBCS মেইনস – নৃবিদ্যা ঐছীক – ২০১৮ – প্রশ্ন।

1)Define jajmani systems.Enumerate briefly the theory of origin of the caste system.State the salient features of the caste systems of India.

Jajmani system or Yajman system was an Indian economic system in which lower castes performed various functions for upper castes and received grain in return.Continue Reading W.B.C.S Main-Anthropology Optional-2018-Question.

Origin of Caste System in India

Earlier, the caste of a person in India used to define his or her occupation and till death the person had to stick to that occupation. People from upper caste were not allowed to mingle and marry a person from any other caste. Thereby, castes in India were exactly demarcating the society.

Generally, caste system is associated with Hindu religion. As per Rig Veda (early Hindu text) there were four categories known as ‘varnas’. Varnasconsist of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Most of the historians still believe that today’s caste system is based on these varnas.

Also there was the fifth category that was even inferior to shudras and that was of “untouchables” or Dalits. These were the persons who used to perform tasks of removing faeces or dead animals. They were not allowed to enter into temples, drink from the same water source, etc. Untouchability is the most common form of discrimination that is based on the caste system in India.

But when and how so many castes originated in India is not clear. Many theories have been put forward regarding the origin of caste system but, so far, no solid proof has been collected in this regard.

Significance of caste system and its changing scenario in India

Though with time, many things have changed and so did the caste system. But still, it continues to play an important role in the major events of life like marriage and religious worship. In India, there are many places where shudras are still not allowed to enter the temple or do any kind of puja. Whereas Kshatrya and Vaishya castes enjoy full rights regarding this.

The caste system becomes problematic when it is used for ranking the society as well as when it leads to unequal access to natural as well as man-made resources.

In urban middle-class families, the caste system is not that significant but it plays a role during marriage. Even adjustments are made into this.

In pre- as well as post-Independence era, many movements and governmental actions took place to eradicate caste-based inequalities in India. In order to develop a positive attitude towards lower castes, Gandhiji had started using the word ‘harijan’ (God’s people) for lower-caste people. But this term was not universally accepted. He also encouraged incorporating lower caste persons into reforms rather than creating a separate groups for the same purpose. The British government also came up with a list of 400 groups that were regarded as untouchables. Later on these groups were known as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In 1970s, the untouchables started to be called Dalits.

In mid-19th century, Jyotirao Phule started an Dalit movement to uplift the status of lower caste people. Contribution of Dr B. R. Ambedkar to support the lower caste people was very prominent. He initiated a significant Dalit movement between 1920s and 1930s. He also created a system of reservation in free India to improve the status of Dalits in India. Under his leadership, six million Dalits adopted Buddhism.

But in modern India, relationships between different people have become more relaxed though not completely. As everyone irrespective of caste can dine at one place, visit tourist places, etc but still people are against inter-caste marriage. Significant change in the occupation sector has taken place, as now it is not restricted to caste.

Though changes are there but India still needs to work on this issue so that caste-based inequalities can be uprooted from our society forever.

MAIN FEATURES OF A CASTE SYSTEM

Society classification has changed the course of society since ancient times. The features of a caste system itself consist the degree of superiority and a sense of inferiority amongst people of different classes. The caste system effect was so influential that its traces are still found at some corner up to some extent. Mainly a sense of being placed at the top of the hierarchy having all the controlling power made other people suffer in many references.

FEATURES OF CASTE SYSTEM

1. There was a segmental division of society in which they were classified in several units called as caste. The term caste used to present race or breed of a person. There have been 2800 different castes found in India and they have their own set of norms and beliefs.
2. Hierarchy systemwas evolved in those times. There has been the degree of highness and lowness amongst people.
3. Endogamy can be seen as a vital feature of the caste system. Endogamy is practicing marriage function in the same caste and it has been followed in India till now up to maximum extent. For example, even if anyone wishes to marry someone of other caste and class, he/she can face a powerful opposition and sometimes it can lead to Honor Killing. Honor killing is practicing death of people in love with different castes. In UP a couple was killed brutally just to satisfy caste ego which does not permit people to marry someone from other castes.
4. Hereditary Status and Hereditary occupation are some of the basic features which can be called as anascribed status of a person. It clearly means that caste is not something which is achieved by a man on the basis of merit. Indeed it is clearly a place which cannot be altered or switched. For example, a person born in Shudra category will do chores like cleaning toilets till his/her death. Likewise, a Brahmin’s son was bound to follow the priest culture; he was not allowed to go to his career choices.
5. One of the most negative influences of the Caste system is also counted in its feature that is Food and Drinks indifference attitude by upper-class people. For example, if a Shudra prepared food and a Brahmin arrived at a temple where he is hungry. He will die of hunger but will not touch the food prepared by the lower class people. Such was the influence of caste practice in India. They were considered some garbage of society whose presence can be infectious to other people of society.
6. Cultural Difference lingered in every caste and this cultural difference led to some of the major differences. For example in Brahmins, the people do not even touch meat or other non-veg materials but in other cases, people were interested in eating meats which acted as a barrier to cultural practice in different castes.
7. Social segregation was also a deciding factor. It differentiated people on the basis of their economic status. For example, poor people were obliged to stay away from some of the richest people. For example, there was a different path for lower caste people; it was a general practice to not even have a tinge of a shadow of lower caste people.
8. Ascribed status was one of the most fundamental characteristics of a caste system. The caste of a person was assigned to him and this will not change no matter he/she achieves any other things in life or not.

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