Caste

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Template:IndicText Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification. Though historically and geographically widespread, the most well-known caste system today is the Indian caste system.

The word casts (Sanskrit: Gyati ज्ञाति , Hindi: Biradari बिरादरी, samaj समाज, jati जाति etc , Urdu Zat ज़ात ) is derived from the Portuguese word casta, meaning "lineage", the corresponding Sanskrit word is jati meaning a birth based classification.

Anthropologists use the term more generally to refer to a social group that is endogamous and occupationally specialized; such groups are common in highly stratified societies with a very low degree of social mobility. In the broadest sense, some caste-based societies include South Africa during the era of apartheid, the antebellum South of the United States until the Civil Rights movement, colonial Latin America under Spanish and Portuguese rule (see Casta), and India prior to 1947. However, a difference arises when comparing caste-like systems in other countries to India. In the other countries, the separation between one group and the other was usually along racial lines. Within India, the lines were more blurred. Major castes were subdivided into hundreds of sub-castes. For example, in south India, castes based on occupation might have resembeled: Carpenters as ASAARI, goldsmiths as THATTAAN, coppersmiths as MUUSAARI, ironsmiths as KARUVAN, washerwomen as MANNAN, coblers as PARAYAN and so on. Usually, these similarities in occupation echoed within similar ethnic groups that shared the same language and traditions. Endogamous marriage (including polyandry) and other association within caste was strongly enforced. In the past, some castes would not allow other caste members to touch them, and would have washed themselves or their possessions if they had been touched by someone from a "lower" caste. Based on the caste system there was also a practice to define the physical distance one should keep from persons of another caste. As a result of this, children who attended a school where children of lower castes were present had to bathe in running water before returning home. In some parts of the world this type of caste discrimination is still practiced.

1 Jati
2 Indian caste system
- 2.1 Modern perceptions of caste
3 Nepalese caste system
4 Sri Lankan caste system
5 Balinese caste system
6 Castes in ancient Israel
7 Castes in Africa
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
- 10.1 Sites
- 10.2 Articles

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Jati

Sub-castes within a group of Varna were called Jati
Jati members were allowed to marry only with their Jati.
People were born into their Jati; this status couldn't be changed, unless through marriage or under rare circumstances.
Each Jati was part of a locally based system of interdependence with other groups, involving occupational specialization, and was linked in complex ways with networks that stretched across regions.

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Indian caste system

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Modern perceptions of caste

While the Vedas mention only four main varnas, pre-independence (1947) India had numerous sub-castes or Jatis within each Varna. While still evident, these jatis are fast losing their influence with the rapid urbanization and education of India's largely rural, agrarian population. Jatis are, however, still officially documented through the census, primarily to determine those deserving reservation (an affirmative action process). Caste-based politics have strong roots in many Indian states. Conversions to other religions resulted in expulsion from the Jati (although conversions are now banned in India); Similar to the Christian concept of Excommunication, there are numerous instances where individuals lost their Jati due to misdeed on their part. It is a misconception that converts are now essentially freed of the caste system and on an equal social footing with others, regardless of their birth or education. The tribal identification remains despite conversion to other religions. For example, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy Yeduguri (Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy), is a Reddy Christian, while Professor Ilaiah Kanche belongs to a Golla/Kuruma Christian. Matrimony between members of different castes is not rare, but, like mixed-race marriages in the United States, is not very frequent. The same can be said of inter-religious marriages.

Mahatma Gandhi championed the cause of the untouchables and began India's attempts to integrate them into society, coining the term Harijans ("people of God"). The Indian Constitution has tough laws against discrimination on the basis of caste. There is a policy for the socio-economic upliftment of the former outcasts, by the provision of education, reservation of admission seats in institutions for higher education, and a 12.5% quota in government jobs with fast-track promotions. Certain states in India have a reservation of over 70%. This policy has often been challenged in courts, and through mass protests. Anti-reservation activists allege that the process, which they argue is politically motivated, artificially fosters jati-based divisions and runs counter to a meritocracy. Pro-reservation activists counter that the system helps in upliftment of the lower castes and needs to be in place until all sections achieve an equal status in the Indian society.

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Nepalese caste system

The caste system in Nepal can be traced back to the introduction of Muluki Ain (1854) by Jung Bahadur Rana after his return from his European tour. The Muluki Ain (1854) was a written version of social code that had been in practice for several centuries in Nepal. Its caste categories diverged from the four varnas of the classical Vedic model and instead had three categories to accommodate the tribal peoples between the pure and impure castes. These were further classified into five hierarchies with the following order precedence. (Harka Gurung 2005:3,Occational Papers in Sociology and Anthropology)

Thagadhari, (Wearer of holy chord)
Matwali
- Namasyane Matwali (Non-enslavable alcohol-drinkers)
- Masyane Matwali (Enslavable alcohol drinkers)
Pani nachalne choichoto halnu naparne, (Impure but touchable castes)
Pani nachalne chiochoti halnu parne, (Impure and Untouchable castes)

The above mentioned categories imply that Thagadhari (Wearer of holy chord) remains in the highest hierarchy in the Nepali caste system followed by Matwali, (Non-enslavable alcohol-drinkers) and enslavable alcohol drinkers touchable caste and lastly untouchable.

Muluki Ain imposes the caste system in Nepal in order to incorporate people of different origin and bring them under one umbrella of the caste system. The first categories of Thagadhari, which include Parbate Brahmin and Chettri, are in the higher categories of hierarchy whereas Brahmins of Terai and Newari Brahmin as per Muluki Ain do not fall under these categories.

Matwali group, enslavable and non-enslavable falls under second categories, which include the people of ethnic origin and Brahmins of Terai and Newari Brahmins. It also includes those people in the non-enslavable group such as Magar, Gurung, Rai, and Limbu etc and enslavable are Tamang, Chepang, Thami etc.

Untouchable are the categories of varnas system in ancient Manu's Code but some people such as Musalman and foreigners as well fall into these categories. Untouchables are divided into Pani nachalne choichoto halnu naparne, (Impure but touchable castes) and Pani nachalne chiochoti halnu parne, (Impure and Untouchable castes). In present day context, the caste system falls under Hindu varna system i.e, Brahmin, Khatria Vaisias and Sudra respectively instead of following Muluki Ain's codification, as ethnic groups do not follow the caste system because they have their own culture, tradition, religion and values which do not fall under the caste system.

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Sri Lankan caste system

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The caste system appears to have been introduced to Sri Lanka by Aryan-language-speakers from North India. There is evidence of the main vedic castes in the early Anuradhapura era. The introduction of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE muted the system somewhat. However, there is a reference to King Dutugemunu Abhaya's son, Saliya choosing to lose caste by marrying Asokamala, a Chandala (outcaste) woman, in the 2nd century BCE.

The later caste system seems to have evolved as much through waves of ethnic migration as by occupation. Among the present-day Sinhalese the Vedic categories no longer exist, while among the Sri Lanka Tamils, the only Vedic category to persist is that of Brahmins; these ethnic groups share many categories.

The major Sinhalese castes (Jathi) are: Govigama or Goyi ('farmers'), Navandhaenna or Ridhi (silversmiths), Karava (fishermen), Dhurave (toddy tappers), Salagama or Haali (cinnamon peelers), Wahumpura or Hakuru (Jaggery-makers), Bathgama or Padhu (bearers), Berava (Tom-tom beaters), Panna (grass-cutters), Kumbal (potters), Radha (Washers or Dhobies), Demelagaththaro (Tamil tribes) and Hinna (washers to the Salagamas). There also 'Out' castes, the Tamil-speaking, wandering 'Gypsies' - Rodi and Ahikuntaka. The aboriginal Veddas were considered to be outside the caste system: many aristocratic families claim descent from these tribes; however, the 'Gypsy' castes may be offshoots of aboriginal hunters employed by the ancient kings.

Among the Tamils, many of these castes are duplicated: Vellala (equivalent to Govigama), Karaiyar (Karava) and Dhuraiyar (Dhurave). There is also a caste called Kovi, the members of which claim to be Sinhalese Govigama isolated in Tamil areas after the Chola conquest of the North.

The Indian Tamils who were brought over by the British as indentured labour were mainly from the lower Indian castes; the South Indian categories came over with them.

It appears that caste was more important than ethnicity until comparatively recently. In pre-British times, the Govigama were classed as Vellala by the colonial authorities. Eurasians and South Indian Chetties were absorbed into the Govigamas. Cross-ethnic marriage was fairly common. Several leading 'aristocratic' Sinhalese families are descended from Tamils or Keralites. Many Karavas speak Tamil at home and have relatives among the 'Tamil' Karaiyars.

Religious practice tends to reinforce the caste system. In the feudal era, people of low castes were not allowed into the shrines of the most-revered of God's many forms or into the Buddhist clergy. The priests of these most-revered forms (kapuralas) had to be Govigama among the Sinhalese, Brahmins among the Tamils. However, the 'Devil Dancers' (exorcists, healers and sorcerers) were drawn from the tom-tom beating caste.

In the 19th century the Amarapura and Ramanna sects were formed to allow non-Govigama priests to be ordained, in opposition to the casteist Siam sect. In the late 1960s, there were a series of 'Temple Struggles' in the northern Jaffna district, during which members of lower castes forced their way into Hindu temples, establishing their right of entry.

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Balinese caste system

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Castes in ancient Israel

Something akin to the caste system was also found in Judaism (during the Temple period), which divided its society into the inherited Cohanim priesthood, who, due to their Temple duties, had access to most parts of the Temple, Levites, whose auxiliary duties allowed them somewhat less access than the Cohanim, and the rest of the Israelites, whose involvement in the Temple was lesser than the Levites. This "caste system" had mostly ritualistic ramifications, and the social side-effects were very limited and far lesser than those found in the Hindu caste system, which entailed almost complete social separation and a clear social hierarchy. Intermarriage was allowed within the Israelite people, with rare exception (such as the prohibition against a Cohen marrying a divorcee), and the Israelites were prohibited only from marrying outside their own people. This Israelite "caste system" continued along lines of Patrilineal descent. Converts to the Israelite people were considered full Israelites, and Mosaic law demanded that they be treated kindly and with special sensitivity. In contemporary Judaism, despite the absence of the Temple, certain ritual laws continue to apply to Cohanim, and both they and the Levites are honored with deferential formalities in some rituals..

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Castes in Africa

Countries in Africa who have societies with caste systems within their borders include Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia and Somalia.

The Osu caste system in Nigeria and northern Cameroon, can be traced back to an indigenous religious belief system, practiced within the Igbo nation. It is the belief of many Igbo traditionalists that the Osus are people historically owned by deities, and are therefore considered to be a 'living sacrifice', an outcaste, untouchable and sub-human.

Caste systems in Somali outcaste Midgan-Madhiban, Yibir, Tumal and other groups deemed to be impure. The outcaste clans do not descend from the Arabic-origin ancestors of the political powerful noble caste, such as the Darood, Hawiye and Isaak clans, and are traditionally forbidden to socialize with others in Somali society, have no access to public wells and other water sources, cannot own land and are not allowed to live in villages.

Among the Mande societies in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana people are divided by occupation and ethnic ties. The highest hierarchy in the Mande caste system, the Horon (nobles/freeborn), are traditionally comprised of farmers, fisherman, warriors and animal breeders, the lowest caste are the Jonow, a "slave" caste, made up of people whose ancestors were enslaved by other Africans during tribal wars. The Wolof hierarchical caste system in Senegal is divided into three main groups, the Geer (freeborn/nobles), jaam (slaves and slave descendents) and the outcasted neeno (people of caste).

The caste system found amongst the Borana in North Eastern Kenya is divided into four distinct castes. At the top, there are Borana Gutu (Pure), followed by Gabra, then Sakuye, and Watta, a traditional hunter-gatherer caste, being the last. The Watta are condemned to life-long servitude for members of the higher castes. Among the Tuareg societies found in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, exists a similar caste system, where the Bellah slave caste is treated as slaves to other castes.

In Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Congo it is known as ubuhake. The Tutsi, who comprise about 15% of the population of these areas, were the ruling, Cattle-owning caste - corresponding to the "Kshatriyas" in the Vedic system. Below them were the Hutu, the farmers - corresponding with the Vedic Sudras; about 80% of the population. Fewer than 3% of the population are Twa or Pygmies, who occupy a position similar to that of 'tribals' in the Indian system.

During the German suzerainty over Rwanda and Burundi, the authorities reinforced the system by employing Tutsis in hegemonic roles. The Belgian colonialists who succeeded them after World War I continued this policy, instituting 'ethnic' identity cards. They also incorporated subsidiary populations, such as the Hima and the Baganwa, into the Tutsi.

After independence, tensions intensified. In 1972, Tutsis were responsible for a wholesale massacre of Hutus. In the 1990s, Hutus responded with counter-massacres.

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