How did the caste system originate in India?

 

Why is it in the news?

1. The chief of RSS Sri Mohan Bhagwat said on the occasion of saint Rohidas birth anniversary that god did not create caste but it was created by Pundits (Brahmins)

2. He said that everybody is equal in the eyes of God. There is no caste (jati) or varna for him. But Pundits (Brahmins) made hierarchical structure which was wrong

3. It was because of the division in the society, invaders took advantage and invaded upon us. 

What is caste?

1. According Herbert Risley caste is collection of families, bearing a common name, claiming a common descent from a mythical ancestors, human and divine, professing to follow the same heredity calling and forming a single homogeneous community 

2. According to Dr. Ketkar, a caste is a group having two special features - 1. Membership is confined to those who are born as members of the caste. 2. Members are forbidden by the social laws to marry outside the group.

What is the difference between Varna and caste?

1. Varnas are only four in number, that is Brahmin, Kshatriyas, Vaishya and Shudra while there are numerous castes

2. Mobility pattern in varna is flexible. A person from lower varna can achieve higher varna through his merit and hard labour. While in caste, the status of a person is ascribed and his mobility is fixed. But he cannot leave his caste. His prestige is marked by the caste in which he is born 

3. Varna system is free from socio economic and political disabilities and restrictions, while the caste system imposes disabilities upon lower caste and privileges to upper caste 

Special features of caste?

1. Status of an individual is determined by his birth, not by accomplishment

2. Castes pre suppose a hierarchical division of society 

3. Restriction on food habits of the members

4. Restrictions on social relations on account of idea of pollution

5. Castes pre suppose civil and religious disabilities upon lower castes and privileges to upper caste

6. It also pre supposes restrictions on occupational choice

7. The caste system imposes restriction on marriage

8. People of the same caste marry in his own caste. So it is an endogamous group

Tradition theory of origin of caste

1. According to this theory the four varnas originated from the four different parts of the Prajapati Brahma 

2. According to the Purushukta of Rigveda, Brahmins emerged from the mouth of the supreme being, Kshatriyas from the arms, Vaishyas from the thighs and Shudras from the feet

3. Satpath Brahmin, Tattiriya Brahmin, Law giver Manu and Bhagwat Gita support this theory. 

4. Lord Krishna himself said that he only created four varnas on the basis of Gun and Karma 

5. This theory has been criticised because it is unscientific and un-biological

6. Secondly this theory considers four Varnas as four castes but the real unit of caste system is not the varna but Jati which is a very small endogamous groups 

Occupational theory

1. According to this theory if a particular group follows a hereditary occupation it evolves into a caste in course of time 

2. According to Nesfield the difference of occupation was responsible for difference of caste 

3. Function and function alone is responsible for the origin of caste system

4. Those who followed pure occupations were regarded as superior while those who were engaged in low grade occupation were considered inferior 

5. This theory has been criticised by several scholars. According Hutton, occupation is not a cause but only a factor in the evolution of caste

6. Secondly this theory does not take into account the racial and religious factors which played their role in the formation of caste system

7. D N Majumdar, criticised this theory by saying that the status of caste depends not on the superiority or the inferiority of the occupation but upon the degree of purity of blood and extent of isolation maintained by the group

Racial theory

1. According to this theory different castes came into being because of racial differences

2. Herbert Risley, Dr. D N Majumdar and G S Ghurye are the main protagonists of this theory

3. These scholars are of the opinion that Aryans defeated the natives of  North India. 

4. Aryans were fair complexion, tall and with prominent nose

5. The original inhabitants were branded as Dasyus and Servants

6. Aryans never allowed non Aryans in the religious activities 

Political theory

1. According to this theory, caste system is clever device invented by the Brahmins in order to place themselves in the higher order of social hierarchy 

2. According to dr. G S Ghurye, caste is a Brahmanical child of Indo Aryan culture cradled in the land of Ganges and thence transferred to other parts of India

3. The Brahmanical literature of post vedic period now mention Dvija (twice born) for upper three varnas like brahmin, kshatriya and vaishya while the shudras were called ekajati (once born)

4. As the priestly influence grew in India complicated rules of rituals and conduct were built up and incorporated into the religious books

5. Brahmins closed their ranks and tried to maintain their superiority than other classes

6. Thus , the idea of separation among different varnas stiffened 

Guild Theory 

1. According to Denzil Ibbetson, castes are the modified forms of the guilds

2. According to him, the caste system is the product of interaction of three forces. (a) Tribe (b) Guilds (c) Religion 

3. The tribes adopted a certain fixed profession and assumed the form of guilds

4. The priest gave this guilds the religious sanctity by inventing separate gotra and descent from common ancestors and with the passage of time this guilds became the hereditary and endogamous groups and so this guilds were converted into castes

Evolutionary Theory

1. According to this theory caste system originated on account on the long process of social evolution 

2. A number of factors played in the evolution of caste system

3. These are - a. Hereditary occupation. 

b. Idea of purity and impurity

c. Desire of the brahmins to keep themselves pure. 

d. lack of the rigid unitary control of state.

e. beliefs in reincarnation and the doctrine of karma. 

f. ideas of exclusive family and ancestor worship. 

g. Clash of antagonistic cultures of patriarchal and matriarchal systems. 

h. clash of races 

i. colour prejudices and conquest.

j. geographical isolation of the India peninsular . 

k. foreign invasions. 

l. static nature of village society. 

m. the unwillingness of the rulers to enforce a uniform law and customs 

Conclusion 

1. The Indian caste system is the natural result of the interaction of a number of geographical, social, political, religious and economic factors 

2. Hence , a multiple  factor approach alone can give a somewhat satisfactory explanation regarding the origin of the caste system in India