Bell Work 4/21 What is happening to the Ganges River and why aren’t locals concerned about it?

-Most Indian languages use the term “jati” for the system of hereditary social structures in South Asia. -Portuguese travelers to India first encountered what appeared to them to be race-based social classes, they used the Portuguese term “casta”— which means “race”– to describe what they saw -Today the term “caste” is used to describe the social structures based on hereditary groups not only in South Asia but throughout the world

In approximately 1500 BC a group of people known as the Aryans invaded India. – a nomadic people and brought many new ideas to India, including their religion. – Their religious beliefs were derived from the Vedas, a collection of their sacred writings of knowledge. The Aryans prohibited marriages between their own people and people of the cultures they conquered. During the Epic Age four classes of people emerged in India. Each caste had a specific place in society. They socialized, ate, married, worked and worshipped within their own caste. They would never consider marrying or working outside their caste. The Indians believed that they could attain a higher caste position by leading a good life. They also believed that they could be reincarnated into the body of an insect if they did not lead a good life in their current position.

Job: About 9% of population, priestly services, study the Vedas, spiritual guides Food/Diet: Vegetarians, some consume fish and milk products Behavior Towards Others: Spiritual guidance of others, marriage ceremonies Services/Products: Priestly services and religious leadership

Job: The “warrior class”, defending the country from external and internal strife Food/Diet: Meat eating (not beef) Behavior Towards Others: To protect citizens from harm, especially women, children, cows, brahmins and elderly Services/Products: Defense, specializing in science of arms, ammunition, tactics of warfare

Job: To protect animals, the land, to maintain workers with food and clothes, trade with others Food/Diet: honey, fruit, veggies and milk Behavior Towards Others: they are commoners, but not servants, most are businessmen/farmers Services/Products: Tend to cattle, give gifts, offer sacrifices, trade, lend money, cultivate land

Job: The only class that can accept employment from others, artisans and workers Food/Diet: Veggies, fruits, no meat, but they do eat fish Behavior Towards Others: Take pride in their work, be loyal, follow moral rules Services/Products: Washers, tanners, shoemakers, sweepers,

The very bottom of the Indian Caste System Did most of the “dirty work” Carried out most of the unwanted jobs such as fishing, handling cattle or beef or cattle hide, or disposing of dead bodies This group was excluded from most of the social groups within India

The ancient Caste System has not been around in modern day India for nearly 60 years Although mostly illegal today, the Indian Caste System still “exists” in the same way that race exists in the US The 2 big areas where it is still evident today is in marriage and politics – The caste of politicians has become the #1 reason why certain candidates receive a vote in the democratic Indian society Most of the top paying jobs in India are held by those in the top 3 Caste levels