The Hindu Caste System Hindus believe that people are born into a caste or varna based on the dharma/karma they have accumulated in their previous lives. People from different castes have traditionally not been allowed to associate with other castes and they are not permitted to marry into another caste. There are 4 main castes and 1 group outside the traditional 4 castes—they are called the untouchables because they do very “unclean” work. They must live completely separated from the other castes. Mahatma Gandhi, fought to have these people integrated into the mainstream of Indian society. Today the untouchables (also known as Dalits or pariahs) have some protection under the Indian Charter of Rights. Still many people suffer in India due to the ill effects of the caste system. NOTE: Many Hindu scholars would say that anyone who uses the varna to discriminate (likely against the Dalits) is not a true Hindu and that this would be an ‘evil act’.

Varna (Caste) Occupations / Jobs Goals and Duties Brahmin (NOT the same as Brahman or Brahma!!) Priests Religious teachers Study and teach matters of faith Lead key rituals Highly knowledgeable Kshatriya (K is silent, like shay-tria) Warriors Rulers Gov’t workers Protect people Maintain law and order Run a fair government Vaishya Merchants Farmers Business people / traders Take care of economic needs in society, goods and services Sudra Servants Labourers To serve the upper 3 castes Unskilled workers, servants, menial work Dalits (Untouchables) Unclean jobs Traditionally the dirtiest work (eg. tan leather, remove dead animals, wash toilets, work with garbage and sewage, perform cremation) Must live separately

‘Traditional’ Understanding The caste system became less rigid as the Indian people were exposed to outside ideas. The Indian Constitution has forbidden discrimination against the Dalit since 1950, but many of India’s 160 million Dalit continue to live in poverty. Indian people with family names associated with the Dalit often face discrimination. Despite this, the Indian people elected a Dalit to the presidency. K. R. Narayanan served in that position from 1997 to 2002. ‘Traditional’ Understanding Video Resource: BBC Documentary Clip K. R. Narayanan