Read the “What is India’s caste system?” article. Warm-Up

Objective SWBAT describe the caste system in India and how it affects life in India today

Untouchables/Dalits: Polluted Laborers Vaisyas Herders, land owners, merchants, craftspeople Social Hierarchy Brahmin Priests Kshatriyas Warriors Sudras Farm workers, servants, laborers Untouchables/Dalits: Polluted Laborers

Social Distinctions Still Exist A Brahmin physician wraps a Sudra’s wrist with a cloth before taking his pulse, so he will not to be "defiled" by touching the Sudra's skin. Low-caste people are forbidden to use the wells in villages that high-caste Brahmins use for fear they will pollute the water. A low-caste family is refused the right to bury a family member near their village, where both high and low castes live, because of the belief that the person's ghost will haunt the high-castes.

Outraged by the wage and land-reform demands of Dalits, the Ranvir Sena, a militia led by landowners, has been implicated in the massacres of more than 500 Dalits. The attackers have gone largely unpunished.

Discussion Questions Do you think people ever questioned or rebelled against the caste system? Why or why not? How is the caste system of Ancient India similar to the class system of the United States today? How is it different? In our society do we treat people differently who are born into different economic situations (ex. people who are born in a poor neighborhood)? Defend your answer.  In American society do we have different standards/expectations for members of different groups? Do we apply laws the same to people in different classes (ex. does a celebrity get treated the same as a normal person if they break the law)? Give examples to defend your answer. How did the idea of “reincarnation” connect to the idea of the caste system?