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India: Traditional Patterns of Life
“The traditional patterns of life in India revolve around the idea of duty”
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Closure What are the drawbacks and benefits in a society where role and duties are clearly defined? What role does the idea of duty play in your life?
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Doing one’s duty ensures the moral order of the universe
It’s better to do one’s own duty badly than another’s duty well Introduction to Caste Video show later
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Caste/Family Life/Village Life
All gave a person a role in society and rules to live by to ignore would disrupt society – Indian Tradition Gives structure
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Why has the caste system existed for so long?
Caste system deeply embedded in custom, and religious tradition.
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The Caste System According to the sacred texts (Vedas)
Rigid system of social groups based on birth 1: Brahmans – the priests 2: Kshatriyas – warriors, rulers 3: Vaisyas – merchants, traders, farmers 4: Sudras – laborers 5: Untouchables (Harijan/Dalit) - included morticians and anyone who did unclean things, homeless Harijan: Children of God
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Caste not based on wealth Gave role in society on rules to live by
Seen as holding a diverse group together Divides today 1000’s of castes Within castes there were levels, called jati – subcaste For example, in the Vaisya caste, a store owner would be higher than a traveling merchant. In most cases, same rules of interaction would apply Caste based partly on occupation
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Caste Rules Complex – Laws of Manu – rules for daily life
Meant to keep people spiritually pure = moksha Rule more strict for higher castes Protect from spiritual pollution Rules govern: cooking, eating habits, marriage, employment, clothing, worship, manners
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Caste Rules Interactions between castes were limited, most interaction was top down Clappers for lower castes – shadow impure Marriage limited to own caste and even jati Each caste even has dietary restrictions Brahmans are vegetarians eat only food prepared by other Brahman Other castes could be limited to certain meats and spices
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Caste Rules Manners: Each caste had a council to enforce caste rules
greet in certain ways lower caste not sit in presence of higher caste Even names Each caste had a council to enforce caste rules Caste Panchayat: self-governing of an Indian caste Created interdependence: stability and order Castes looked after their own but depended on other castes Caste video – Caste Video YouTube 5 minutes
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Village Life Most common
Basic unit of society – varied in size – variety of castes Headman: governed the village – landlord – inherited position Made decisions – organized work projects Self-sufficient = all jobs based on caste Landlord: controlled most land Tenant farming: paid with part of harvest Cattle economic importance: plowing, transportation, milk products Ghee – clarifies butter use in cooking and religious ceremonies
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Pandit Roop Chand, headman of Tajpur village
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Other Aspects of Early Hindu Life
Family Identified first with family Joint families (everyone lived together) – like extended family The eldest male led the family (patriarchal) – may consult with wife Property belonged to every member of the family Father Knows Best
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Other Aspects of Early Hindu Life
Children and Parents Children learned from their parents (how to follow their caste) Arranged marriages: A traditional Marriage - page 192 picture Children little or no say Link to Child Bride Picture to benefit family Child Bride Article girls became part of husband's family In some parts of India, the marriage of a daughter included a dowry: gift to groom's family Higher the caste more costly
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Other Aspects of Early Hindu Life
Women Few rights – obey husband Duties: marry, wait on husband, bear sons Influence within the family Shakti: creative energy – women had but men controlled – men incomplete without women (page 193 quote) Higher castes: purdah: seclusion public had to be covered (like Muslims) Sati/Suttee – virtuous women ritual suicide when a husband died Banned by British during 1829 Legally from 1856 widows were allowed to remarry
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Closure What are the drawbacks and benefits in a society where role and duties are clearly defined? What role does the idea of duty play in your life?
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