1. The Caste System Of India

2. About 1500BC, powerful nomadic warriors known as Aryans appeared in northern India.

3. The warriors were from Central Asia, but managed to overcome the Himalayas by finding lower passes in the mountains, such as the Khyber Pass in Pakistan.

4. The Aryans conquered the Dravidians of Central India and imposed their social structure upon them.

5. Craft workers, laborers Vaisyas Sudras The Aryans divided their society into separate castes. Brahman Kshatriya Judges, Priests, Teachers Warriors Merchants, Farmers

6. Group Living Castes were unchanging groups. A person born into one caste never changed castes or mixed with members of other castes. Caste members lived, ate, married, and worked with their own. Castes were unchanging groups. A person born into one caste never changed castes or mixed with members of other castes. Caste members lived, ate, married, and worked with their own.

7. The only way to get into another caste was to die and hope your Karma was good enough to make it. The only way to get into another caste was to die and hope your Karma was good enough to make it.

8. Brahman Smallest group Smallest group the priests, teachers, and judges the priests, teachers, and judges (KUH SHAT REE YUHZ), (KUH SHAT REE YUHZ), the warrior caste. the warrior caste. Kshatriya

9. Vaisyas (VEEZ YUHZ) the farmers and merchants (VEEZ YUHZ) the farmers and merchants Craft workers and laborers. Craft workers and laborers. Sudras

10. UNTOUCHABLES Also known as Pariah Also known as Pariah Also known as Harijan Also known as Harijan

11. The untouchables were the outcastes, or people beyond the caste system. Their jobs or habits involved “polluting activities” including: Any job that involved ending a life, such as fishing. Killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides. Any contact with human emissions such as sweat, urine, or feces. This included occupational groups such as sweepers and washermen. People who ate meat. This category included most of the primitive Indian hill tribes. The untouchables were the outcastes, or people beyond the caste system. Their jobs or habits involved “polluting activities” including: Any job that involved ending a life, such as fishing. Killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides. Any contact with human emissions such as sweat, urine, or feces. This included occupational groups such as sweepers and washermen. People who ate meat. This category included most of the primitive Indian hill tribes.

12. Untouchables were often forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells where higher castes drew water. Untouchables were often forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells where higher castes drew water. In some parts of southern India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting. In some parts of southern India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting. The untouchables forced to sleep during the day and work at night. The untouchables forced to sleep during the day and work at night. Many untouchables left their rigid social structure by converting to Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity. Many untouchables left their rigid social structure by converting to Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity.

13. Caste System by law no longer exists! The Caste System has been illegal in India for more than fifty years, but it continues to shape people’s lives. The Indian government has provided the Harijan a term now popularly used in place of untouchable, with specific employment privileges, and granted them special representation in the Indian parliament. The Caste System has been illegal in India for more than fifty years, but it continues to shape people’s lives. The Indian government has provided the Harijan a term now popularly used in place of untouchable, with specific employment privileges, and granted them special representation in the Indian parliament.

14. Despite such measures, the Harijan continue to have fewer educational and employment opportunities than Indians from higher castes. Despite such measures, the Harijan continue to have fewer educational and employment opportunities than Indians from higher castes.