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Indian Cast system

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The caste system in has India played a prominent role in the country's history, and it's extending its societal hierarchy into what will be the India of the future. As we dig into the historical nature of India's caste system, we discover how it was a means to achieve a well ordered society. This form of differentiation does exist in other societies but the issue arises when it became the sole systematic ranking leading to unequal access to resources like power, income and status. This paper will explore how the system has always been an evolving part of Indian society and culture and its effect on India today. History of the Caste System in India India's caste system, also known as the oldest social order in the world, divides society based on traditional occupations into four castes, and thousands of subcastes. Each class consequently has a specific role in society which is a means of structure and organizing an effective society. Originally, the caste was determined by a person’s work but it eventually became hereditary. The caste system classifies the people into four hierarchical ranked castes called Varnas. They are based according to occupation and determine a person access to privilege and power. On top is the Varna of Brahmans, commonly identified with priests and scholars. They are followed by the Kshatriyas which are the political rulers, soldiers and property owners. Third are the Vaishyas which are merchants and traders. Lastly are the Shudras who are the servile laborers. At the very bottom are those who are seen as untouchables and their jobs such as skinning dead animals, garbage removal and toilet cleaning cause them to be seen as impure and consequently untouchable. Untoucables are not even included in the ranked castes. Furthermore, untouchable were not allowed in many public places including temples but there was passed legislation in 1950 preventing discrimination towards the untouchable. The legislation impacted the status of the untouchable but this did not help them become more integrated into Indian society. The varnas are further sub-divided into sub-castes called jatis. Each jati is made up of a group deriving its livelihood from a specific occupation. There were and still are rules that govern appropriate occupation pursuit and behavior within and between castes. This includes rules related to marriage. Marriage must be done within the caste. The marriage with different caste never happens but when it does happen, other issues are raised due to the fact that one of the spouses is from a higher caste then the other. The unequal mentality that is engraved in each one of them allows the one who is of the higher caste to mistreat the other. This also allows the person of the lower cast to accept the mistreatment. For example, I have a coworker who is a part of the Kshatriyas caste. He married a beautiful woman whom I met who is of the Vaishyas caste. They were both born in India but the man migrated to the United States sixteen years ago. He went back to India nine years ago to get married and to bring his wife to the United States of America. She is highly educated and holds a better job and earns more than him. Despite the fact that she is doing better than he is in the eyes of the United Stat

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