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India's Caste System: The Link Between Now and Then
The Caste System and Its Implications
The Caste System was system that organized everyone based on their skills, wealth, and their heritage. It was first introduced centuries ago and remained intact until the 1950s and 1960s, when newer generations began to question the justness of it. The caste system was responsible for the social ranking of all people living in India, and gave unfair rights and treatment to the higher classes. The social classes are ranked in this order, from highest to lowest: Brahmins, Kshatryas, Vaishyas, Sudras, and Dalits (untouchables). This system has many negative implications that follow it. It was not legal to marry outside of one’s social class and sometimes parents believed so strongly in the system that all contact with other classes was discouraged.
We picked this topic because it seemed to hold the strongest link between the past and the present. The youngest generation is completely oblivious to and uninterested in the caste system, while the next two older generations have extremely strong ties to the caste system. Many of these older generations were born into a class and were forced to live with the implications or benefits of that class. Because the Caste System is being fought over today, there is a very strong and obvious link to the past from it.
This image depicts the basic structure of the caste system and helps visualize how such
a structure might affect a society profoundly. Although no longer present in Indian culture,
the caste system still remains in the minds of older generations. Looking closely, it is seen
that this image also shows the mixing of modern and traditional habits; each of the class
representatives are using some form of modern technology.
(http://defeatpoverty.com/articles/India%20Caste%20System.gif)
Here a mother and child of the untouchable caste is shown. Their quality of life is much harder to deal with than that of the other castes. Often, the untouchables were forced to live outside of cities and were unnecessarily abused.
Mock Dialog
Akuti: Modern Indian girl wanting to get married
Nitra: Conservative mother of Akuti
Uday: Semi-conservative father of Akuti
Akuti: Hi Mom, Hi Dad!
Nitra: Do not speak to your father like that! He deserves more respect than what those white girls say!
Uday: Don’t worry Nitra, I’m sure Akuti meant no harm…so what do you want Akuti? More money? Or should I just give you my credit card?
Nitra: UDAY! WE SAID WE WOULD LIMIT HER SPENDING! I don’t want her to become one of those white girls on the streets I always see!
Akuti: Don’t worry Mom! I don’t need any money…it’s something bigger than that!
Nitra: That’s good…and bad; what could be bigger than money to you?
Akuti: Well, I have been thinking about my future…and my marriage! Aren’t you proud I’m planning ahead?
Uday: Good job! I always knew you had your mother in you…somewhere…
Nitra: Oooo, good, finally! You are all ready to get married! I have been making a list of boys…let me see, where did I put it…
Akuti: Well, actually, I already met someone…his name is Panduranga…I met him at school!
Nitra: WHAT! YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR BOYS BEHIND MY BACK! I CAN’T BELI-
Uday: Calm down Nitra! This may be good for us! Less work for the parents!
Akuti: Yeah, all you guys will have to do is give me the money for the wedding!
Nitra: Hmmm…I guess it’ll be okay…BUT, first you have to tell us all about him!
Akuti: Umm…OK! Panduranga is a very handsome and smart and handsome and smart and handsome and smar-
Nitra: That isn’t what I mean! What caste is he in Akuti? We are Brahmins, the highest class, and we MUST marry another Brahmin.
Akuti: What are you talking about? Who cares what caste he is? That is sooo bad and racist and sooo wrong! Why would you even think about that? Humans are humans, no matter what cast they are in…I can’t believe that you actually believe tha-
Uday: AKUTI! DO NOT SPEAK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT! But Nitra, she has a good point…the caste system is no longer relevant to our daily lives…India has officially abolished it a long time ago, and it was one of our low points in our history. There is no need to revive that ignorant practice of other humans being better than others!
Nitra: Nonsense! The caste system is what made India great…it kept the country in control of people like us…that is the reason we are lucky to be here, in America…Akuti will NOT get married to someone who doesn’t even no his own class!
Akuti: NO! THAT IS RIDULIOUS! I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE CASTE SYSTEM IS BAD! I’M GETTING MARRIED TO PANDURANGA IN AUGUST! ALL I NEED IS DAD’S MONEY!
Uday: Whatever you need beloved daughter! Here’s my credit card!
Nitra: WHAT! I DID NOT APPROVE OF THI-
Akuti: THANK YOU SO MUCH! You have no idea what this means! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
-THE END-