The Caste System: India's Excuse for Mistreatment

By: Daniel P. and Gulshan S.

Section A2

 

Background Castes Visuals Dialogue Sources

 

Background

 

The caste system is technically just the division of the people in to groups depending on their skill, craft, or job, and is not a bad thing, as viewed by many. The caste system catigorizes people in the following manner: Brahmins, Kshatryas, Vaishyas, and Sudras. The problem with the caste system begins when different castes are discriminated against. For example, Brahmins are given more respect than the other castes, and there is a special group called the untouchables who are considered not worthy of being included in the caste system. This system was created between 1000 BCE and 500 BCE when the Aryans came. The Aryans divided themselves into castes with the people they conquered in the lowest class or the Sudras. The rest fo the Aryans divided themselves into the other four groups based on skill, although many people also say that this dividing was actually based on the color of one's skin. The tribal people and other non-Aryans fell into a group called the untouchables, which was not even considered part of the caste system. The reason we chose this topic is to further understand the roles these castes played in soceity and how that has changed now.

 

Castes

 

 

Along with these castes, there is a fifth group, but this group is not technically considered a part of the caste system. These people are called the Untouchables. They were considered impure and polluted, and they were often mistreated. They had to warn anyone if they were near with drums and had the lowest jobs in the society.

 

Visuals

 

Women cleaning the street.  (Online Image) Available <http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/s97/india/ladiesrain.gif > 7 May 2008.   This depicts the effort and time required to satisfy the caste system’s policies while modern technology is present such as the cars on the road. Since these people were born on this social level, they are required to do certain duties. On the contrary, in the U.S. we use special vehicles which require almost no effort to clean the roads.

Women cleaning the street.  (Online Image) Available <http://home.snu.edu/~dwilliam/s97/india/ladiesrain.gif > 7 May 2008.   This depicts the effort and time required to satisfy the caste system’s policies while modern technology is present such as the cars on the road. Since these people were born on this social level, they are required to do certain duties. On the contrary, in the U.S. we use special vehicles which require almost no effort to clean the roads.

 

 

Dialogue

 

Russell Peters- son

 

Jagadamba- mother

 

Dinkar-father

 

 

 

Jagadamba- What is this!?

 

Russell- It is a job application for the National Priests Foundation.

 

Jagadamba- What!?(Eyes widen)

 

Russell- Mother! I have decided to become a priest!

 

Jagadamba- What!? Are you mad!? It is not your duty to be a priest, why can’t you just be a doctor, like your father? You’re going against the caste system

 

Russell- There is no caste system mother! I haven’t done anything wrong! And besides, you told me I could never be a doctor because I kept getting 98’s on all of my tests!

 

Jagadamba- Ok, that is beside the point. You are not a Brahmin! Only Brahmins are allowed to become priests! This is unacceptable!

 

Russell- But mother…

 

Jagadamba- Quiet! I have to think of an explanation for your father when he comes home from work. Going against Indian culture really makes him mad. He might bring out the belt again. You remember what happened last time he brought out the belt…

 

Russell- (Russell shivers) Mother this is not fair! The caste system is retarded! I wish I didn’t live here!

 

Jagadamba- What!? What did you just say!? Go to your room right now Russell!

 

Russell- No! I’m old enough to choose my own future!

 

Jagadamba- HOW DARE YOU!!!

 

(Front door opens, father steps in, room goes quiet)

 

Dinkar- (Gives them both a big smile, then talks in a thick Indian accent) Hello everyone, how are you.

 

Jagadamba- Dinkar! Russell has violated the caste system! He has applied to become a priest!

 

Dinkar- WHAT!? WHA—WHA--? How dare you rebel against your culture! Where’s my belt? Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad.

 

Jagadamba- Russell! What he did was bad, but you can’t beat him again!

 

Dinkar- Why not? All the other Indian parents do it, he’ll feel left out if I don’t.

 

Jagadamba- Honey…

 

Dinkar- Ok, ok. Russell, go to your room!

 

Russell- But Dad, you took away my room two months ago!

 

Dinkar- Oh, well, it doesn’t matter, go anywhere; just don’t become a priest.

 

Russell- Fine. (Muttering to himself) Stupid caste system.

 

 

Sources

 

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